The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-03-05

| OF candidates of the very highest oapRblll
ties, ana the committee can select thos
whom they consider TO be the best htteo
physically and mentally, to become stronl
ana efficient teachers. 1t is to be regret
| ted that the capacity of the school Ia linn
tied. SO that many applicants who d
doubt are we'll qualified cannot share 1T
advantages.
The condition of the School for the Dea
steadily improves each year. The system
of instruction is admirably arranged; th
school is well graded, and each year
experience ADDS to the efficiency of tn
abs corps of teachers. The financial con
clifton OF the school Is also very satisfsc
tory. and the expenses have been KEEP
we'll within the appropriation. Their
are at present sixty-seven pupils, ant
these with the teachers and help max
total OF about seventy-fv persons con
neeted with the institution. The very
excellent manner in which this larg'
family is managed and cared for proves
that the Principal, Miss Elizabeth h
Taylor, is not only thoroughly compe
tive ability. The dormitory is admirably
adapted to it's requirements and is a credit
to the State and City. The name, Brown
son Hall, has very appropriately beer
given TO this building, and is deserved
compliment to Mr.. Vim. H. Brownson Of
the school board. who fer many years has
been devoted friend of the school, anG
in his official and private capacity hat
done much to bring the school to its pres
emit fiourishing condition.
The children come to this school from
all parts of the State, and. as the school
is practically supported by the State, II
is generally conceded that 1t should be q
State Institution, managed by a separate
board of Trustees, with the property all
under one management. In furtnsrance
of this plan, the City has offered to turn
over to the State the Spring Street house
and lot, free of expense. The State now
before the Legislature, and probably the
State will soon assume control OF the In
stitution.
Satisfactory results have followed tine
efforts of the Special Teachers In writing
and drawing.
Miss Lucy c. Bedlow. the assistant
teacher of drawing, has had leave OF abb
senoe to enable her to pursue course OF
study at the Pratt Institute, but is ex-
pected to return and resume her position.
The result of her years study cannot fail
to be OF great benefit to her classes. Dur
ing her absence her work has been salts.
faotorily carried on by Miss Mary b.
Billiard.
There has been no change during the
year in the course In music. Excellent
service has been rendered by Mrs Merrill.
and good progress has been made. 1t Is
not expected that much can be accom-
plisned in the way of voice culture, but
special attention has been paid the past
year to production of TONE position Of
the body and the vocal organs while sing
ing, as well as to sight reading and the
theory OF music.
Manual Training is part of the regu-
lar course in the Grammar School and is
under the charge of Mr.. Geo, H. Babb
and MIR. A. W, richards. who are faithful
and mpetent Instructors. These gen
tleinen have endeavored to acquaint the
people of the city with the work of the
school, for and by the boys, by having
occasionally during the year open days
when parents, the members of different
professions and societies, have been in
ytted to visit the school and see the actual
methods employed and work done in The
various classes. Nearly one thousand
citizens have during the year taken this
opportunity to visit the school. and a
deep and far reaching interest mas been
awakened in Iavor of this very important
branch of education. At the close of the
summer term, through the courtesy OF
Messrs. Hooper, Son q Leighton. the use
of one of their large show windows was
given for one week to the manual train
ing exhibit. The excellence of the work
manship attracted much attention and
favorable comment. An evidence or
the influence of manual training is the
fact that many High schooIbOys who
have completed the course, seek oppOr-
tunities to return to the rooms and carry
on the work for themselves. In many
instances a latent talent has been Rwak-
ened that might otherwise never havd
been developed, and several boys are con-
tinuipg the course in manual training
and mechanical drawing. There are
those who still hold to the idea that
manual training is to make carpenters
and tradesmen OF our boys. Statistics
nrove it is not so, nor is such its object.
Briefly stated, is is claimed that manual
training, correctly taught will train the
hand and eye to work together, stimu-
late the observation, strengthen the will,
help to train the judgment and develop
the reasoning powers.
: The efforts to provide similar and sys-
fanatic instruction for girls have not yet
matsrialized, but it is commonly reported
thai building is soon to be erected,
with private funds. TO provide suitable
accommodations for the boys training
school. and a cooking and sewing school
for GIRLS. No official notice of such in
tention has come before the board, but II
ia hoped that the report is true, as it will
place our school system in line with the
more advanced systems Of some other
cities.
Kindera artens at the Bracket street,
Chestnu ut street, Centre street, and North
primaries have been well and successfully
conducted, and demands are made fol
their esta blishment in other parts of the
city The public will not be sat.sed I'M
til each primary school has It's kindergar.
ten. and it is hoped this may soon be ac-
comp lisbed.
The evening school during the past
wear has had the III st successful term oil
it's existence. The school was opsned
October fifth and has held four sessions
= week, closing March second. The
number of pupils was two hundred
eighty four; males, one hunored ninety.
four: females, ninety. Their ages ranged
from fourteen to sixty-three, and nearly
nil nationAlities were represented.
Among the pupils was class of twenty
ArmepiaDs, the majority of whom could
not at frat, speak our language. They
were bright apt scholars and learned
the language very readily. Principal
MiIIiken reports much interest among
fine pupils in their work, and the attend
anoe has been larger than ever before
The course of study has been the came
as IN the grammar schools. with civil
nj %, RI