The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1899-03-02
THE RURAL SCHOOLS

general condition of the rural school system
Ihe schools were visited once a month and
an effort made to go over the work in all
branches with the teachers. These schools
are in many respects equal to those of the
city system, and have what we cannot
hope for in the graded school, the value of
individual work, notwithstanding the great
number of classes in each school.
The changes that have occurred in the
rural schools are as follows: Miss E. Fl.
Thomas transferred from the Pitcher to the
Brick school; John Mcclellan was elected to
the Pitcher school; Mrs. G.. L. Moody was
transferred from Poor's Mills to the Hay
ford school, and Miss Mabel Brown filed
the vacancy at the Poor's Mills school, The
Union school was closed last spring and the
pupils transferred to the Brick school,
Beside the general repairs incident to the
year the Pitcher sciool-house was painted
two coats; the Brick school house was
divided by a partition, and bell was
bought by the inhabitants of the East Side.
Flags We're bought by the pupils of the
Pitcher and Poor's Mills schools, and now
ali the schools are provided with flags Mr..
Brick recommends removing the Board
Landing school house to the Upper Bridge,
as all the pupils attending that school, save
one, now live at or south of the last named
settlement He also recommends extensive
repairs to the Hayford schoo-house.
The remarks on course Of study in the city
schools apply largely to the rural system
In reading, the lack of supplement tary
material was felt and pupils provided them
selves with pamphlets different volumes in
the various schools) and exchanged from
time to time. He recommends change in
the text books on history in the rural
schools.
REMARKS RELATIVE TO BOTH SYSTEMS.
Undec this head the Superintendent
speaks OF the amount of work done by
teachers under modern methods. The rule
that the teachers shall be in the school room
at quarter past eight, and the fact that
many remain there until five o'clock, show
that their day is not a short one. In addi~
ton the examination and correction Of
school papers, making reports, and the
study and reading necessary to keep in
touch with modern methods, make the
teachers duties arduous and exactng He
finds by comparison that the teachers of
Belfast compare favorably with those of any
city in New England both as to amount
and quality of work.
Efforts have been made to improve the
transportation facilities, but they are still
far from satisfactory. The Superintendent
recommends that specifications of the re-
quirements of the various routes be prepared
and bids asked for and the contractors be
required to live up to the contract. In view
of the good work done in the rural schools he
does not think it advisable to transport any
more pupils to the city schools and he would
advise, If possible, the re-opening of some of
the rural schools now closed
The cost of free text books has been very
small the past year, but larger outlay il
now necessary, as the books are becoming
worn.
He explains at some length the plan of
examinations and promotions, but lack Of
space forbids us giving the details here.
He acknow lodges several gifts for the
benefit OF needy children, which have help
ed to keep the children Of the poorer famI-
lies in school. Every case of alleged in
ability to attend school for lack of proper
clothing has been Investigated and attended
to, and it is a significant fact that absences
from this cause and the number of appl-
cants for help are less this year than in any
year during the present administration.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT.
Following ls the statement of the school
account for the year 1898 SO:
GENERAL SCHOOL, PURPOSES