The Portland daily press., 1897-09-11
SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
Decide to Establish Two Additional
KindergartenS.

A special meeting of the school COM
mittee was held yesterday afternoon. All
the members were present. DR.. Vose pre-
sided during the absence of the Mayor
at meeting of the Board of Aldermen,
and later Mayor Randall came in and
took the chair.
Z On motion of Mr.. Brownson Scudder's
revised History of the United States
was ordered to be added to the list of text
books, under suspension of the rules. I
Miss Mary B. Porter was transferred to
the jackson school from the Brackett
street school, to which she had been elect
ed.
Miss Mary Prince was transferred to
the Brackett street school In the place OF
Miss Porter.
MIR. MCGOWAN moved that the evening
school be located on the first floor OF the
jackson schoolhouse, and open to pupils
ON October 1st, and it was SO voted
On motion of Mr. MCGOWAN an order
was passed recommending to the commit
tee on public buildings that they provide
a janitor for the evening school, and also
make provisions for the storage OF the
books of that school under the supervis-
ion of the superintendent OF schools. 1t
was also voted to recommend to the COM
mittee on public buildings for the poslt7
ion of janitor of the evening school MI:
Charles HI. Fabyan, as eminently qualified
for the position. -
Miss Babb was elected teacher of the
school at the east end OF Long Island at
the usual salary of $425.
Miss Wescott was placed in the Monu-
nent school in place of Miss thompson
while the latter is on her vacation.
The matter of the manual training
schools was brought UP by MIR. Hall, who
suggested that the upper classes IN the
schools be placed under the charge of Mr.,
| Babb and the under classes i'll charge OF
Mr.. Richards. This plan would enable
both teachers to be familiar with the
work done in both sections of the city in
stead OF dividing the schools between
them according to whether they were
located in the eastern or western part OF
the city
A long discussion ensued over an or
der introduced by Mr.. Brownson in re-
gard to the late appropriation of $685. by
the city government to be added to the
school salaries and supposed to be in
tended for extending the kindergarten
system In offering his order. Mr.. Brown
son said that he was opposed to any ex-
tension of this kindergarten system I'M
til we could offer better salaries to the
teachers now in the city employ than
~
If voted, there would be an additional ex-
pense of about Thousand dollars for
school expenses, and that after the bills
are paid for the school books already Or
dered the school book appropriation will
be so nearly exhausted that great care
will have to be used in expenditures of
that nature to the end of the year. He
then offered this order:
Ordered, That the City Council be re-
quested to place to the account of school
books the appropriation of $685., which
was added last Monday to the appropria-
ton for school salaries.
Mr.. Hall said he understood that this
money was appropriated for q specific
purpose. He thought the best interests
Of the people were to be considered. He
believed in kindergartens. II the people
wanted them they should have them :.
He hoped the order would not pass.
Mr. Whitehouse was in accord with MIR.
Hall. He hoped the salaries OF the teach
ers would be raised as soon as possible,
but he still believed two new kindergar-
tens would be of great service.
Mr.. Brownson Thought that the kinder
gartens were most in demand by people
Of means, who could well afford to pay
for such instruction if needed by their
children.
Mr. MCGOWAN thought in some sections
| of the city kindergartens would be ben
| 6uU. dRI6SQ WlUA blIs bIOWhCOu uildt
the well-to-do should pay for kindergar-
ten instruction for their children. The
established schools, however, help the
children of the well to do and not the
poor, and he thought therefore, the latter
should be equally favored.
The order then failed of a passage.
Then Mr.. Brownson offered an order
that the $685. be divided equally between
the primary school teachers, emitting the
principals.
DR.. Warren said the primary school
teachers were poorly paid and hard
worked and he didn't see why the com.
mittee should go out of its way to in.
crease their burdens.
Mr.. Peabody said he considered that
this money was appropriated for spe-
| citic purpose and that they had no right
to divert it for that purpose.
/ Mr.. Hall said that If the next city gov.
eminent did not choose TO continue the
appropriation for kindergartens they
could close the schools.
Mr.. MCGOWAN considered the kinder
| garten system broadening simply OF the
| primary system.
Mr.. Brownson said that nobody was
suffering for want of a new kindergar'
ten. He spoke of the schools already
established where the teachers had hare
work to get pupils.
Messrs. Whitehouse and Peabody said
| tuhu Ill Ulle Union oUdUIol ulStrlCu WlSFc
at least three-quarters of mile from q
kindergarten and where they should ask
for one to be established if it was estab
lissied.
Mr.. Brownson's order was lost, only
MIR. Brownson and DR.. Warren voting in
the affirmative.
Mr.. Peabody then offered an order fol
the establishment of kindergarten in
the Union Station district and if a room
could not be procured there to have il
placed in room in the Carroll stree
school.
DR.. Warren thought the location mos
needed was in the vicinity of Green ant
Cross streets where there is a room thai
can be used. He moved that Mr.. Pea
body's order lie on the table, and Mr.
Brownson seconded the motion. The
vote resulted in tie, Messrs Brownson
the Mayor, DR.. Vose and DR.. Warner
voting yes; Messrs. Hall, Peabody, Nc
Gowan and Whitehouse voting no.
Then Mr.. Hall offered an order amend
ed by Mr.. Peabody, that read as follows:
Ordered, that two kindergartens be es
tablished, one in Ward and one in Ware
Z, the one in Ward to be referred to
committee of two with power to secure
a room, and that the $685. by permission