Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-05-08
ANNUAL REPORT OF
SuPT. H. \. STUART
OF C|TY'S SCHOOLS
For the Year 1915-16-A Con-
else and Comprehensive State
ment Relative to Augustus
Institutions Of Learning, Con-
tanning Much Valuable Infor-
nation

Following is an abstract Of the an
nual report of Supt. Herman II. Stu
art OF the public schools Of the city of
Augusta for the year 1915-16:
The past year has been one Of av-
erage growth and progress. The at
tendance on the whole has been good.
The usual Interruptions on account of
the epidemic of colds have been ex-
pereinced, but the presence Of the more
serious contagious diseases has been
almost entirely lacking, although iso-
lated cases Of diphtheria and scarlet
fever have appeared here and there.
Throughout the city teachers and pu-
pills are following a we'll defined and
ried out with as much uniformity as 1t
Is wise to maintain.
From all quarters Of the education
al world we receive the call for an en-
largement Of the scope of the curric-
ulum. On the other hand, whatever
criticisms are made Of the schools are
directed mainly against the recent ad-
ditions, because Of the fear that the
new may crowd out the old and there
by some of the essentials will be lost.
The new subjects which have been
added have come as the result Of the
demand Of modern society for them.
They are vital and valuable. It is not
intended, however, that they shall take
the place Of that which is essential in
the old curriculum, but are to be SUBJ
stituted for that which is unimport-
ant and for that which time and ex-
perience has shown to be worthless
from the standpoint Of both utility
and mental training.
Augusta has gone part way only in
the introduction Of these new courses.
Courses in manual training and sew
ing have formed a part of our curric-
ulum for several years. The next nat
ural step seems to be the introduction
Of course in domestic science. Later
in this report under the caption DO
nestle Science will be found some
definite recommendations with refer
ence to the introduction Of such a
course.
There is also needed a special class
on each side of the river for sub-nor-
NAL and backward children. These
classes should be taught by the best
teachers Observation-Disclosures who un-
dren and therefore would be able to
work with intelligence and sympathy.
"A school nurse and a director of
physical training, and open-air school
rooms, will without doubt. some day
find a place as part Of our school
equipment.
THE introduction of these special
schooling facilities will require an adj
ditional outlay Of money, and must
wait for a response from the taxpay-
ers.
The lack of funds, however, has not
operated as check upon the improve
ment of the already established
courses. No limitations have been
placed upon the personal efforts of
teachers and school officials to bring
the work in the authorized courses up
to higher state Of efficiency.
0SfiOOI HttSUUdnCS ana 1r0WIn
"The Augusta schools are growing
slowly but steadily. The school popu-
lation, as shown by our last annual
school census, has increased all out Of
proportion to the increase in the gen.
eral population, and to the increase in
the number Of polls. During the period
beginning 1908 and ending in 1915 the
polls in this city have increased 3.4
per cent, while the school population
in the same period has increased more
than rs per cent. The total enrolment
in the public schools for the year just
closing is 22O0, 1866 boys and 1874 girls,
which is an increase of 81 over the en-
rollment Of the preceding year. A large
per cent. Of this increase comes in the
Nash, Lincoln and Smith school dis
tricts."
A table follows showing the record
of student work in Augusta public
schools. This table shows among 9TH
err things, the number of promotions
and the number Of on-promotions,
the number leaving the school system
and the number remaining in the sys-
tenn.
Domestic Science
"As a mart of liberal education in