Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-02-16
Workings Of Foxcroft
Academy School City.
Principal Ward Explains Before
Dexter Teachers Meeting.
Idea Makes Nit and May Be Tried
In Other Schools.

Dexter, Me, Feb. 15.-(SpeciaD. AN
interesting meeting of school teachers
was held in the new building on Pleas
ant street this afternoon. The meet
ing was largely attended by not only
the teachers of this village but many
from Dover, fHoxcroft and Guilford.
All Of the local schools We're closed on
account of the meeting and the teach
ers were given an opportunity TO at
tend or to have the afternoon TO them
selves.
Among the principal speakers pres
ent were Principal Fred L. Ward of
Foxcroft Academy, Prof. Whitney ].
Rideout Of that school and William II.
Sturtevant Of the Dover-Foxcroft
school district Local speakers were
Rev, FIR. John Houlihan of the school
committee, Supt. Ernest L. Palmer OF
the Dexter Guilford school district and
Rev B. G. SeabOyer. pastor of the local
Methodist Episcopal church.
The most interesting part of the at
ternoOn's proceedings was the address
by Principal Ward of FoXcroft Acad-
envy, in which ne explained in detail
the workings of the FoXcroft Academy
school city, which has been in force
in that school for the past year or
more Principal Ward secured his
idea of school city government from a
newspaper clipping which contained an
account of q school of Russian Jews in
Chicago which was being governed by
the method. 1t struck him favorably
and he worked out III his mind plan
of his own which in due time he Sug-
gested to the trustees of the school
and received permission to try it.
The system was given a trial and
after some changing about to meet the
demands of the schools it has been de-
clared an unqualified success. The en-
tire school is divided off into wards,
each ward having its aldermen. These
aldermen transact the cityS business
as in any well governed city. The
students elect aldermen, city clerk,
mayor, police officers, board of par
dons. justices and in fact all the officers
to be found in any city.
The teachers are simply voters and
have no more power than does the
youngest student. The school city has
constitution and bylaws as well as
charter. The rules are strictly en-
forced. Should any of the students
break rule he is brought before the
court and a trial held. He is entitled
to be defended by an attorney while
the case is prosecuted by the city at
torney. Should the jury find him
guilty he is sentenced by the court.
There are several methods Of punish
ment and all of them are sufficiently
severe 50 that once student is pun
lshed he is likely to remember it.
The system thus far has worked ey
cCllently. The students take an inter-
est ana pride in the school city and the
majority obey the rules to the letter.
The trustees claim the system saves
the hire of an extra teacher for at 10
time during the day sessions is a
teacher needed in the study room.
where $50 students sit A visit shows
perfect order and no more noise and
confusion than one could find in any
school Of 50 many Students
The Foxcroft school city was the
first organized in this State and it has
worked SO successfully that similar
systems have been adopted in several
of the lower grade schools in Foxcroft.
The description given by Principal
Ward this afternoon set local teachers
and others to thinking and it is barely
possible that some such system will
be given a try in local schools in the
near future