The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-08-29
GLANCE AT THE
MAYFIELD SCHOOLS
IMPORTANT SUGGESTIONS CON-
CERNING THE SYSTEM.
People of That Community Are
Awakening to the Needs Of Their
Children-Policy of the Board of
School neutrality-suspicious.
That Have Recently Been Made.


at an end. This vacation has brought
more work for teachers and directors
than previous ones There are many
reasons for these additional labors.
The people of this community are
awakening &c the needs of their chill
dren. They demand the best training,
the best discipline, and the most mod
ern text books. These demands are
not peculiar to this community: they
are now found in every well regulated
town. They are simply in keeping
with the universal law of progress.
Moreover they are more easily made
than filled. 1t is true of every line of
business and particularly true of
school work
Keenly alive to the pressing needs of
the situation, the Maytield directors
decided that they would employ, when
ever possible, only the highest grade
of teachers to keep themselves in touch
with the wants of the hour by pursuing
course of professional reading of the
very highest order.
The controllers have planned a
course of study well calculated TO re-
duce the time to be spent at the nor
NAL schools to a minimum. Many peo-
pie of small means are thereby enabled
to have most of the teaching done
here. While the diploma after but lit
tie additional work, is granted by
higher institutions. Such is commend
able in every respect. Our school,
therefore, is shown able to do a high
grade of work and, at the same time,
is means of economy to many.
On the other hand it has been the
outspoken policy of the hoard to retain
ali its old teachers. when such is pos
sihle. and when good work is done. 1t
is also their policy to discountenance
the employment of teachers who have
provisional certificates. While some
have been and are now hired. the opin-
ion is that the day is not far distant
when only permanent certificate or a
normal dsploma viii be considered.
They mean to conduct this branch as
ali other experimentation strictly bus
iness principles. The best qualifica-
tions must be presented for the money
paid. No other business was ever a
success when otherwise conducted.
The work done during the past year,
generally speaking, is most commend
able. and ii would he to every ones
interest to take a peek into the build
ing while school is in session, Patrons
then could see what they now only
hear of, 1t would be encouraging to
your children and to the teachers in
charge. If parents care so little. who
should care moia' 1t is a thankless
task to be a direc when you do not
see parents taking even a momentary
interest in what is costing days and
weeks of time, labor and anxiety.
DTTTY nE, nJDYITTnD
n school director who does his real
duty does not do it perfunctorily but
does it with a zest, a spirit, deter
nIiration, and all thinking, observing
people so speak Now, parents can
you not do as much for your own chill
dren as stranger, an outsider?
speaking of improvements, let it be
said that the people of this borough
have school house which is not ex-
celled in this or any other county, and
has but two or three equals in this
county You have the most modern,
the most improved, the very best sys-
tenn of heating and ventilation that is
within the power of money to pur-
chase or the ingenuity of man to in
vent. The first cost has been more
than that of many other systems, but
the expense of operating it and main
tanning ii has been and is the mini
mum. A twelve horsepower engine,
fan capable of handling 1900 cubic
rect or air per minute, and a system of
steam pipes that Will heat that same
air, together with the fues for con-
Quoting the air to the rooms and from
them to the outside, briefly describes
the plant. Every child is guaranteed
IN e.
That is the result Of actual tests made,
and is in keeping with the demands
made by all hVgenic conditions.
throughout the building the same
temperature prevails, and every effort
has been and will be made to care for
the health of every child. The board
has recently coated the floors of the
building with a dustless oil, so that all
dirt or dust may remain on the floors
until removed. the air is not filed with
the nauseating particles of flying dust.
In fact, there are a hundred little
conyeniences that are provided for,
and are all secured for the comfort the
convenience and education of the child
1t is the purpose Of the board to make
the school pleasant and enjoyable
place. While all these things cost
-,
the child who can see and enjoy "A
green lawn, the shade of trees nice
play room, the best books both for
study and recreation, cannot fail TO be
greatly Influenced thereby.
THE TEXT BOOKS.
Anticipated text books this year were
discarded, and ones constructed along
the lines laid down by the government
experts We're adopted.
or course, there are many who Won
der why no graduates have been turned
out during the last four years. A
schools success is never measured by
the number of its graduates, but by
the standing. by the work done by it's
pupils. This school was placed upon a
sound basis three years ago. Before
graduates can be turned out, there
must be pupils or students prepared to
pass the necessary examinations. Such
have not been found, and, until such
do exist. II is folly to ask the question,
Where are the graduates?"
To regrade a school, 10 fashion a
good course of study. to secure the
best teachers. to provide the most mod
ern text books. and the most natural
conveniences. has been the work of
the last few years.
The promotions made last year
throughout the schools will see a grad
uating class next June. There is some
thing more than book knowledge nee
essary for graduation; though power is
the prime necessity
with respect TO the expenditure of
the money collected, there is not a con-
servative business house in this whole
nVNaNN aUNaaN l....
its funds, and makes closer and better
estimates for all things IN he mr.