Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-05-12
annual REPORT OF CITY OF
GARDINER OF SPECIAL NOTE

and economical management. il is be-
heved thai this Increase is more than
justified. The cost Of school adrainistra-
ton in Gardiner is not YET equal to that
Of other Maine Towns and cities Of equal
size and resources.
The report Of Supt. of Schools II j.
Chase is full of interest. II shows that
the quality OF teaching in our common
schools is improving steadily and that the
influence OF the tea cheers upon the chill
dren and in the community is an increas-
ing factor in the promotion Of clean liv-
ing and right thinking That this fact
is recognized by the parents is indicated
both by the words of communication and
by the comparative absence Of com
plants Of the work Of the teachers.
Complaints made have almost invariably
been from those who have not taken the
trouble 10 get the teachers SIDE Of the
case. Added Interest on the part Of pa
rents is indicated by the greater fire
Quency OF their visits 10 the schools.
School Improvements
Gardiner makes en- especially good
showing in TIE number Of pupils enrolled
III It's common schools compared with the
number OF persons OF school age in the
city. In no other city or town of its
size IN the State is the percentage so
large According to the report Of the
Stale superintendent Of public schools
for The year ending July ], 1913 the lat
est published) the average in the State
was ii per cent; in Gardiner il was ~
per cent.
During the last year the pupils in Carl
diner schools for the first time have had
the benefit OF the services of q school
physician. The cases needing attention
have been followed up by the teachers
in an effort 10 determine the results. In
q majority Of cases where treatment WAS
given decided Improvement resulted. The
work Of the summer school has been pro-
ductive Of interesting results.
In the high school the most conspicu-
Gus advance for the year is in the main
tenance Of attendance. A total enroll
nent Of IL tof whom - were tuition pu-
pilsl for the fall term, 1914, is followed
by an enrolment Of ri at the beginning
Of the spring term OF lo15. OF q total
loss Of u and a net loss Of G. Only two
gave what seem 10 be avoidable reasons
for leaving the schools.
Present Needs
As ever in the recent past, the discus
sion Of the needs Of our schools leads al
once 10 the fact that a rev high school
building is badly needed. The present
building. built IS years ago when the
school numbered 20 pupils is badly out
Of repair Within a year the State su-
perintendent Of schools after an inspec-
ton Of the building said; In some states
the use Of such building fcr high school
purposes would moi be tolerated for >;
hours"
Important Statistics
The report Of the city clerk shows that
~ births. 50 marriages and 90 deaths have
occurred in the city during the past year
That of the chief engineer Of the fire de-
partment, that the department has re-
sroneed 10 is general and still alarms
The total fire loss was s14.I43.CS on con
tents Of buildings and an insurance paid
Of s.Sz5. On buildings a loss Of s9S.9 and
an insurance paid OF se2s9.Gs. The city
solicitor reports no suits where the city
appeared either rs plaintiff or defend
ant The chief Of police reports serving
a. warrants. go OF which were for
drunkenness.