The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1898-03-03
Citypoint. Mrs. S. Adams succeeded Miss

N. u. brOWn at the Board Landing. MT.
Harding took charge of the Union school
last fall and is still in that position. Near
ly all onr rural teachers have been sue
cessful during the past year So
many times, when it seemed that our
hopes would be shattered have they plung-
ed into the work with greater zeal and
more determined effort, that the plans
should succeed, and they have.
Rural teachers meetings are held once
month, at which time schools are closed
for half day, and the entire time devot-
ed to discussing the affairs and methods
of the rural schools. The plan of vista
ton is the same as last year. 1 visit each
school nearly once month and spend at
least half a day in school at each visit.
Nearly every teacher is doing profession
al reading, and many attended the sum-
mer schools last year that they might be
more valuable to their pupils this year.
General repairs and improvements have
been made in nearly all the schoolhouses.
A new platform was built at the Pitcher
school. Citypoint schoolhouse was new
ly shingled and clapboarded. The Brick
schoolroom was papered. Nearly all
were whitewashed. All our rural schools
need platforms in front. would recon-
mend that the long plank walk lying west
of the Central school and which is no
longer used be cut up and placed as plat
forms at some of the rural schools.
An equal effort has been made to i'm
prove the work of the rural schools, as
was made for the city schools, and with
proportionately good results. Frye S
Geography was introduced in September
and has been a success. Arithmetic is
better than last year. In English, neat
ness, accuracy of expression and spelling,
carefulness in written work for inspection,
are some of the things now demanded by
the rural schools. The schools now make
an effort to discuss current events of the
day, and civics is taught as exercise once
a week. During the year several systems
of vertical writing have been tried in the
various schools.
Two studies are not up to the standard
in rural schools, viz. !; history and reading,
and to remedy these the Superintendent
presents plans at some length.
The remainder of the portion devoted
to rural schools is devoted to arguments
on consolidation, teachers meetings and
professional reading, supplies, etc He
concludes with paragraph on music, as
follows:
into the rural schools last year, but owing
to lack of funds it was decided not to ex-
tend it at present. | wish to call your at
tention again to the matter and hope that
funds may be allowed for its extension.
OTHER MATTERS.
The report also contains a variety of
other matter pertinent to the school sys-
TEN. Extracts from the State laws bear
ing on truahcy, etc, are given. Also in
connection with truaney some remarks on
charity as applied to school children. A
page devoted to "Home and school," is a
presentation of the position of the com
mittee and superintendent on various
matters that have arisen. On 'FLitera-
ture in the Schools he says:
1.-The schools of Belfast are fortunate
in one respect: in the influence that the
Public Library is exerting upon the chill
dren AT the beginning of the year Miss
Pond voluntarily prepared reading courses
for nearly every grade in the city, and
posted them in the various school rooms.
She also issued to each grade where
pupils could read, a certain number OF
books to be kept and loaned to the pupils
when lessons were over, in order that a
taste for better reading might be cultivat-
ed This little library is changed from
time to time, and Miss Pond gives person
al supervision to the selection Of the
books. The same courtesy is being ex-
tended to the rural schools. Nor is this
all. Boys and girls in search of some
thing to read find a warm and ready help
er in Miss Pond. 1t is not customary &c
write at length on matter like this, but
children have improved SO much in this
respect that | am anxious to acknowledge
work that turned the current of thought
of more than one boy.