The Portland daily press., 1898-03-01

was appropriated by the City Council at
the beginning Of the present munlclpal
year SS7 ,S15.25 for school salaries, $o,ooo
for text books, 20, 500 for supplies, st%-
tionery, etc., 81 200 for the eveningschool'
$500 for supplies for the Manual IRAN
ing school and $50, 600 for the new liner
son schoolhouse. The appropriation tor
school books was insufficient, asst mere are
unpaid bills amounting to nearly Sl,uUo.
IL Will also require about ", 0OU auul-
tlonal to complete the new schooinouSo.
BY comparing these outlays with those
OF other New England cities OF the same
population, it will be found thai oue
regard for economy has been exercised,
consistent with the proper teaching anu
equipment of our schools.
The supplying of free text books 10
pupils has its advantages and dlsadvant,
ages. While it may tighten the burden OF
parents in some instances. it nevertheless
necessitates heavy draft upon the city
treasury, and may eventually lead to e1-
trayagance in the unnecessary purchasing
of books. The books required by pupil
In the primary grade would ordinarily
cost less than one dollar q year, while
those needed in the grammar school
would not far exceed this amount. lndl
vidual ownership of books, for obvious
reasons, is to be encouraged. whether the
present State law remain operative or
not.
HIGH SCHOOL.
The number of young people who enter
our High school each year is constantly
increasing. Whether this is due to i'm
proved social conditions or G greater pub
lie regard for higher education, we will
not attempt to discuss. A rank of sixty
five in arithmetic and seyenty-five per
cent in all other studies entities pupil
in the first class of the grammar school
to be admitted to the High school. For
those who fail to reach this standard. the
committee adopted a rule last June where
by a special examination may be taken.
Seven pupils awaited themselves of this
privilege, fonr of whom were successful.
Upon being admitted to the High school
pupils may, with the written consent OF
| their parents, take certain prescribed
cour SEES. That parents often do not choose
wisely or have no clear perception Of the
capacity of their children seems evident
| from the number of failures reported by
the principal and teachers. The intended
career of these young men and women
after they leave the High school should
be an important factor in determining
what studies they should elect. Under
the supervision of DR.. Vose (whose deter
mination to retire from the school board
is deeply regretted by his fellow members
and our citizens in geDeraD the High
| school has been well conducted curing
the past year. Principal Chase and his
efficient corps of assistants have given
special attention towards qualifying
pupils in the classical department TO en-
ter our New England colleges. The pre-
vious recommendations of this board that
English composition be given more proml
hence, have been carried out. teachers
are making persistent efforts to have the
thoughts of the pupils and tho trans aa
| tions of the text given in good Engnsh,
and by this constant drill better and
purer style in writing and speaking Is
gradually being acquired.
| The Committee on Public Buildings
will he called upon during the coming
year to provide new cemented floor in
the basement of the High school, as the
constant travail OF the boys at recess has
worn the present floor so that sand and
dust are sometimes carried through the
building by means of the fan.
TRAINING SCHOOL.
Young ladies who complete the full
course of four years in our High school
and who attain an average rank OF eighty
five per cent may, under a rule adopted
by the Board, three years ago, be admit
ted to the Training school without pass
| ing an examination. The school at pres
emit cannot accommodate more than ten
pupil teachers annually, and the COM
mittee Is therefore obliged to select by
ballot, as the number Of applicants usual
ly exceeds ten. Those who may not avail
themselves Of the excellent instruction
given in the Training school, often attend
our State Normal schools. and it would
seem fair that in the selection of teach
ers. graduates from the State Normal
schools who are residents of Portland
should be employed after the
graduates of the Training school are
given places. We can only repeat what has
! been so we'll said in previous reports, that
the Training school. under the able con-
troll of Miss Sarah NJ. Taylor, is the fruit
full source from whence we obtain oul
very best teachers.
MANUAL TRAINING SCHOOL.
Manual training has now become q
fixed and lasting quantity in the educa
STRENGTHENING the mental faculties by
! means OF the eye and hand is no longer q
mooted question. The only problem whict
at present confronts the committee is
How may manual training be further ex-
tended? The lnuniflcent offer OF the trus
tees of the Walker estate to erect a large
four-story brick building on the cornel
of Casco and Cumberland streets and
present it as a free gift to the city, with
i the sole condition that it be maintained
as q manual training school, happily
solves this problem and Is proposition
which, in the opinion of your committee
the City Council would do we'll to accept
Larger quarters would tend to broader
the scope of this school, and make the
grammar school course more profitable
and beneficial to boys who do not intend
entering the High -school. Simple bnt
practical lessons in physical science could
be taught, whereby knowledge of steam
and electricity might be acquired, ant
the mechanism of the telegraph, tele
phone and electric car explained. The
school might also be supplied with {
printers case, copying press and type
writing machines. Such instruction could
best be given in separate building such
rs the one proposed With the present
limited facilities Mr.. Babb and his assis
tant. Mr.. Richards, have achieved fatter
ing results.
SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF.
For twenty -one years past, Portland
has maintained school for the deaf
taught by expert teachers and attended by
the deaf OF both sexes from Portland anc
other cities and towns III Maine; the
State reimbursing us for the tuition O
non residents. In 1895 the State pur
J chased the commodious house and lot ad
Joining the cjty'S school on Spring stree