Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-04-26
VILLAGE DISTRICT.
Annual Report of the Board
of Directors.
Schools Of the District in a Most
FIourishing Condition.
principal Charles S. P.uinsiIrs Report
Average Attendance Of Pupils.

district have issued their i4th annual
report. showing our schools to be. in a
iiourishing condition. The report says:
Inc Industrious founders of New Eng
land provided early in their town regu-
lations for the education of their chill
dren. When their worthy descendants
came to the wilderness of the Kenne-
Dec and planted settlements in the
ancient township of Hallowcll. they
brought with them an inherited regard
Tor the agencies of both religious and
secular teaching; and at the earliest
meeting of the frceholdcrs held in III
at Fort Western for the completion Of
the organization of the town govern
ment, they We're swift to vote tax
for the schooling of the rising gencr-
alton though poorly able in their pow
crty to spare the pittance required.
Thus with the birth of the town began
the public schools of ancient Halo
we'll Twenty-siN years later. when
Augusta was set OF from the mother
township. and organized as a separat,
town. its first town meeting held April
3, 1871, literally voted the sum of four
hundred dollars for the support of the
public schools of the eight districts
into which the sparSely inhabited
town was divided. The voters the same
year chose five OF their foremost fell
low citizens-lteV. Daniel Stone. Or.
Daniel Cony, Captain Henry Scwall
DIR. Samuel Coleman. and Captain
Seth Ntlliams.-a general committee
to visit and inspect the schools. This
was the first experimenting school
committee of Augusta-composed of
remarkably strong and distinguished
men. whose lives We're benelicently
associated with the early life of the
town which they helped to establish.
From the closing years of the eight
zenith century TO the opening months
of the twentieth century. the Iivcly
interest of the inhabitants Of the town
and city in their schools. both public
and private, has continued and 4
pleasing restrospect Is afforded by the
local school history of the last century.
The inspiration of the rugged pioneers
has been transmitted through an non
Orable line of successors to the present
generation, and their example has been
followed in spirit of emulation,
broadening decade by decade. until the
schools of Augusta attained and have
the others of the State.
1t is appropriate that we duly appre-
ciate the rich inheritance derived from
our forefathers: and may we be care
full that We bequeath it unimpaired to
those who are to follow US. We feel a
profound and patriotic generation
from viewing the Rock at Plymouth.
the Monument on Bunker Hill. the
tIo<Q x1A he
feinpleg and the institutions of our
fathers, hut none of these ought to
excite deeper emotions or warmer
gratitude than the public school,
reared and dedicated to the develop
lment of the minds of our sons and
daughters and the diffusion of educa
Jon and knowledge among the people.
To the Public school. properly and I'M
selfishly conducted we may confidently
commit the fortunes and the destinies
of the rising generations. May we
who have little else to bestow or be-
queath strive cheerfully 10 make nc
cessibo to every boy and girl of the
city the means Of a good public school
education.
The routine of instruction in our
schools the past year has varied Dut
little from that which has for con-
siderable period of time been followed:
and we confidently believe that the
progress of the scholars in their stu
| dies and their orderly advancement
from grade to grade mas been as sub
stantial and satisfactory as during any
former year in the history of the dis
| trict.
| The service Of the principal and his
| excellent corps of observation-disclosures
Nv and efficiently performed-has, we
are pleased to believe. kept the WORK
| of the schools up to the relatively hlSh
standard which it has long been the
| good fortune and pride of this COM
munity to enjoy.
The report of Mr. Pettengill, which IS
herewith submitted, exhibits in dctall
the work done within his province ana
under his special supervision.
| We submit also the reports OF MISS
! bearing and Miss Sewail. the accom-
plishcd and highly valued teachers re-
spectivcly of singing and drawing
The sum of $9394.93 has been paid
teachers The entire amount OF the bills
iapproved for payment at the c'E
| treasury was ST.. 04S.54.
Abatement of taxes, 1858, s61.6 Tax
e; OF 1899, Scz2.6S. Taxes Of 1900, *Zi.I.
Discount oi. taxes 1900, s1S0.U.
TIE following credits arc at the cry
res si,ry: Assessment on 1908 polls l9oo'
is190S. Real estate assessments St34"'lo'
Supplementary assessments. $50. IL. Ap-
portionnent, city and State. *S2o.'i'
Total. Si7132.55. Balance to new ac-
count. $552S1.
ppoprRTy VALUATION OF THE DIS
TRICT IN 1870.
Resident real estate .............. ~. -, ~
Resident personal estate .......... !'oia' cn
Nonresident real estate ......... l's1s,'"'--
Nonresident personal estate oi'i''
Total OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. .So'oof'''
+ Rate of taxation in 1900. II. mills on
the dollar. -.
Number of taxable polls in tfe us
trict in 1900 ttaxed at 81 each). lSoo-
Number of scholars between the ase'
of 4 and y years, April 1, 1900 zof''
Number of scholars between the "Se
of and q years. April l, 1901 Z'o'' ;.
= The school buildings generally ar
a good state of repair; but the ou'''o>
of the Smith building needs TO oe