Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-02-25


theiri school system that leads them to
give il their financial support. The
total increase in school resources since
1876 amounts to more than $4O0, 00o
There can be no more, striking evidence
than this of the continued faith OF the
people in public education.
Among the needs indicated by these
figures, ii would appear that no other
ranks Sc cond to that OF greater atten-
ton 10 the status of the teacher. 1t is
shown that of the entire number teach
ing. -noce than one thousand We're
without rcrnus experience, and that
only cnc-fou,th has had professional
uaining.
of the thousand persons who came
to the school for the first time as
teachers, rot more than one-tifth We're
graduates OF normal ard special train
ins schools; eight hundred We're grad
yates OF high SchulS and of academies
and Of elementary schools 1t is doubt
less true that d large majority of the
trained teachers were employed in the
s,'l."o:S -, The larger villages and cities.
Unframed teachers usually begin in
tie country schools. 1t can hardly be
said with truth that the State can
claim good school system until the
individual schools of the system are so
equipped and taught that each in it's
place can be said to be good school.
The country schools are, moreover, as
much entitled TO skilled teachers as are
those of the villages and cities.
The most evident reason for the
continued employment OF ineXperienc-
ed and unframed teachers is to be
found in the inadequate salaries paid
in many schools. On the other hand
such salaries continue because many
communities are willing to tolerate a
low standard of teaching rather than
to pay the higher salary which will
command more efficient service. The
State assumes the responsibility of
completing school attendance. 1t
would not appear unreasonable to con-
slider that this responsibility is not dis
charged in full until the State likewise
makes some requirements regarding
the quality of instruction to be afford
ed children while they are in school.
Some progress in the direction of OBJ
tanning more trained teachers has been
shown but such progress has thus far
been so SLOW as to give little encour-
agement for a uniformly well equipped
teaching force Cor schools of all classes.
unless the State shall provide some
minimum requirements in the matter
of teachers salaries and qualifica-
tions"
The number of free High schools re-
ceiving State aid is 219, which is de-
crease of five over last year; number
established by towns, 217; number es-
tablished by precincts, two; total num-
Der of weeks, 7119; average number of
weeks to each school 80 weeks and four
days; number of scholars registered,
1852; average attendance, 1889; num-
Der attending from town in which
school is located. 1884; number at
tending from other towns, 1885; num-
Der of boys enrolled, $3.50; number of
girls enrolled, $50.
The whole number Of academies. in
stitutes and seninaries is Al, an in
crease Of one over last year: total
number of weeks, 1864; average num-
Der of weeks to each school, IS; num-
Der If pupils enrolled, 1884: average at
tendance, S079; number of pupils pur-
suing academic studies, 1856; average
number of pupils pursuing academic
studies exclusively, 1892; whole number
of resident pupils pursuing academic
studies exclusively, 1856; average num-
Der of resident pupils pursuing acad-
enic studies exclusively, 1917; whole
number of NONRESIDENT pupils pursu-
ing academic studies exclusively, 1876:
average number of nonresident pupils
pursuing academic studies exclusively,
1898; whole number in English acade
mic course, 1851: average number in
English academic course. 1870; whole
number in college preparatory course.
143S: average number in college prepar
atory course, 1884; whole number in
training course for teachers. 1877; av
erage number in training course for
teachers. 1862; whole number granted
present year. $40; number intending to
enter Maine colleges, i42; number in
tending to enter other colleges. AZ:
number intending to enter technical
schools. 20: number of pupils studying
English 3477: number of pupils study
ing mathematics. $685.; number of pu-
pills studying history. 2017; number of
pupils studying science. 1886: number
of pupils studying modern languages.
1865; number of pupils studying ancient
languag eS. 1916: number of teachers.
,,,o