Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-01-21
OUR SCHOOLS.
Annual Report Of Supt.
Stets0n.
Total Of 274O Teachers Have
Taken State Examination.
Growth Of Improvement League-The
Normal Schools.

Superintendent of Public Schools. for
the school year ending June 30, 1904. is
now ready for distribution. 1t is d
volume of 156 pages. and contains a
wealth of matter Of much value in edu-
cationaI lines, as well as of an inter-
esting nature for the general reader.
The opening chapter is devoted to an
exhaustive article on the school work
of the year. and is followed by another
on the STANDARD schools for Maine.
The latter are clearly defined. as we'll
as the conditions under which they
should be conducted. The educational
mass meetings of the past year are
also taken up, and considerable space
devoted to them, besides giving a fine
half-tone cut of the gentlemen who
were engaged in the work.
Under the head of State examina-
lions, the report says:
BESIDES the regular general eXamina-
ton given annually on the last Friday
in August, to all candidates registering
therefor, for the past three years d
special examination has been given at
the State Normal Schools, for the bene-
fit of such members of the graduating
classes as elected to take it before
graduation.
For the year 1904. III candidates took
the special examination, all of whom
We're awarded certificates. For the
regular general examination 21S candi-
dates registered of whom 1S3 took the
tests given either in whole or in part.
OF this latter number, failed to get
the required rank in one or more sub
jects and II failed to take all the tests.
Certificates have, therefore, been
awarded to 81 persons as the results
of both the special and general ex-
aminations for the year.
The history of State examinations i'll
Maine under conditions and methods
described in the preceding pages, COW
ers a period of eight years. The fol-
lowing statement gives, i'll brief, the re-
suits to date:
Whole number Of candidates ex-
amined Observation-Disclosures. 2140
Whole number of certificates
awarded 2,3i6
Number of certificates whose
terms have expired ............ LOSS
Number of certificates now in
force ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. ,24S
These results are eminently satisfac-
tory Nearly one-fifth of all the
teachers III the schools OF Maine today
stand in a class by themselves as HAY
ing furnished and being in possession
Of written evidence that they possess
that scholarship, moral character per-
sonality and professional knowledge
and skill fitting them to teach in those
grades of school FOR which they are
certitiCated. Hundreds of other teach
ers. inspired by the example OF these
and with the ambition to ally them
selves with these, are known to be
earnestly preparing themselves to take
these examinations i'll the future. In
deed, it may be safely asserted that
there are few teachers in Maine today,
possessing that progressive profession
al spirit which makes for the highest
efficiency. who are not intending AZ
some time to avail themselves of the
advantages afforded by State exariina
ton.
In fine the state examinations, dur
ing the eight years i'm which they have
been held have done more for the
teachers of Maine and for the improve
ment of Maine schools. than was even
hoped for when they were planned ana
inaugurlted. From the fact that the
examination has been and is wholly
optional, the credit for the success
which has SO far attended it is largely
due to that earnest. progressive spirit
which is characteristic of Maine teach
eis everywhere.
Under the subject of school statistics
in unorganized townships, in addition
to tables showing the detailed cost of
maintenance, etc. the following
recommendations and suggestions are
offered.
The original law esta blishing these
schools was experimental in the char
acter of its provisions. Experience
has disclosed the need of additional
legislation. '---..- ..-
The last Legislature made three Very
Important amendments in the law one
Increasing both the per capita tax in
each township and the amount of the
annual State appropriation; the sec
ond giving agents authority to assess
and enforce the collection Of per capita
taAes. the third comforting upon agents
tn. powers exercised by truant officers
in towns Tie experiences of the two
years. during when these provisions
have been in force, have shown that
they have not fully served the ends fOr
hich they were framed. In order to
cure the defects sought to be remediei
by the above provisions, the following
amendments are recommended for the
car aful consideration of the LeSisla
lure of 1905.
l. That in place of the per capita
tax. as now provided by law. provision
he made for the payment of poll tax
of two dollars by every male person
twenty-one years of age. resident il
the township on the first day of April.
,. That some practicable method be
provided whereby agents may enforce
the collection of said tax within n rea-
Sonable tine after its assessment.
3. That the agents be clothed with
all the powers of school committees and
truant officers of towns, for the en-
forcement of the compulsory school at
tendance and truant laws.
4. That, to provide for the expense
of an assured increase in the number
of townships in which schools must be
maintained in the immediate future
the regular annual State appropriation