Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-05-15
C0NY HIGH SCHOOL.
F. G. Marshall
Submits Annual Report.
Gives Review Of School Work
For The Past Year,
Tells Of Its Needs and Offers
Some Recommend ations.

"
Farnsworth G.. Marshall, principal OF
the Cony High school, as contained IN
the first annual report of the Augusta
Board IF Education
Board Of Education, Augusta, Me:
| have the honor to submit report
of the condition of Cony High school
during the year 19ol-OS.
The total enrolment OF the school Is
1856. "a l,oys ana 102 girls. The attend-
arce has been remarkably good. Inc
percentage of average attendance Is
963 for the seven months of i9o|-oS
THIS would have been even higher but
for an epidemic of measles which
comrelcd 80 of the students to be ab-
sent for periods of two u three weeks.
The work of the lear mas been cllar-
acterizad by d steadfast devotion TO
duty on the part Of the instructors
and ~ earnest and Intelligent effort
on the part of the students. | WISH
here To- express my appreciai Ion OF
the cordial support which | have re-
ceived from the instructors and from
Your board in my efforts to MAINTAIN
an efficient standard of work.
The New England College Entrance
Certificate Hoard has again approved
of the courses of study of the school
for the period of three years. The GER
tihcate of the principal will admit
graduates t. any college in New Eng
lard except Harvard and Yale. ms
certificate is given to graduates III
the courses in which they MAINTAIN
an average rank Of B plus. Thrty-one
students graduated in the class OF
1907. Eleven of them entered college,
viz: three Bowdoin, three Maine,
three Bates, one Tufts, one Nassar.
All these are successfully pursuing
the work of the Freshman year with
the exception of two in mathematics.
This exception is due, beyond doubt,
to insufficient preparation in algebra,
and | trust this deficiency in our cur
riculum has been remedied by the ad-
dition Of a years work to the algebra
course.
Some definite requirements TO take
effect in 1908 should be adopted for
the entrance of new students to the
school, Uniformity in the preparation
of the members of the entering class
is an absolute necessity to successful
High school work. If the High school is
10 1lultlldlfl an '7he'iiN'''iN' 49,
students who enter it must be sufti-
GENTLY prepared to enter upon the
courses of the curriculum. Students
whose preparation is insufficient Will
speedily be eliminated by the mere
force Of circumstances. This IS UNJUST
to those students and brings unde-
served censure upon the school. 1t may
easily be avoided by adjusting the
courses of the grade and the High
school
The school has supported teams in
baseball, football and basketball The
policy If the school in the past has
been the encoura cement OF athletlcs
under the supervision of the school
authorities. Athletics, rightly conduct
ed, are a benefit to any school. At the
present time a certain standard or
study is necessary for eligibility III
athletics The time is not far distant
when a certain amount of athletic
work will be required Of every stu
dert school authorities eVCrNW here
are fast coming to the conclusion that
physical Wcll-being is of equal inn
portancc t. intellectual attainment.
Some time in the near future u GYM
nasirm will lie an essential part of
every High school equipment, ami
physical training an essential part Of
every High school course.
COURSE, OF STUDY.
The curriculum is the same as in
former wears with the exceptions Of the
addition Of one car each to the
courses Of algebra and English. The
course in algebra is now Two years in
| length. and the course in English four
/ years These changes were made III
order to conform to the requirements
of the Maine colleges. Tn" courses
| in algebra MAY be somewhat shortened
| if local conditions should change, but
| at tn" present time tTo-Eeafa
course in that subject is absolutely
| necessary. as y weeks of the coUrSo
arc now devoted to arithmetic
The important subjects of public
| speaking ard debate are entirely
neglected in our school. | am very
anxious that some provision be made
| for instruction in elocution during the
coming year. and would recommend
that the school be provided with the
services Of an instructor in eiocution
This work should be obligatory upon
every student.
| Debating has occupied the attention