Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1911-09-06

Desser In large school. Here in Maine -
haven't begun to realize how general this
concentration movement 10. In rural COM
murities In New York and the middle west.
scnooI teams are met on all sides. In Ella
worth there 10 double reason why We should
favor this concentration tendency-it II not
only An advantage 70 the children. but IL IL
more economical for the city.
Here In Ellsworth We hear continual com-
plant OF the expense of running the schools.
II 10 costing US just Is much to run the
school to-day Is 1t did . few years ago when
there were nearly twice ~ many school chill
dren. Whyf Because II 10 necessary 70
maintain just ~ many schools. The average
OF teachers wages in Ellsworth is lower than
In any town Of its size In Maine-lower than
In many Of the small towns In Hancock
county. We had hard work this year to Hud
teachers for some Of own schools who would
come for the wages we could offer them,
and exhausted the lists Of two teachers
agencies before We found them. There 10 no
chance for saving here. We have fewer
weeks Of school than any city; there il no
chance to save by shortening, the term.
The only chance is by concentration Of
schools. But - soon ~ the school board
makes an attempt TO economic in this way,
there 10 howl, and political wires and per-
sonal strings are pulled to prevent It. You,
gentlemen Of this board, pledged to the
economical management Of the city's Affairs,
should be the last to interfere with the school
board In ~ attempt to economixe.
Even whom attendance at . school falls
below eight, and the school is closed by oper-
alton Of the State law, the inhabitants Of
district unite and refuse absolutely TO trans
port pupils, and the board, unable TO arrange
Tor transportation except at . prohibitive
rate, 10 forced to open the school, This has
been the experience Of the school board
twice In the two years have been member
Of 1t. We have one case this year, in district
Nos. There are I've pupils in this district
and two who have to be transported into It,
making school Of seven pupils, Il costs to
run that school, including salary Of teacher,
transportation. fuel. janitor, etc., about 1850,
or $50 for each pupil.
Iappreciats fully the desire Of parents In
the interests Of their children, and their de-
sire to have . school near at hand, but do
not believe they fully appreciate the advan-
tages that come TO child from larger school.
I believe the closing Of this Beechland
school should be but the beginning Of more
general concentration OF Ellsworth schools,
for the sake Of economy II nothing more. 1
believe the school on Water street might we'll
be closed. and an assistant put In the Pine
street school, at which the attendance to-day
is not half what It was few years back. The
closing Of the school would be to the ad-
vantage Of the children educationally and to
the city financially. w. n. TITUS,
Chairman Of School Board.
The matter was referred to Q recess
meeting Of the aldermen to be held Sept.
II, pending receipt of q letter from the
State superintendent OF schools for an in
depreciation Of the law under which the
school board voted to close the school.
R. M. Campbell was appointed q specisI
policeman at the Bijou theatre, to serve
without pay.
The matter Of shingling roofs Of barns
and sheds at the poor farm, reported as
necessary by NJ. J. Drummey, superin-
tendent Of the farm, was referred to the
committee on city property.
The committee on petition for street
light on Dean street was granted further
time to report.
The board then took recess to Sept. II,
at 1880 9. m.