The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-03-24


stration OF the fact that all points in the
circumference are eQuidistant from the
centre, hut when he attempts to cut the
circle with a knife he only demonstrates
the fact that 1t Is impossible to make q
true circle and that such are rarely or
never found In real existence. 1t is not
perceived how the time spent in making
wooden disc teaches more than the draft
which is an ideal standard never to be
exactly realized. The friends of the
system disclaim any purpose to make
carpenters of the pupils, but when the
plan or draft is finished and the execu-
tiun of it begins the work is carpentry
and the skill acquired is carpenters skill
1t is probably too early to assert that
the training given in
THE KINDERGARTENS
is of marked value later in school life.
Advocates of thekindergarten system seem
at times to confuse education in the sense
in which the public schools have under
taken to supply it with that care and
nurture which the home should supply.
That homes are often deficient in these
respects does not necessarily prove that
the public should be foster mother to
the children SO unfortunately situated.
Some duties belong to the parent and
some to the school teacher. The tendency
seems to be to widen the scope OF the
latter at the expense of the former. 1t 10
not asserted that in this instance the
proper limits have been overstepped.
These schools are in their experimental
stage and judgments upon their merits
and value may be wisely deferred.
AS has been already intimated
THE HIGH SCHOOL
is growing at more rapid rate than our
common schools. Last year the entering
class was 242 and notwithstanding theIen-
largement Of the building and the in
crease in the crops of instructors the
capacity of the school is not beyond the
demands upon it. 1t is a difficult and
costly matter to furnish the varied and
advanced English courses required by
the large number of pupils and at the
same time give that classical instruction
necessary to fit boys for college. The
annual cost of this school cannot be ex-
actly estimated because some expenses of
the school system are for the common
benefit Of this and the other schools. Now
that the building has been remodellod,
twenty thousands dollars would be about
a fair estimate of the yearly expense. The
liberal outlays upon the edifloe have
shown how well established the high
school is in the public estimation. The
lHduJ udtO SltoA GENEROUSLY I'll Uu6lE
means for the education of a favored few
believing that from the higher education
of those few there comes general bene-
tit. But costly rs this school is, it is
likely to become more costly. Whenever
1T is necessary to supply the place of a
teacher the committee are made aware of
the fact that those competent to teach the
higher mathematics, the classics,
languages and the sciences demand and
can get liberal salaries
However much our citizens may take
pride in the high school and find the con-
siderable expense in maintaining it justi-
fed by the benefits of
THE HIGHER EDUCATION
given to large number of the youth of
this city we should not forget that the
common schools are the bone and sinew
of our public school system. 1t is our
duty to see to it that every child in this
city ia able to read, write and perform
the simple processes of arithmetic One
commanding position among the giants
of the last generation said that the
possession of such requirements made
man educated. Since free high schools
came into general existence in this state
it may be safely said that they have
grown while the common schools have
been starved. Let us not neglect our
foundations in our care for our SUPER
structure.
From the youth to whom so much has
been given much should be expected
Those who avail themselves of the oppor-
tunities of this school do SO upon the i'm.
piled understanding that they will do
their full share. A large mem bership
with low standard of scholarship is not
do i1.ah 1o nd no
the advisability of such changes in the
system of promotion from the grammar
schools as shall further raise that
standard.
AS to discipline this school stands upon
a peculiar footing. The younger children
of the common schools must be kept I'M
der school Influences with such restraints
and GORE ction as individual cases re-
quire.
1t would be unwise to put upon them
the responsibility of deciding whether
they would attend school or not. In the
high school however, the pupil is no
longer to be treated as child, and if by
repeated breaches of the rules he shows
his indifference to his opportunities he
has no right to longer enjuy those oppor-
tunities. Teachers should not be Obliged
TO spend upon his correction that time
which belongs to his associates. The
policy of the committee has been to drop
from the school those whose continued
violations for the rules show them I'M
worthy to be members of it.
THE TRAINING SCHOOL
continues to be most valuable source of
supply from which to draw new teachers.
A young lady who has acquitted herself
creditably during the year spent in this
school is as well fitted to teach as a per-
son of her age can be and far better than
many whose methods have been picked
up haphazard. Before this year all can
didates for the training class were re-
CURED to pass an examination but the
rule has been changed SO as to admit
without examination high school, gradu-
ates who have attained rank of at least
IS per cent for their four years. course.
Other applicants must still pass an ex-
animation. Under the new system the
class is reported to be one Of marked ex-
celience.
With the present year the
DEAF SCHOOL
enters upon new phase of it's existence.
Established with an appropriation of six
hundred dollars in the year 1876-T it has
grown from school of eleven till ut
present it numbers sixty-four pupils from