The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1910-03-17
THE BELFAST HIGH SCHOOL.
Recommendations by the Principal.

Recommendations by the Frlnclpdl.
In his annual report Clarence W.Proctor, prin-
cipal Of the Belfast High school, recommends
that the school board pass a rule prohibiting
anyone, not an actual member of the school,
from playing on any one of the athletic teams
representing the school, and, if they see fit,
giving to the teachers the power of removing
from such teams anyone whose work seems to
be unsatisfactory. And that some capable per-
son have his expenses paid to accompany the
teams on their trips from home. He further
says: II do not make these suggestions with
the idea of criticising in any way the present
athletic teams. That the boys have been gen.
tlemen away from home, as we'll as at home is
the report that comes to US frequently. But
can the city afford to take the chances that
some boy may go wrong or one of these trips,
when the cost of looking after the boys away
from home would be so slight?"
"The total registration for the year begin
ming in September, 1909, has been 81, divided
as follows: Seniors. eight boys and 13 girls;
juniors, four boys and nine girls; sophomores,
IA boys and 10 girls; freshmen, Is boys and
eight girls; specials, two boys and two girls.
During the fall term the re were 430 cases
of hardness in IA weeks, and 80 instances of
absence. The absences in large part were due
to those who drop out of school after few
weeks of atten dance; the hardness cannot be
explained In any satisfactory way; they simply
show state of carelessness on the part of the
pupils and the parents.
THE parents are more to blame than the
school children. 1t is the parents duty, surely,
a hat q pl1NI lSto re for
to arrive before the school opens. The parent
must realize the value of promptness, even
though the pupil does not.
"This year a prize has been offered for the
first time IN many years to the pupils of the
High school. The John Cochran chapter. D. A.
R., has offered a prize of books for the best
junior or senior essay on one of the several
subjects in American history. These essays
are due on March !, so have not the pleasure
of announcing at this time the successful
author. Such prizes particularly helpful
for they stimulate the pupil in many ways
"The introduction of drawing into the schools
has enabled us to form class in this import
ant subject in the High school. This class is
held Immediately after the school on TUESDAYS
and Fridays of each week. The percentage of
the Freshman class who are taking Latin this
year is much larger than the average, due to
the fact that quite few of the class are plan
ming for college course. The German course
is now in its second year. We have two class
es, which, although they seem small, eight or
nine in each class, comprise, probably, all those
in school who are qualified to specialize in the
languages, and are much larger than any class
in Greek that could have been formed.
"About 500 has been spent in new appara-
tus for the Physics and Chemistry lab oratories
during the year. The Freshman class of next
fall will probably be large The majorities of
the class of 1909 contributed toward the pur-
chase of class gift to the school-a statue of
Mnerva-which has been placed in the main
room of the school. The school has also re-
ceived two framed picture-one of Prof. Dud-
ley A. Sargent, former resident of this city
and the other picture of the Hemenway gym
nasium at Harvard of which Prof Sargent is
the director. For these gifts | take pleasure
in extending the thanks of the school,