The Brunswick news., 1909-08-15
OUR SPLENDID PUBLIC SCHOOLS

cation found a school system in
Brunswick poorly organized to meet
the demands made upon Il. The peo-
pie had little confidence in it. in that
more than half OF the children Of the
city we're attending private schools.
Those children who completed the
public schools and went on to college
found themselves so poorly pr spared
that either they could not enter the
class they desired TO, or IL they en-
tered they could not maintain their
standing on account of poor prcpara-
I ton. Plans We're laid at that time
to correct these errors which wcJld
do real, honest work so that when the
children completed the prescribed
course Of study they would be fully
prepared for LIES work OF else for
the higher studies given in the first
class colleges These have been so
imperceptibly wrought into the sys-
tenn that one who mas followed the
work in the schools could hardly real
ize the change; yet, within the eight
years the system has been completely
altered. The complete plans will be
consummated during the coming
year and it is believed that Bruns-
wick will tnen have a school system
second to none in the state.
The board OF education has always
had confidence in the people of this
city that they would maintain and
support first-class school system;
that It was not cheap schools, but
good schools that they wished. The
coming year viii thoroughly tell
whether or not their confidence has
been misplaced The schools have
grown within these eight years from
325 pupils 10 nearly 300 in the white
schools alone and yet, local support
for their maintainence has been in
creased but s5,o0O.OO
The departmental plan to be adopt
ed in the upper grammar grades is
no experiment 1t has been tried most
successfully in many schools through
out the world. No school when once
this plan has been adopted has gone
back to the old way. The reason why
it is not more universally used is
that the school buildings are not
constructed for this plan. 1t happen
ed here that the rooms formerly used
for the high school were being vaca-
ted and it gave an admirable op-
portunity OF introducing this depart
mental plan.
1t Is wen known that teachers are
net equally talented in all subjects
Each teacher has a special subject in
which she is most qualified to in
struct and feel that she can do more
successful work in this subject than
in any other BY the departmental
plan one teacher will teach ar!thme-
&c, to all the children. another Eng
lish, another geography, etc. BY this
means the children will have the ben
eft Of the best that is in each teacher.
il is believed by this method that
children at the end Of the year win
ird themselves further advanced in
each Of the subjects than ther-
wise would have been under the old
grade system.
The high school ror the coming
year viii be distinctive improve.
ment over former years. The build
ing IS new. excellenny arranged for
hish school purposes and equipped
with The most modern and up-to-
date furniture and apparatus. Moth
ing, indeed, 20 make it the hest-eQuip-
ped high school building in the state
has ueen omitted. The distinctive
changes over former years win BE
the addition Of another year to the
course OF study. making a year
Instead Of three-year course. Pupils
graduating hereafter from this school
can enter without further condition
the sophomore class OF any OF the coll
leges A teacher Of science has been
added; selected not only on account
Of his knowledge and ability to teach
the sciences. but he is specially train
ed in high school athletics. This de-
partment it is believed viii be an i'm
portant addition to the schools. The