Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-02-12

male teachers per week, $12.15, IN in
| crease If So.
Whole nnmbev Of academies, insti-
| tutes and seminaries reporting 10 the
State educational department for 1911
was 46, an increase of one over 191G;
total number of weeks. same as 1910.
1876 average number of weeks 10 each
school. So. a decrease of l. Total num-
Der of pupils enrolled, 4055. an increase
of 81; average attendance $3.50, an in
| crease of 1870. OF the pupils attending
these academies, institutes and semi-
naries, 1f57 are taking an English
course; $780, a college preparatory
course PAT q training course for teach
ers; liz, a manual training course; 10,
a domestic science course and 81, an
agricultural course.
OF the development of the secondary
school curriculum Supt. Smith says:
The development of the secondary
school is dependent in large measure
upon the program of studies which it
offers and no phase of secondary edu-
cation has received more attention
during the past few years than this
Discussion has centered about two
topics, namely college entrance re-
qurements and vocational or indus
trial education. The result of the dis
cussion on both points has been The in
PRODUCTION of new ideals in secondary
school education. In the matter OF
college entrance requirements tradi-
tional courses are undergoing change.
both as to the material suitable for use
in college preparation and of quanu-
tative requirements, while other
courses are becoming broadly con-
struetive in the field of practical prep
aration fer immediate vocational ac-
Invites. The discussion affects eendi-
lions in our State. in view of the large
percentage of students registered in
I. the college preparatory courses and of
the introduction of vocational work
through recent act for the encourage
ment of industrial education
College Course Unduly Emphasized.
Supt. Smith declares that the-for-
mai conditions found in the high
schools are not recognized by the
present college entrance requirements
and that artificial stimuli are used to
secure superficial results. He says:
The colleges have not appeared TO
recognize the needs of the pupil not
preparing for college and through the
influence which a superior institution
necessarily exerts upon those of lower
grade, they have so nodded sentiment
that in many communities the failure
of a school to maintain course of
study meeting the requirements Of col
lege would go far towards eondenhlnS
the school in its other departments in
4ft
report advocates the considering first
of the interests of the majority Oh the
students and SAYS that Il is interest
ing TO note that in several OF the
larger schools Of the State preparation
for college is being made incidental 10
the real work of the school. The type
form of college entrance requirements
is followed only so far as these re
ouirements contribute to the larger IN
terests of the students.
The report declares that the system
of union school supervision may now
be regarded as definitely established as
a part of the school policy of the
state "Only through such system
can expert direction be made possible
to the smaller towns of the
state. or indeed, to q very great ma
iority of the schools. "Supt. Smith adds
that although the number of available
candidates for positions of this klna
in any one year is not large, as the po-
sitions call for persons of special tram
IMP and qualifications, indications
show that an increasingly large num-
Der of young men in colleges and nor
NAL schools are pursuing courses IN
education with a special view to school
supervision. and as these become
available a more rapid extension oil
tile plan will be possible.