The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-02-28

being done In our city schools, Is of tho
highest character. IL means something
10 graduate from this school. for no one
is permitted TO graduate from II who does
not give promise of becoming successful
tescher.
The principal. Miss Taylor. works hard
to maintain the high standard of this
To accomplish this IL often
a difficult problem. Weak pupil teachers,
for instance, must be made TO see their
and II they cannot overcome
them must he dropped before graduation.
This often brings upon the principal the
enmity OF parents and others, and In such
ways she Otter has to bear the RESPONSE
billy which properly belongs to the super
intendent or to the school committee.
Miss Taylor should have the hearty CO.
operation OF all school officers in her en-
deayors TO supply them with none but
GOOD teachers.
Reference :can properly be made to the
fact that tho Training School has the mn
est teachers library In the State. IL In
cludes over seven hundred volumes. and Is
at the convenience OF oil teachers In our
public schools. who should consult IL more
often than is now done. The books are
properly catalogued, are the latest and
best Of their kind. and are all upon the
theory and practice of pedagogy.
EVENING SCHOOL
The session of the Evening school for
the winter Of 1888 and 80 has been pros
porous one under the intelligent manage
ment of the principal, Mr.. j. A. MILL
ken, and his efficient assistants. There
have been registered in all 2'2 gentlemen
and 1888 ladies. The attendance has been
more regular than during previous years
and the interest In the work has been
very gratifying. The classes have been
made up from almost very nationality
living in the city.
More time has been given to the subject
OF d nmanship than during any other
term. The change from the slant to tho
vertical system has been attended by re-
suits that have been truly marvellous.
The chief thing necessary to make the
school more efficient Is that 1t should have
rooms specially Its own, an advantage
which it is hoped may be gained in the
near future.
MANUAL TRAINING SCHOL.
The year has been marked by steady
work OH the part Of both instructors and
pupils. Since the system was introduced
into the grammar school COURSES seven
years ago, several different methods of
teaching have been tried. These were to
show what principle of woodworking
would most developc the scholar during
the short time given to manual
training. Perfection has not been
reached yet. though 1t is
believed that the course tried this year
is the richest in results thus far Mr..
Arthur W. Richards, who had been an in
s.urctor for two years, resigned at the. END
of the summer term. The vacancy was
filed by the appointment Of Mr.. W. II.
Morton. of Portland. Without previous
experience In teaching, his artistic tastes
practice have mado him valuable In
structor In this department.
Attention il called to the advieability
of supplying a motor lathe and power
stonesto the the Vaughan street building.
like those now in use at the North school.
ISLAND SCHOOLS.
Peaks Island. The school here is a
graded grammar and primary school.
Under the excellent management OF the
principal Miss Morrill,. and Misses Par
sons and Parker, assistants, 1t ranks
with any school In the city. Its gradu-
atss are well prepared for the High school
and some Of them come daily TO the city
in order to take advantage of the privil-
eyes.
Long Island. There has been decided
improvement during the past year in all
the schools Of the islands, and more es-
pecially In those on Long island and Clin
leland.
In past years. 1t has been difficult to
procure competent teachers for these
schools, who would continue in their posi-
lions for any length of time. As result
,l.r To- ka no.
sessions. For the past three or four years.
however, there has been but one change
In the teacher on either island. Miss
Websr who had done so much to mprove
the East End Long Island school, resigned
her position and was succeeded by Miss
Babb, an experienced teacher. At the
West End Long island school Miss Carroll
has been very successful. and both of
these schools are now as regularly held
and as we'll attended as any Of the city
schools.
Cliff island The COMMITTEES have bee n
fortunate In securing and retaining for
SO long u time, the services Of Miss Grace
p. Dow. as teschsr OF the school. The
attendance has nearly doubled within the
past two years. new desks and black boards
have been supplied, and the school-room
has a very neat and pretty appearance.
KINDERGARTENS.
This department of primary instruction
has been prosperous during the year. The
increase in the nun Der of these schools,
authorized by the.committee last year, has
been practically warranted by large class
es, aud already assistant teachers have
been necessary for them. The older
schools also report full attendance and
have also required additional teachers.
This growing attendance In our Kind
ergsrtsns is not only demonstrating the
popularity. of the system. but is also de-
veloping an imp ortant question for con.
siderstion. While certain parts of the
city have had already the question an
swered for them, with suitable rooms and
teachers, Others just as needy are unpro-
yided for. The districts about Deer
street, Canton street, the farther end Of
Washington street, and West Commercial
street, are just as much entitled to Kin
dergartens for their hosts of little ones as
are those in which the present schools are
located.
Whether the kindergarten method il