Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-04-17
VILLAGE DISTRICT SCHOOLS.
Report Of the Years Work and Directors
Notes Of Interest.

Report Of the Years Work and Directors
Notes Of Interest.
The 18th annual report of the village
school district has been made up, and will
soon be ready for distribution In the in
PRODUCTION the directors speak Of the I'M
portance of schooling children and the
value of careful teaching. The following
has been taken from their report and will
be of special interest:
! We do not consider it vain glorious to
say that our village district schools are
among the very best in the State. This
result has not been attained by any sud
den flight but by the operation of sys-
tenn that has been for long time On trial.
Under this system, the schools enjoy the
special care of those who are the most in
timately interested in them,-that is,
the people of the district themselves and
no element of sectarianism or political
craftsmanship, has ever been allowed lodg-
ment in it. All of~the benefits of super
vision are received without the interposi-
tion and expense of a separate officer for
that service.
Indeed, the village school district was
the first common school organization in
Maine to adopt the feature OF supervision
| In the person of an executive teaching
| officer, and it enjoyed the advantages of
| the system long before the Legislature
recognized its true value and extended by
| enactment its operation generally over
| the public schools of the State Its su-
pervisor is the principal of the grammar
schools, whose duties are SO enlarged by
the directors as to require him to have
| close relations with every class in the dis
trict, and to visit officially each one as
often at least as once a week, and even
more frequently if necessary. His work
is that of principal and supervisor COM
blned, and the system is so automatic,
economical and admirable that the direc-
tors do not believe that it can be iInmedi
ately improved upon. Not every innova-
ton, whether adopted or merely proposed,
Is desirable alike in every community.
The present village district school system
Is beyond all cavil an emphatic success.
Under it our schools have attained de-
gree Of development and efficiency that is
| credit to the whole city. To now aban-
don the system or surrender it's control to
the uncertainties of the administration
OF an outside officer, would be a most
perilous and unwise experiment.
The village school district was started
in 1912. 1t is consolidation of two of
the original school districts of the town.
possessing authority to choose its own di-
rectors and conduct its own affairs under
the general school law of the State, with
out being subject to interference by NUM-
cipal authority.
The directors gave a running and in
teresting historical account of the begin
ming of the district and what it has been
doing since first started. They speak of
the past years work in the following
complimentary manner:
''The work of our schools the past year
has been performed with commepdable
zeal and industry by both teachers and
scholars and with generally satisfactory
results. We doubt if the work of any
preceding year was ever more successful"
The total expenses of the schools of the
district for the year ending March 81,
1895, amount to Sl1, 537 66.
The estimate of the expenses for the
year 1856 is SIS, 900. The present cash
in the city treasury and estimated amount
to be derived from uncollected taxes is
$4,000. The estimated amount to be re-
ceived from the city is $780, which makes
the amount to be provided for $4,000.
In closing, the directors speak as fol-
lows:
1.-The village district schools were
never in better condition than at the pres
ent time. 1t may not be incorrect to say
that they have advanced steadily unGer
the wise, fostering care that has been be-
slowed upon them during the last fifty
three years. They are, nevertheless. ca
pable of still further improvement. Every
citizen should take lively interest in the
cause which is so intimately connected
with the welfare of the city and State
Good schools always enhance the value OF
real estate where they arc located Even
sordid financial considerations are not
wanting in their favor Every man owes
something to the community, and the debt
is never well paid unless the common
school receives share of his solicitude
and help. School officers should seek only
to serve the sacred interests committed to
their care, and never forget that it is not
themselves, who are to be served by honors
and salaries received.
eve do not believe it would be wise or
profitable for the village district to aban-
| don or materially modify its present mode
of conducting its own affairs, which was
established in wisdom by far-sighted
promoters of the local schools more than
half a century ago. The success of the
districts system is the conclusive reason
| why it should not be tempered with, or
experimental upon. The district cares
| for more than thirds of the school
children of the city, and it is for their
| welfare alone that our policy should not
| be one of abdication. No benefit has been
reaped by the schools of the State gener
ally through the abolition of the district
system, which has not already been en-
joyed for many years by the village school
district of Augusta, that isl active and
thorough supervision. by competent in
structors.
/.