Daily Kennebec journal., 1900-06-09


ana given below. \ special effort has
been made to give each its fair nronor
tion of space, and full representation in
expression. 1t will be noted that in 1s,,
about two-t thirds of the returns wera nm.
favorable. The reports for the present
year show that more than tivc-sixthe ot
'hem are encouraging and complimentary.
| 10 ascertain with some deiinitencss tn,
| work done along some OF the lines in
| which the schools are supposed to he in
| tcrested. questions were sent to the s,
| perintendents in September, asking them
| 10 give detailed information unon tbo
matters enumerated below. The record f.,
made to cover the years 1891. \ ana q
From these returns ii il learned tha4
there have been 423 school crounds 80,
idrSed and that 10 were graded d,,rin.,
the past three years. Within this ,ir,,.
the fences of 81 school lot, have hao, j.,
moved or rebuilt. 1t appears th1t 51XI
trees nave been planted. and thar i, %
S'hnoi Yards the setting out az niant"
anu SHRUBS mas added To the attr,rti,in-
mrss HI, o, or IN the grounds. 1t is also learned
tH"t Ill M school grounds other imnrn,,n'
menus nave been made which have rem
dtrcd them more slightly
y = SrillfyinS To learn that .7t buiId-
lnsS have been erected or rebuiIt III II,
l.
lt'ilt record has been made during = nrrinL
o. tAt"P'lnnAl hhincial Strinscncv ana
unusual Industrial depression. Ii this
pace IS maintained for twelve vrurS Iii
the 50 hool buildings in the Stale viii Ln
ItDllit' or replaced by new strurtIrn.
IL IS pleasing to he informed thai "a
NSh"ol hulldlhSS nave been moved fur
thtr from the highway ana tbnt IA
buildings have been painted 81, have bern
EEnlnSled ana that modern desks have
been provided for M That tho ..l.i',i
att, i.-
from the fact that Nli have been nonrr,i
or painted. that now floors have been Ilii
IN NJ, ana thlt additional improvements
nave been mad" III 1911.
" nile ill these changes ana additions
nay" been made. providing better rhysi
c3l surroundings for the children. il is
clear that the children themselves have
mol Deen overlooked. Superintcndcnts
have appreciated the necessity Of having
N the Schuolroom something besides
textbooks for the pupils To read ana
have therefore furnished them with "a IA
volumes OF standard literature That
me teachers may do their work better
tnan II was possible for them otherwise
To do 1t, school officials have purchased
tor them G39l volumes relating to school
work, methods. devices, and books of
standard literature.
1T appears that the schools have been
provided with 5l1 charts, 1iSl maps. ~
globes, $S2i pictures ana 2SG casts. Eight
schools have been supplied with labora-
tories, II with pianos p with organs. ana
'
dias have been added to their books of
reference, and l4i schools have purchased
ilass. Other material and supplies have
been provided. al of which have been
useful in carrying forward the work III
the schools"
Further progress is noted in the work in
the schools as follows: When the work |
had proceeded thus far il was found th1f
some We're disposed to contend that 4 |
course adapted TO graded schools was not |
suitable for what is known as rural |
schools; that one system was fitted for |
one class Of schools ana another for tho |
other. 1t was thought by some that l. |
was not possible to teacher music draw |
ing, manual training. and to use the mod
cn and approved methods of teaching i'm |
our rural schools. 10 make a fair test /
in this matter 10 schools were selected
for the experiment The schools selected |
We're. in many cases. housed in buildings
Of the most primitive construction; many
nf thc teachers hid not received adequate
training: the people possessed less than
the average amount OF propfrty. many. OF
th'n hdu not had school prlNlleSeS Wnich
enabled them t. read Or write \ detailed
statement WIS furnished thc superihteh-
dents ana teachers Of these schools in
forming them speciGclllv of the subjects
in which they were to give instruction.
the tnric- to which they were to give -pe-
riII attention. ana some directions wcrr
given a. to the methods to be used.
'ThcS. schools were visited ana inspected |
by the State superintendent and by per
sons appointtd bv him The last inspcr-
tinn reveals thc following conditions: Th..
teachers IRE using modern methods with
such skin as not only to be acceptable to
tbn insnprtnr but also to win tht IDprov-
a Of the people. The common school sub
ircts are taught in such ! way that thca
children can read understandlnsly, Slel
the words they have to use in a written
form aud perform the processes IN arlth-
mctic undcrstIndngly and make the COM
putItiona rapidly and accurately, they
have been taught to bcautify their yards
and schoolrooms. making use Of the ma
tcrial at hand. and accomplishing all
these things through their own efforts.
under the direction Of the teacher. Mu-
Sic ana drawing have been taught to an
extent ana with a thoroughness that l.
AS surprising as it Is gratifying. In thc
matter Of manual training these schools
nave shown quality of work ana 1 Pre-
lisirncy hardly less than astonishing.
~ show The general interest taken in
the schools the following from one 81
thnsc interested in the league and its
WINK !. nIhlishrd, this being but 4 sample
IF hundreds Of similar letters received uu
Mnu sent m, I" M ir''L ~, IL, '1 .,,n,1t ana