Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-01-22
Supt. of Schools Herbert C. Libby
Tenders Resignation.


was placed in the hands of the board
at the regular meeting held, Dec. 4,
but no announcement was made at
the time. 1t was his request that his
successor be appointed by Jan. !, 1912,
but the board was unable to do Sc.
MIR. Libby was elected superintend-
ent of schools, Dee. p, 1909.~to fill out
the rnexpifed term of the late Dennis
f. Bowman. On May %. 1910, follow
ing q public hearing, held in relation
to change in the teaching Staff,
Supt. Libby rendered his resignation
but the Board OF Education. by IMAM
imous Vote. refused to accept it. On
June q, 1910, he was reelected with
an increase in salary and ON March
81 of the following year was again re-
elected.
During the past two years many
successful innovations have been put
in force in the public schools of Wa
terXille. The teachers have been or
ganized into more effective staff, first
through the Principals Council, an
organization of all the principals Of
the schools to meet once each month
for the discussion of important school
eral teachers meetings, at which pa
pers on teaching problems are dis
cussed by the teaching staff \ series
Of Parents meetings have been very
successful, the object being TO bring
the parents into closer touch with the
work of the teachers. The meetings
have been addressed by the principals
and the superintendent.
Supt Libby has been able to reduce
the number of pupils per teacher,
which has meant a considerable in
crease in the number of regularly en-
ployed teachers.
Some of the other things accom-
piished are the following; The adop-
ton of new course of study for the
High school. the introduction of cleo
tiyes and the addition of new MEM
bers 10 the cofps of instructors: the
adoption Of the plan fer a Junior High
school, made up of the Ninth grades
OF the Grammar school to occupy the
old High school building upon va
caney; introduction of the school
Savings Bank ana its successful OPP
GRAFTON, where the pupils have on de-
pesit more than $1,000: securing the
appointment of a regular truant of
fcer whose work has greatly lessened
the number of pupils affected by abb
sences; securing an increase in sal
airy for all teachers employed Il GER
tain number of years which has
meant a considerable increase IN the
salary budget: the adoption of the
minimum and maximum scale of
wages for teachers and increase of
salaries in the High school: adoption
of the rule granting wages to teach
ers in cases of personal illness for a
period of four weeks and full wages
in cases of illness in the immediate
family: adoption of the rule that after
January, 1910, the appointment of
teachers To positions in school be con-
ditioned upon Normal school or coll
lege training; of somewhat less inn
portance. the entertainment. in 1910.
ofsthe Kennebec County Teachers AS
ISOLATION in Waterville; complete
card index system of every person iii
the city between the ages of seven
and II. the holding of a series Of
spelling contests for silver cup: pre-
pairing and issuing an annual school
report, giving exhaustive figures and
valuable tabular information; chang
ing numerous textbooks for the gem
eral Improvement of class room work;
a change in the annual Grammar
school Commencement exercises.
one of the most eommendable fea-
lures of his administration was that
of the organization and successful adj
ministration of the Central Maine
summer School. held in the summer
of 1911, al a cost of over $500 and with
an attendance of over 120 teachers.
In 1909, Supt. Libby was elected cor
responding secretary of the Maine
Teachers Association. In 1911, he was
elected auditor of the same associa-
ton. He was elected president of the
kennebec County Teachers Associa-
ton. in 1910, and vice president of the
English department of the Maine
Teachers Association, in 1911.
-He founded the Maine Teachers Quar-
terly in October 1911 This is a magazine
of 100 pages devoted to the interests of
the school life of Maine and enthusiast
cally backed by the State superintendent
and the officers of the Maine Teachers
Association. He is the editor of the pub
LEGATION.
III connection with MS work as super
intendent of the public schools Mr.. Lib
by is registrar of Colby College as we'll
as instructor in augmentation and pub
lie speaking in the same institution. Re
Gently he was appointed a member OF
the teaching staff in the Bangor Theo-
logical Seminary. <IIe is chairman of the
general committee having the Maine
Boys Conference, is chairman of the de-
cennial committee of the class of 1902
Colby College, and is co-editor of thu
Colby Alumnus, a magazine devoted to
the upbuilding of Colby College.
He is the editor of "Colby Stories, .
'Under the Willows" "Strong Selections
for Public Reading" ''Historical Sketch
of Stockton Springs" and is the author
of yarns for Boys
Mr.. Libby was born in Burnham, Me,
and was educated in the public schools
of Waterville. He was graduated from
the Waterville High school, class of 1898
with the English honor He studied at
Colby, taking his degree of A. b. from
Harvard College in 1904. While in the
Waterville High school he founded 1.-The
Nautilus" the present school periodical
was interscholaStic debater. was in the