The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1914-02-19
OUR BOYS AND GIRLS.

The Newton, Mass, Graphic recently
published an interesting address by Mr..
Frank W. Chase. master of Bigelow
school of that city. Mr.. Chase began
with reference to the conservation of
our natural resources by irrigation, ma
tional control of forests and rivers, ETC.,
and then said: "Our immediate problem
is, however, a local. but none the less
difficult one. How shall we conserve the
physical, the mental and the splr tual
life Of our boys and girls?' This is the
most important question before the coun-
try today. No political issue is of such
vital interest as that which concerns
the training, physically, mentally and
morally, of the young, to whom the
destines of the nation must later be en-
trusted. 1t is not local, but national
problem, and should be kept continually
before the people until it is satisfactorily
solved, Mr.. Chase says:
With an experience of more than
twenty-five years as teacher IN district,
high and elementary grades, | am per
suaded that with all their faults and i'm
PROJECTIONS, in the public schools largely
lies the future safety Of the Republic.
The public school touches and influences
more or less vitaliy the lives of the large
majority of the children of Newton.
How are these children affected physical
ly, mentally and spiritually through its
training?
He then tells of the requirements of
the Massachusetts laws concerning the
eyesight, hearing and physical disabil-
ties of pupils in the public schools. Cen
eral lessons in hygiene are required and
nails, hands, hair and teeth are subjected
to weekly inspection by the school nurse
Children who have been absent from
school on account of illness are upon their
return referred to the school physician,
etc. Boys IN the seventh and eighth
grades have sloyd while the girls are
having sewing. Individual pupils and
groups of pupils receive instructions in
various branches. Pupils are allowed to
advance as fast as natural ability and
evidence of work will admit, and pupils
who show aptitude for superior work are
pr omoted at any time during the year.
Boys over IA years of age who have
very little scholastic promise are advised
to 90 to the independent Industrial school
where one-half to two-thirds of the time
is devoted to wood working, printing,
electricity, pattern making, and sheet
iron work Those who are far below the
average in mentality are urged to enter
the school for mentally deficient chill
dren, under the instruction of special
teachers Boys Of Is and girls of IA
years, who find it difficult to complete
the regular grade work have the privi
lege of going to the High school in the
Transfer class and taking courses-the
boys in shop work and the girls in
Household Economics-th fitting them
for future self-support and usefulness.
For younger children there is the vaca-
ton school during the summer, when
woodwork, basketry, weaving, ETC..
hSep IIldliy lICL OlI VIC oCACCCos 1HC
school and home garden leagues under
the direction of the Social Science Club,
have been the means of interesting |
many children in a healthful occupation
during out-of-s school hours and through |
the summer vacation. Did space permit
we should print the address of Mr..
Chase in full, not only to show what is
being done in Newton, but what should !
be done here and elsewhere. The fol- !
lowing paragraphs have a general appli-
cation:
Most of all, the school needs the help |
of the home. Here | believe, lies the /
true solution and here can be done the I
most effective home missionary work.
In few communities are there such cor
dial relations between home and school,
as obtain here in the Bigelow District9
The parents expect their children to have
as good opportunities educationally, both I
in equipment and instruction, as their en-
yironment in Newton would seem to de-
mand.
Rarely have experienced other than
respectful and hearty cooperation on the
part of parents, and where differences
of opinion or MISUNDERSTANDING have
arisen, with few exceptions the diff
culties have been satisfactorily adjusted.
Parents have often made valuable sug-
gestions for the good of the whole school
and know every teacher in this dis
trict gladly welcomes helpful and con-
structive criticism. Therefore, believe |
it is the duty of every parent to inform
the teacher, as early in the school life
of the pupil as possible Of any physical
or mental defects which may interfere
with the school work. Much trouble and
loss of time may thereby be avoided.