The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1899-03-02
Sk0whegan Schools.

have made their report for the year end
Ing February 20th. and 1t has been prn,-
ed for distribution.
The form VI the committee VA chang
ed at the last town meeting ~ AZ to
conform to the general law Of the Safe
instead OF special law under which our
schools had been run for some ak years.
The members Of the committee were
l.. w. Weston, e. A. Marston and +. w.
Allen.
The committees OF Skowhegln aud
Madison, after consultations ioined in
the employment of Mia. A. b idger a.
superintendent of schools for the two
terms, under the law of 1897 providing
therefor. and also providing for the
State paying part of the expense
Skowhegan paid two thirds Of the salary
and Madison one third, the time being
cquitably divided between the schools
OF the two towns on this basis. The
committee are well satisfied with this
arrangement and made a saving of s425
over the expense of the year before, by
the arrangement.
The committee in the report go care
fully over the whole situation and make
many recommendations that indicate
that they have devoted much time and
thought to the important duties they
have performed without compensation.
They have paid all bills presented
with the money voted a year ago, and
1886 of the bills of last year and made
estimates for next year as follows
Common schools, $1,000; school sup
plies, $500; text books, $500; high
school, $4,000; repairs, 81 800.
Full account In detail OF every item of
expenditure is given so that all can see
just where the school money of the
town has gone to.
Supt. Badger in his report gives the
number of persons in town between 4
and Il years of age, l,6l5; number of
different scholars registered, 81; aver.
age attendance for the year, eli. Many
suggestions Of the needs of the schools
are given and good number of recon-
mendations made from which we clip
the following:
| The value of drawing is too well
known to need a long dissertation here.
| During the past year our teachers have
accomplished some excellent results, in
connection with nature study, with such
material as they had at hand.
| In music but very little has been ac-
complished during the year. The i'm
portance of this study is not questioned.
Ii is just as essential that provision be
made for instruction in music as in
reading or arithmetic. There is no
study in the whole curriculum that as
sists discipline, cultivate the esthetic
side of the child and strengthens the
moral nature more than music.
| The rural school problem is the lead
ing question in educational circles today.
In Skowhegan the question is becoming
a settled one as it is in a few other
towns. To convey all the pupils within
a reasonable distance to the graded
schools works well. Now if the loca-
ton of the school houses can be changed
so that they may become centers of
greater circles for the remainder, the
school year made thirty-six weeks in
length, the rural teachers salary made
equal to or greater than the graded
teacher, only teachers of the best train
ing and education employed and the
| teacher continued in the same school at
least one year, the building and grounds
made as attractive and pleasant Ms in the
village and the rural school problem
will become settled forever"
We use the following extracts from
the report of Mr.. F. q. harrington, prin-
cipal Of the high school:
progress has been satisfactory in all
departments, and 1t has been possible In
make important additions to the course
of study. Students in the Latin Scien.
titic course are now enabled to avail
themselves of two years study Of
| French. Three terms are given to
Physics instead of the two formerly
given; this makes it possible to accom-
plish much better results than ever be-
fore. but the course can never be made
what it should be until suitable appara-
tus and better facilities for laboratory
work shall be secured.
Ii is pleasant to state that the school
has been granted the right 10 send II
Wellesley College, on certificate, the
young ladies who graduate from cur
college preparatory course ;Dhs is siguif-
icant because of the fact that the righr
is given only to schools whose courses
are designed To meet the growing de-
fuaudS of the colleges "