Daily Kennebec journal., 1896-04-21
NAMES SCHOOLS.
Report Of 1895 Of State Super
intendent Stetson. 5
What Has Been Done In the Cause
Of Good Education.
Favorable Comparisons with Work ot VeaI
Previous-The Features.


attention has been given by the super.
intendent to the treatment and
Strengthening of schools in the rura
districts, and much space is devoted te
this important feature.
To fully illustrate the condition some
graphic cuts with accompanying de-
! scriptions show the country school as
it is. Some striking comparisons are
shown in the illustrations of both in
terror and exterior of the poorest of the
past. and the best; and likewise the
poorest of the present and the best
! The pictures are study. In one
case is shown the typical class of boys
and girls stiff under the ordeal of hav-
ing their pictures taken. The best
they can do with their hands gives
\ them that indescrbable consciousness
that is so truly real. that it makes the
reading and study Of the report as real.
almost, as visit itself would be.
In one. case the school ma am is at
the door All is natural and in it's ap-
pearance, typical of the country school.
But what is that by the door? 1t is the
bicycle on which the brave little lady,
the educator of the children, rides tn
and from her school. One may guess
at the distance and the pleasure she
II gets out of it. So much for the bicycle
there. The boys and girls will all have
them some day.
In some of the schools there has been
Improvement in interior decorations
making the need of such effort more
pronounced by comparison with the
many that afforl no evidence OF
il it. Where before the walls We're
barren AMI ugly, they now are made
i interesting and attractive by pictures
and other decorations. Some of the
pictures show an abundance of flowers
and that accompanying cheerfulness
which must stamp itself upon the
| youthful mind.
1 Mr.. Stetson in his report, lays stress
upon its Importance. ami the benefit
which education indirectly derives
from people keeping posted on the
! effect of legislation upon certain
| features of it. He says:
Radical changes have recently been
made in our laws relating to public
schools and some of these changes can
but be regarded as experimental.
II
Fful inquiry should be made each year
4 into the effect of these changes upon
l the character and efficiency of our
schools. in order that it may be deter
mined what it is wisest to retain, and
what it is hest to discard or amend.
/ THE annual report. also brings the
State superintendent in closer touch
with the local school officers and with
the teachers of the common schools
throughout the State, and becomes q
vehicle through which he can make
known to them his counsel and advice
upon all rnatters in which they are
mutually interested
/ Again, the annual report, going into
the hands of all citizens who are inter-
ested in the improvement Of our
schools, helps to form and mould that
individual judgment which when
crYstallized. forms the great weight of
public opinion in obedience to which our
laws are framed.
There is an increase of 1883 in the
number of pupils returned for 1895, rs
compared with the returns Of 1884.
The average registered attendance
for 1895 shows an increase of s541 over
that of 1894 while the average daily at
' -, 4
of the previous. The whole number of
different pupils attending school at
any time during the year 1885 is 217
less than in 1894, fact that may be
accounted for by the raising of the
school age from four to five years.
The increase of more than one and a
half thousand in the number of
scholars is certainly encouraging, while
the grand increase of nearly six thou
\ sand in the average daily attendance
would seem to indicate more general
appreciation of the Importance of edu-
cation and an additional interest on the
part of both parents and children in
the work of the common schools.
"The increase of two weeks and two
days in the average length Of schools
for the year and of 3742 weeks in the
| aggregate uuIilDcI Vi vcchS VI dill
schools is largely accounted for by the
fact that the town system. while re-
ducing the number of schools, has
greatly increased their length.
THE decrease of 7s5 in the number
of different teachers employed during
the year is accounted for by the less
| number Of schools and the greater
number of teachers employed in the
same school throughout the year as
compared with the year next preced-
/ ing. While the actual number of ex
perienced teachers employed in 1896
was 597 less than in 1894, yet the per-
Icentage of experienced teachers in 1885,
was about two per cent. greater than
lin the previous year and the number OF
teachers who were graduates of nor
lmal schools was 81 greater in 1895
than in 1854. The average monthly
wages of male teachers decreased 81. %
land the average monthly wages OF
lfemale teachers increased $3.50.
The increase of $39 925 in the amount
paid for teachers salaries and board
and for janitors services is accounted
for from the increase Of 3742 weeks il
I+h, ooUrorafo numhor Of weeks O