Daily Kennebec journal., 1911-01-02
Annual Report Of State
Supt. Smith for 1910,
Total School Attendance for
the Year Was 213,123.,
Expenditures for Common Schools
for Year Was $2,547,493. !

Maine has more Children of school
age, fewer of them attend school, more
teachers are available to instruct those
who do attend school. the schools are
omen more weeks in the year, more
none, is spent on free text books.
there are more schools and the build
ings ore worth more. in 1910 than in
1909, according to tit annual report Of
Payson Smith, state superintendent Of
schools. In 1909 the whole number of
children between til. ages Of five and
Il was o.329: in 1910, cI3.l23, an in
crease OF 7ia The number of scholars
attending school in 1903 was 132, 2,9is: in
1910, l32.592, "a decrease of $50. In 1909
tie number of teachers was 6f92; in
1910. 6a61, an increase OF 113 The av-
erago length OF the school year was %
weeks and on, Gay in 1909, and 81 weeks
and two DAYS in 1910, an increase of
two weeks ana one day The amount
spent for free text books in 1909 Was
Sill, ,2S3; III 1910. SltS.541, an increase Of
s725S. The whole number of schools
was 1924 in 1903: and 1862 i'm 1910, an in
crease of 3S. The whole number OF
SehoolbouseS in 1909 was 1897, and in
1916 Vas 3s222, a decrease of five. Forty
one schcolhouscs we're built in 1909 and
80 in 1910. The value of the buildings
devoted to school purposes was $6.725.
531 in 1909. aud s7,3C9,494 in 1910.
The total expenditures for common
schools was s2.S6S.ss0 in 1909 and s.
5i7 .i93 in 1910, an increase Of Sl1S. sos.
Tie number of High schools receiving
state aid was 219 in 1909 and lis in 1910.
The number of academies, schools and
scminaries reporting was II in 1909 and
45 IN 1910
"A fuller recognition must be given
BY the curriculum to the needs of the
individual students" says Supt Smith
in regard to the work of the common
schools. 'If the curriculum is now
overerewded those subjects must give
place which benefit the fewest number
and which are least concerned in the
preparation of the boy or girl for life
Supt. Smith recommends that the law
regarding the school census be amend
eG SO that mot only the number of
scholars, but a certified list of the
names and ages of the persons found"
shall be returned. and the Governor
given power to order new enumera-
= =
believe that the first canvass has been
inaccurate. He recommends that the
40 cents per capita assessment required
before a school is opened in an unur-
g&nized township. be done away With.
as the total funds derived from this
source is 50 small and the DELAY incl
dent to its collection is so great
Certilication as to the efficiency OF
teachers is endorsed by the State SUI
perintendcnt. who says: 1T should be
noted that Maine. in common with til"
ma ajority of states, has deorecd through
its compulsory education law that chill
dren OF certain ages must attend
school. Neither children. nor parents
have any option in this matter. and sc-
we're penalties are imposed for the vlo-
lation of the law. Having assumed a
so great, that ri COM
peiling school attendance. ii would APP
pear that the State is under an oblisa
tion Of its own, that Of insuring a red
sonabie minimum of educational OPP
portun!ty t. the children whose at
tend2aco 1t cnforccS. That such "A min
inium is not and cannot lac insured
through local certification is already |
proven not only by the experience Of |
Mairc. but by that of other states, all
hut three OF which prescribe regula
tons for the required state ccrtiiica-
ton OF teachers.