Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-03-19
School for Special Pupils.

purchase of candies and other childish in
dulgences.
School for Special Pupils.
Last year I recommended the establish
ment of schools for average pupils ana
for pupi,s who could not for various rea-
sons fit into any of the established grades
to the best advantage. In the middle OF
the fall term. an opportunity occurred to
open such a school in room at the Red
ington street school. 1t was found posi-
Bile to place all of the pupils attending
that building in three rooms under three
teachers, thus leaving the fourth room
and teacher free for this special purpose.
Health of Pupils.
One of the important elements entering
into any child's success in his school life
is his health. If it is the business OF the
government to educate its boys and girls
it certainly behooves the State to safe
guard in every way possible the good
health of those boys and girls. The en-
ployment of a school physician is an i'm
portant step in this direction.
High School.
The city of Waterville has provided for
this part of its school system an expen-
sive building, well-equipped with the nee
essary books and apparatus, and has en-
gagged as instructors a sufficient number
of well-trained instructors with expert
ence in their work Under these circum-
stances the citizens have right to look
for commendable results, and we believe
that they are not to be disappointed.
Last spring there was graduated from the
High school 81 pupils, 80 boys and 81
girls: This is the largest number that
ever graduated from this institution. OF
these 10 entered college, five entered a
normal school, three a business college
Recommendations.
Some of our school buildings are still
not what they should be. in the matter of
ventilation, lighting, etc. Some of these
conditions were remedied last summer.
I recommend that others be attended to
during the coming summer. | would es-
pecially mention the ventilation at the
North grammar building and the light
ing In two rooms of the Western avenue
building.
In Jan 1918 we introduced the courses in
domestic science into the schools. These
courses have proven not only popular but
profitable, and have met with general APP
prevail by the parents. In justice to the
boys we should now introduce courses in
manual training. We have rooms built
expressly for this purpose at the new
high school building. The necessary
equipment would cost about $500 and tht
State would reimburse the city for two
thirds OF the salary of the instructor.
The question of suitable Fairgrounds
not only for the school children during
the school year but for all the young PEG
pie of the city is an important one. Oui
school yards are not of sufficient size tc
provide suitable Fairgrounds for the boys
and girls who attend the schools. Oui
| high school boys have no suitable base
| ball or football field. 1t would be, a wise
move on the part of the city to take inn
mediate steps to remedy this defect
There is an excellent opportunity for
some public-spirited citizen or citizens to
confer lasting benefit upon the city by
providing its children and young people
with a public playground, including a
swimming pool for the summer and a
skating pool for the winter. To be of the
greatest service this would require also
the services of paid expert in organized
play.
Quite large number of pupils in our
schools fail to be promoted either be-
cause sickness has obliged them to be