The Republican journal., 1914-12-31
:s.T1ONAL PROBLEMS
m THE SCHOOLS.

.,srpn IN THE SCHOOLS . lis
s''i 400 there were 2, 1873 schools
lpy s' .sat we're reported as following
,pans ~ outline of studies. For the
j'nDl'. 1914 the number OF schools
10 ys 90 had been reduced $40. This
Ibi; ''' ,,,t,on shows conclusively the
JJi9I '' :. bslrg made in a more careful
q lbs' = Ion Of the work of the
ste1'' ,ot to be implied that all of
Is''' are by any means following
st 0' form courses, but it is clear
5Si o.. haphazard, implanted
tH F' ,s some measure of system
u a'' ,.o trecent superintend-
ldg .c-s efforts have been made
/ '''' a,pt some form of agreement
f'S .sptial points of the school
Se that pupils going from one
g. +h4r would meet with less
% now frequently the case.
''", ,s are all bearing fruit in a
u '' uouons unity of school courses.
& 2'l. .n,,oa on the desirabilty of fur
t'a'''' .s,.r. the.report says: "While
. ,s,,s Uniformity that would pre-
s'g 5..;,as. lnitiatiye and the wise
! l'r station would retard progress
+ '''. ., desired, there is much to
" favor of an agreement on es-
SS and essential points for all parts
W ,,s.s school SYSTEM
SCHOOL RsPEATERs.
Ia r5ueater has been elimi-
! The r;yis problem it is clear from
ii o. Malrl school report that the
saua is still to be found, Ac-
" IF r. lhs figures there were last
1n2 u ..- VINO were going over
y 5.' me the work of grade.
iI,5 r.ra'endent indicates that
a''l iucational waste that
~ onsiderably reduced, if
q 1.u4ted. 1t is pointed out
emu .Uts generally represent
W. ms Of the schools, that they
NO' -nselves the discouraged
-. ...rra1, clement that is being
u'''s failure. but that they
H5o uueds the progress OF the
i@' r when ,hey are members.
~ " 1 problem it is recon-
.fs, vii the larger school sys-
ll5 .s.ra ablished special rooms
y ,bs ,s3rga # the most successful
u H., ,a or found in the teaching corps
s ...a. school systems much at
,-- rs.5 Individual instruction
wv, hes. r-,arded pupils to regain
~ .-.rH The number of repeat
,,...Tr. the year ending July l,
Tss less than the number re-
~ I'm ,ss preceding year. This re-
'mr shows tnat superintendent are
s er.at.lr 10 the checking of
rs waste witch from both finan-
m, All EDUCATIONAL point of view
N -aMey be completely stopped.
THE SCHOOL YEAR
/. 'sggta Of the school year is gen.
ii racaraet as being one of the tests
h .aauav If an educational sys-
'iitjs be- SO regarded, then Maine
N, rsye Shown a considerable gain
recent Years. In 1907 the average
"a year ior the State was approx
An II. laws or &c schools weeks. In
l,hg 4aa aeen increased to 1854 days
.to. .ae past year a further gain of
,v il to Ue noted, This represents a
ru-as- af l6 days or more than 3
d weeks the Z year period. The
G TIE legislature of 1909 in raising
mrnur school year from 20 to rs
L: Rss Ja lubtedly responsible in a
+ nesur4 Tor the increase.
aa ils- tatr- were 139 towns and
Il il fire State that maintained their
tas fer a. 5as 1870 days. This is the
! sc1o,. gear for the majority of
iN Jr tle other hand 800 towns
atsile8 -e7o0. year that was short
s5 the average for the State.
b Commenting on these figures the
Es STATE school report points out
ia difference If 80 days or 10 school
ks between Iarious municipalities is
pal thai leslrable equality of edu-
las opportunity can hardly be claim
.Iis suggestion Is made that legisla-
acton should further remove this
EnPac! oy requiring 30 school weeks
~ ial as Z minimum. There were
fear It's towns that fell below this
Eetea minimum ard nearly all the
PEN States have already adopted a
" year JT not less than LOU days,
+ Ntaies occurring considerably in
pm Of that number.
PUBLIC hlNDERGARTENS.
~ trs public kindergarten in Maine
Stab..shedlr Portland 81 years ago.
/ yeaf that city had nine public kim
Eae0S with seventeen teachers and
EAI registration of 430. Following
Eaia by seven years, Biddeford
El-shsa a public kindergarten and
\ @si Tine similar action has been
0y Saco in 1894, by Bangor and
fs'oa N ls9s by Augusta and Show
Old I5.e and by Winslow in 1913.
'eai there was a total of thirty
Ihlhoergaltens in Maine with fifty
ass and pupil registration of 1864.
.si,'g on this phase of the school
lne Maine school report says.
ssIsl(ofLpnateiy the movement for the
s ss947ut Of hindergartens has been