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

soA1 .AAuOn III Unelr Wofk curing Ono pas
year oy the libraries purchased with the
money given from the walker fund. The
trustees OF this fund donated $50 to each
OF these schools. and carefully selected
booKs We're purchased and placed in neat
cases The scholars are proud OF thelr
Libraries, and the teachers have repeated
~ tesulned to the interest and eegerness
which the children, and the adults also,
manifest In the books. Shut of from the
advantages Of good libraries, the class OF
literature that fell into the hands OF these
children was, to say the least, not eleyat-
ing. These books have opened new
worlds to them, and the result is incalou-
liable. 1t is safe to say that no donation
from this fund for similar purposes has
been more appreciated or productive OF
more good than the little sum given to
these island schools.
The Peaks Island school has long
ranked well with the graded schools OF
the city, and under the present manage
ment it is maintaining its high standard.
During the year Miss Simpson has been
transferred to the city at her own request
and the position thus vacated mas been
very acoeptably filed by Miss Parsons.
In June, 1896, the City Government
voted an appropriation of s26, 900 for the
purpose Of building new schooihouse
in Ward One, and to renovate the Monu-
ment street schoelhouse. A lot of land
containing 20, 205 SO uare feet near Con
gress street, and running from Emerson
to Morning streets, was purchased, anu
| the fou ndations for the new bullolng
ware laid In the fall, So, 403 of the appro-
priation have been expended so 1ar.
Plans prepared by f. A. Tomps son,
ESQ.,, have been adopted, and work Will
be commenced early in the spring. me
new building is to be of brick, TWO
stories high, and will contain e1gn6
| ~ rpil1 ha maid f0
heating, ventilation, and the sanitary
arrangements. Ii is hoped she new
building will be ready for occupancy by
the close of the summer vacation, IN
which case it can be occupied temper
arily by the pupils OF the Monument
street school, while that building is being
remodeled. Too little attention has been
paid in the past in the building OF school
houses to the important subject OF ventil-
lation, and our soh0olhouses are not In as
good sanitary condition as they should
he. To say that the buildings have
served their purpose for many years 1s
begging the question. They have not
we'll served their purpose. 10 say that
many of the homes from which the child
rem como are in worse sanitary condition
than the schoolhouses is no argument Tor
the continuance of tire bad condition OF
tha sohuolhouses. 1t Is no doubt true
that many business men spend their days
in poorly ventilated offices and stores,
and sooner or later they pay the penalty.
Ii is true that many homes arc in worse
ambition than the school buildings, but
these facts only make it the more neces-
cary that the children should be under
fine most perfect sanitary conditions pos
sible. during the hours they pass each
day in school.
Modern mstho1s of ventilation make it
possible to constantly change the mir in
the schoolrO0m, and, When tRls Is zone,
the bess work can be demanded and re-
cei vrd from both teacher and scholar. 1t
ia mn wooder that SO many teachers, who
are Obliged TO remain for hours in rooms
IN which the air is heavy with impurl-
ties having been breathed over and over
again. often break down entirely and
have to take extended leave of absence to
regain health and strength, or that
| scholars are listless and dali and with
| diff1culty apply their minds to their
tasks. We do not forget that the danger
| resulting from contact with those from IN
healthy homes always exists, and 1T is not
| contenied that this danger can be entire
! " ayerted. but it is claimed that pure air
will lessen the liability Of contagion,
will stimulate the mind ana VIII I'M
nroye the whole condition of the
Schools. The benefits resulting from the
recent rsmodeling OF the High school
| huiidine are apparent to those who are
| familiar with the school. and 1T would
| be- wise and profitable to put all our old
school buildings In proper sanitary con-
dition and economize, If need be, In many
less important public improvements.
The care of the rooms has been criti-
cised by some parents, recently, and 1t
| ia claimed thar the floors are not washed
| as often rs ia necessary for neatnoss and
health. While the matter is entirely out
side the province of the committee, we
believe that floors should be washed
oftener than they have been and see no
reason why this should not be part ct the
work of the regular Janitors. II one or
| two floors should be washed each week,
this, labor would not be burdepsome and
the entire building would receive fire.
ouept cleansing. In this connection, We
consider it only just to say that, IS rule
the janitors are faithful in the discharge
of their duties, and the school buildings
are well swept and tidy in appearance.
| The subject of school decoration is ex-
citing considerable interest, here as we'll
as elsewhere. Private parties have al
! ready donated pictures to some OF the
schools and an effort is being made by
the Woman's Literary Union to raise
FUNDS to adorn the bare walls OF all the
| rooms with pictures and works OF art.
| The names OF the committee having this
work in charge are sufficient guarantee
that only such selections will be made
as shall be elevating in their influence
and helpful to the pupils in their studies.
The committee would commend the
teachers of the public schools for their
fdlity to the duties imposed upon them.
Possibly many think that the hours OF
the school session comprise the labors OF
| the teacher. We're such the case, it
would be a sufficient strain upon the
mind and nervous system. but written
work has so large place in our school
programmes, that many hours of the
teachers time outside of school are occu
pied in the preparation of papers and the
examination of the pupils work. Vaca-
lions are none too frequent nor too long
to give the body and the mind the rest
needed to perform well the exaoting
duties of the school term, and In many
cases the compensation is inadequate 60
the ser vice rendered. The efficiency of
our public schools would be besd en-
HANGED by some system of pensIoning
teachers who have spent the prime and
strength of their lives IN the public SER
vice. The salaries of the maj ority OF our
teachers are not large enough to enable
them to make provision for their support
after retirement from active service, and
| uhi1a the oon,mfttee may be satisfied