Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-03-14
$.il2,40J. ~
3i,119.26
Available assets,
S218,3333.33

SITS, 1893 SO
There will be added to this floating
debt some other bills contracted 1or
last year which will be reported TO 20"
later.
| recommend that $40. 600 of these III
teres: bearing notes be funded IN ioiis
term bonds thus securing lower rate
of interest and that the balance DE-
paid as we are able. The credit OF the
city must be maintained i'll order ina.
we may be table to meet the new anu
pressing demands for the future.
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
We should give careful attention u
our public schools, for the quailty OIL
these schools has large snare III ue-
termining the character OF future W.
liens. There is no other department. vi
the city's interest that calls LOT more
thoughtful and generous CONSIDERATION
at the hands Of both the CITY govern
ment and the people OF WatefFllle'
than do our schools.
The need of a new High school bu.ld-
ing is well set forth i'll the recent re-
port of the superintendent Of schools
who, in touching upon this matter,
said in Dart as follows:
"For 20 wears it has been the public
" recorded Judgment of masters of the
school, superintendents and boards
that the building now in use is entirely
jnadeuuate to the demands upon ii. No
matter how high the quality OF VOL
done in the High school and it will not
suffer by comparison with that done
in any other High school in Maine
there is bound to be a prejudice i'll the
minds of pupils and parents against
such building as that in which the
school is now housed.
The Waterville High school has had
a long and successful career. From it
have come hundreds of boys and girls
who are now to be reckOned of the best
citizenship of the community. 1t has
furnished scores Of faithful teachers
for our grade schools. It's graduates are
represented in all departments of hon
orable business activity i'll the city.
Such a school deserves home that will
enable it to do the best work of which
it is capable
In connection with this subject. | al
SO wish to call your attention 10 the
fact that in American city communities
est felt in manual training as part
Of public school education. There seems
to be in this work AN inherent attrac-
tiveness that eXerts 4 strong and
healthful influence in keeping pupils in
school longer than they otherwise
would stay. Everybody regrets that so
many pupils now neglect their school
opport unities after they have passed
the age during which school atatend-
ance is required by law. Manual train
ing apparently aids greatly in correct
ing this deplorable tendency.
1t has also Deen found valuable In
furnishing a safe outlet for the super
abundant physical energy of healthy
boys Of High school age. Thus IT has
greatly assisted i'm securing natural
and wholesome school discipline.
Such are some Of the general benefits
to be derived from manual training in
the school. There are others that seem
more direct and that might be regard
ed as more important. These are Inc
technical skill of eye and hand gained
in the work. manifest ability to select
the right materials and from them to
construct articles of use or beauty or
both combined. 1t is generally con-
ceded that this work is beneficial to
pupils of all classes, to the sons of the
rich and poor alike. but it must be es-
pccially valuable to the young in an
industrial community like ours where
manual labor. skilled or unskilled.
must always be AN important resource
The value of skilled compared with
unSkil!cd labor to the man dependent
upon one or the other for his livell-
hood. l need not argue.
In view of these things and of the
fact that progressive communities all
over the country are introducing man
ual training school courses. the prob
lem of how to secure at the earliest
possible moment a High school build
ing where manual training can be es-
tablished become one of constantly in
creasing interest and importance.
PUBIC LIBRARY.
The completion of the Public library
building and its opening which Will
take place in the near future are events
of Importance in the life Of our city.
The muHiiicence of Andrew Carnegie
and the fulfllmcnt of its agreement;
Oh the part of the city have provided IA
building which is admirably adapted
to the uses of the library. The generous
subscriptions OF the citizens with those
leading business corporations have
made it possible to add about 300 care
fully selected books to the library and
the whole is being catalogued and
made available TO the most general use.
in recognition of the important ser
vice rendered by those who have
maintained and administered the libra
ry ard have brought it to its present
condition. as well as i'll the co-opera-
ton of its trustees in giving it the lare-
est degree of efficiency, a liberal policy
towards the library should be adopt
ed by the city government. Its books
tor reading and reference. its reading
room and its children's room will prove
vaiua BILE factors in the education and
literary life of the city. II will be the
duty of the city government to provide
$1,000 for the maintenance of the libra.
ry i'm accord with the agreement OF
MIR. Carnegie. Because of the bills fol
the furnishings of the library which
must be met this year, it may not bs
wise to appropriate more than the sun
named above for the current year. al