Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-05-11

TO this increased cost Tor maintaining
our schools. In offering the following
data have takensas basis for compar-
| isons a period covering the last four
| years, not because results from these
particular years are more favorable, for
the Xact contrary is true, but because
the financial statistics for these years
have been more complete and the distri-
| button expenses by items more nearly
uniform:
In the year 1910 the expenditures for
schools was S57, O40. 80. This yearly ex-
pense has increased gradually up to and
including the present year, in which 1t
has been S64, 1871 %, an increase of $171633
for this four-year period. An analysis by
schools of this increased cost shows that
the amount expended for the Smith,
| Williams. Nash and Lincoln schools dur
ing this period has decreased by more
than $16s5. Not only do these schools
Show a decrease, as a whole, in expendi-
lures, but each has cost the city of Au-
gusta less for the year 1913 than for any
year during the period in question. The
| expense of running these schools has
| been hammered down in the face of in
creased number of pupils. advances on
the salary schedule, and the expense of
better equipment.
This Increased cost is chargeable to the
following departments of our school sys-
tenn: Cony High school, Webster school,
evening schools, rural schools, all
schools, new Grammar school. The in
creased expenditures for these schools
| has been deliberate and with some we'll
| defined purpose in view.
L Co.
increased s1270.36 during these four years
This increase is due wholly to greater
expenditure for salaries since the cost
| of maintenance has been materially re-
duced by the larger membership Two
| factors account for this increase in the
amount expended for salaries additional
teachers, made necessary by increased
enrolment, and the schedule increases of
salaries
Expenses of the Webster school have
increased since 1910 by about $751; This
increase is due to the establishment of
the kindergarten room there and an en-
deavor to give to the boys and girls of
this section opportunities for an educa-
ton equal in every respect to those in
other parts of our city
There has been an increase of about
! $500 in expenditures for evening schools
during this period. These schools are
doing a great work in our city. and the
increase is due entirely to the greater
amount expended for salaries, made
necessary by the increased attendance
upon these schools
Nearly $500 of this increase in ex-
penditures is chargeable to our rural
schools. This money, in my judgment,
has been well expended, since it has
gone for the improvement of the teach
ing force in these schools and in pro-
vfding better physical conditions in
and about the school buildings.
The other two departments, the
new Grammar school and those items
under the head of All Schools ac-
ceu.It for the remainder of this in
crease. The former is due to expan-
sion of the elementary school sys
tenn on the East side for the purpose
of giving reasonable and adequate
teaching accommodations In order to
do this ii has been necessary to pro-
vide additional teachers, as was the
original plan, and to expend a con-
siderable sum of money for what I
MAY tenn incidental equipment, such
as is needed in every new building.
Without doubt the per capita cost of
students attending the new Grammar
school will never again be so large as
it has been this year.
Under the head of All Schools
come expenditures for supervisors,
manual training and domestic science
supplies, truant officer, and a number
of other items which cannot be charged
to any one school. A slight increase
in this department is due probably to
increased amount expended for manual
training supplies"
Regarding the evening schools the
report states that the number of
teachers employed was 20; total num-
Der of sessions held, 21S; total enroll
ment. 252; average daily attendance at
girls school, 49,; at mems school. 81;
percentage of attendance at girls
schools, IA; at mems school. II; av-
erage number per teacher at girls
school, 49, at mems school, Is.
Major General Seth Williams Fund
This is a fund of $1,000 donated by
the heirs of the late Major General
Seth Williams for the use of the chill
dren of Augusta. This fund is under
the control of the Lithgow library and
reading room, as trustees. Itswas de-
posted by the trustees of that insti-
tuition on December 8, 1911, in the
First National Bank of Augusta, I'M
der the name of the Major General
Seth Williams Fund The vote of the
trustees in reference to said fund is as
follows:
The income thereof to be used for
school libraries for the children and
teachers of the public schools in Au-
gusta, especially for travelling Libraries
TO be used in the outlying districts to
provide such books for pupils as well
help to give them a love for the best
ltel AZURE, and to provide for teachers
such books as will be an inspiration
and help them n their work.
In accordance with the provisions OF
the will and the vote of the trustees
of the Lithgow library, a library of 60
be cks has been selected, a substantial
boy for transportation purposes has
Leen made, and the first library has