The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1902-03-06
THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE

Charles 5. Bickford, Chairman of the
School Committee, reported one of the most
successful years in its history With the
entire force, working in harmony on an
intelligent plan, the results have been most
satisfactory. We feel that the city is to be
congratulated on having so efficient a
superintendent and corps of teachers, and
it is to be hoped that we shall be able to
retain their services another year. Most of
the school buildings are now in excellent
condition. Much Needed repairs have si been
made on the school house at Poor's Mills,
the South Primary building has been put
IN condition that has been pronounced
perfectly safe by the Inspector Of Buildings,
seats have been put in in the new room in
the High School and window put in at the
end of the room. During the coming years
repairs are needed on the school house at
Citypoint and the heating apparatus in the
high School building. The boiler there
was never large enough, and to heat the
house properly. it was nece ssary to force it
SO it could not be run economically With
the addition of the new room this difficulty
has been increased SO that change has
become imperative. AS the heating
apparatus of the Grammar School is some
what antiquated, it is a question if it would
not pc better to get boiler large enough
Tor both buildings. The generous apprO-
priatlon made last year for text books has
enabled US to do much towards giving
every scholar suitable. books to work with,
although there still remains much to be
done IN this respect. Even with the con-
slderaoly increased appropriation of last
year the cost per pupil was much less than
under the old plan OF individual ownership,
pelng put about IS cts. per pupil. 1t may
be interesting to note in this connection,
that the average cost throughout the State
Is about 30 cts. per capita.
"A most gratifying feature of the condition
OF the schools is the very marked and con-
stant increase in the attendance at the High
school, showing that more and more of our
scholars are completing the course of study
laid out for the schools. With school pop
ulatlon not increasing to any appreciable
extent and the attendance at the High
school increasing nearly 50 per cent. no
other conclusion can be drawn than that the
admirable facilities are appreciated and
taken advantage of. During the year new
course Of study has been adopted for the
High school, placing it on an equality with
any in the State.
The school at the Board Landing has been
abolished during the year and the children
are now in attendance ut the Brick school
mouse, giving them much better facilities
and resulting in a saving to the city While
the fitting up of the additional room in the
High School building for the occupancy of
the first year class has relieved the conges-
ton in the High school, and other rooms on
the common" are still crowded SO that the
best results cannot be obtained and if the
attendance there continues as it has the
last few years, the city must expect to be
called upon to provide more room in the
near future. There is no chance in the
present building for further expansion and
1t Will require but a trfling percentage of
increase to overcrowd the rooms so that
they will be menace to the health of the
pupils.
The entire city, as well as scholars and
teachers, is greatly indebted to the ladies of
the improvement Society who have begun
the work of beautifying the school rooms BY