Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-05-15

II
| of those who have represented her IN
| the interscholastic contests for the
past two years. The subject is OF sur
| ficient Importance to be given a place
| in the curriculum. would recommend
that a half year elective course in de-
| batting be established to count one
point, but that all students who elect
II must obtain the consent of the prin-
cipal.
The present teaching force of the
school will be ample to carry out the
present curriculum for the coming
year.
All the courses now given IN the
school conform in all their detaHs to
the requirements of the New England
College Entrance Certificate Board.
COMMERCIAL COURSE.
In April, 1907, l addressed report to
the trustees of Cony High school on
the condition of the school ana It's
needs. Three points were emphasized:
First. q restriction of the elective sys-
tenn. Second, certain changes in the
curriculum, particularly in mathemat-
ice and English. Third the establish
ment of a commercial course. Your
tons but owing to certain unavold-
able circumstances no commefclai
course has yet been established.
In this report l wish merely to say
that after another year of work In the
school | am the more firmly con-
WINGED of the necessity for such Il
course. A public High school, so lar
as the financial condition of the pace
IN which it is situated will pefihn,
should provide courses of study suited
ia al the students who may wish to
attend it, The student who is to enter
college and the student who IS 70 en-
I ter directly into active life should &C.
rive equal benefits from their school
work.
believe that the first step in TINS
direction in Cony High school should
he the establishment of commercial
course. Manual training should 1oi-
low, but 1 am inclined to the opinion
that this should be first established IN
the grade schools.
The commercial course should De
broad and liberal. 1t should be four
wears course, if possible, and include
not only the pure commercial subjects,
but also culture subjects enough to
make a course equal in strength to
any in the school.
AN URGENT NEED.
I would urge particularly upon your
board the necessity of providing more
suitable accommodations for Cony
High school, either charging the pres
ent building or by constructing new
one. The school has outgroWn the
present building which was construct
ed for classical school of 100 pupils
I need not point out the dl1hcultles Oh
successfully managing school OF
200 or more pupils in such building.
The tendency OF the curriculum OF
public High schools is development
along scientific and industrial lines ana
this tendency is not provided Tor by
the present building. Consequently
there are no rooms in the present
building suitable for laboratories or
for commercial or industrial work
There are not even rooms to provide
for a sufficient teaching force to han
die the present curriculum. Further
EXPANSION or development is en- I'M
possibility until the school is provided
with more commodipus quarters. The
eo,late even fer the maintenance Of
classical school. The large number of
students in the grades indicates that
in a short time the present Cony Hlgh
school building will not seat all those
pupils who will wish to attend 1t. Inc
school needs more room in Its present
condition, it needs more room to grow
to that place which it ought to fill In
the educational system of Augusta,
and | would seriously recommend 10
YOUR board the consideration of better
accommodations for Cony High school.
SOCIAL ACTIVITIES.
At the beginning of the present year
il was the opinion Of the instructors
ard parents that the numerous social
activities of the students outside OF
the school were a distinct detriment to
successful school work. Two parents
meetings were held, which were at
tended by a large number of the pa
rents and the students. The subject
was freely and impartially discussed.
A. the second meeting the following
resolutions were unanimously adopted:
Inasmuch as the social life of many
students Of the Cony High school is
lastic duties, we, the patrons OF the
school, desire to express our convlc-
ton, as follows:
First: While the school and the
home should cooperate to secure their
common ends. the responsibility for
the social life permitted or fostered
by each, and the social functions held
under the auspices of each should be
distinct and separate MOrever, the
name of the school should never be
appropriated and used in connection
with affairs for which the school au-
thoritias are not responsible and which
they do not directly control.
Second: The students of Cony High
school should devote from three to
FIVE hours for each school day 20 study
and academic exercises.
Third. The social life Of the school,
properly so-called, including recep-
tons, fraternal organizations. school
fairs, etc. should be under the control
of the principal of the school
Fourth: Students whose grade of