The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1912-02-22
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Of MAINE
State Superintendent Smith Has Made
His Annual Report.

son Smith there are 2l4,960 persons
in Maine between the ages of five
and p years and of these 1888
are attending school. This is an in
crease of 1887 in the number of per-
sons of school age over the figures
for 1910 and an increase of 231 in the
number of persons actually attending
school. The average length of the
school year has increased from 81
weeks and two days to 80 weeks and
three days, or one week and a day.
The number of teachers has increased
from 6905 to G932 or 81 while the
average wages of the female teacher
has increased from S.3l per week to
1851 per week, or 26 cents and the
average wages of the male teacher,
from $4325 per month to $44.43 per
month or $1.18.
The common schools have had the
benefit of $11S.104 spent in free text
books and $440.864 expended for new
buildings, repairs, insurance and
school appliances. Both of these
items show decrease from the ex-
penditures of 1910. At the present
+ time there are 4645 schools in the
state, or II less than a yea ago,
though of these 250S or 286 more than
last year are graded. The number of
ungraded schools has decreased by
/ 303.
At the present time there are $3.50
common schoolhouses in the state, of
which 80 were built during the year
at a cost of $144,7 1853. yhe common
school property in the state is valued
at $7,638,057.
The total expenditures for common
schools were $2,640,5l4 or $50, 021
more than last year. Of this sum
the town treasures supplied $692,903
of $4l2,42O less than last year, while
$46,1 was derived from local funds.
The amount raised by local taxation
for the common school fund only
/ (per person of school age) was 1882
or 81 80 less than last year. while the
cost per pupil, based on average at
tendance was 1868, or $093 more
than a year ago.
Superintendent Smith calls atten-
ton to the fact that the length of the
school year has been increased and
/ hn ofo
teachers show an advance. He states
that the salary question is still urgent
however. He does not see. either,
why superintendent should find II
necessary to report that 626 school
buildings are not in good condition.
FREE HIGH SCHOOLS.
During the year 1911 the number of
free high schools receiving state aid
was 1873, or five more than in 1910.
These schools are scattered through
1T towns and averaged to be In ses-
sion "a weeks and two days, or four
days less than in 1910. The attend
ance averaged 10,446, of whom SIG
were boys and 6,643 were girls. The
number of boys shows an increase of
626, and while the number of girls
shows decrease of 81. The number of
male teachers employed was 223, or
seven more than last year, while the
number of female teachers was 342, or
six more than in 1910. The average
monthly wages of the male teachers
was 1890 or $2.l4 more than In 1910.
while the average weekly wages of the
female teachers was $l2.75 or ~ cents
more than in 1910.
ACADEMIES AND INSTITUTES.
Forty-six schools of this class re-
ported to the state superintendent
They averaged to keep open Sc weeks,
a decrease of week from 1910. The
number of pupils enrolled was 4055,
or 81 more than last year, while the
average attendance was 1889 or 100
more than last year. OF those attend
Ing 1900 were taking the college pre-
paratory course; 1857 in the English
course, 247 in the training course for
teachers; 1873 in manual training
course, as in domestic science course
and 81 in agricultural course. The
number of teachers, including princi-
pals, was 236 or II more than year
ago. The average pay of the male
teachers was $105.63 per month, or
S610 more than last year, while the
average pay of the female teachers
was $12.72 per week OF 30 cents more
than in 1910.
THE progress made by the second
airy schools during the past year has
been gratifying" says Superintendent
Smith. Several contributing causes
are responsible for this improvement.
1t is due in part to the greater inter-
est manifested throughout the coun-
try in secondary education, the per-
centage of increase in attendance in |
high schools in the nation at large for
the past decade having been consider
ably greater than that of the popula- |
ton"
Later on in the report Mr.. Smith
touches upon the relation of the sec
ondary school to the college, saying:
ut is interesting to note that in sew