Daily Kennebec journal., 1916-07-22

is reviewed, the pupils taught by her
for another period and directions left
as before at the. close Of her visit IT,
continuing the instruction and study
The parents at the light stations
have received the plan very favorably
and co-operated actively with the
Of the work While it has not been
found practicable or desirable to
teach the pupils wholly by the usual
method of formal instruction it has
been found possible to adapt the
| usual course Of elementary school
work for these pupils and their pro-
gress in the, various subjects has been
most encouraging.
Most Of the light stations are out
of the usual routes of travel and 1t is
often necessary for the teacher to
reach these places by going for some
| distance Ia a small boat. The usual
hardships of this mode of travel are
experienced in unfavorable weather
and especially during the stormy sea-
son Of the year, but, nevertheless. the
teacher is able to follow a schedule of
visits with sufficient regularity to
carry on the work successfully.
| The light houses at present in :
cluded in the teachers list extend
from York to Machiss and are as fol-
lows: Boon Island, Seguin Island. Ram
Island. Franklin Island, Matinicus
Rock. Egg Rock, Petit Mannan, Nash
Island. Libby Island and Avery Rock.
School privileges have been pro-
vided in one less township the past
year, while there has been a consid-
cradle increase in the school popula-
tion of this unorganized territory.
There has been a decrease of two III
the number of townships where
schools have been maintained and a
decrease of Ave in the total number Of
has been a considerable increase in
schools. On the other hand, there
the enrolment during the past year,
which indicates an increase in the
average number of pupils per school.
this increase for the past year being
1874 At this point it is interesting to
note the large percentage of the
school population of the unorganized
townships which is enrolled in the
schools For the past year there was
SO per cent as compared with an aver
age of SO per cent for the towns anG
cities of the State. The percentage of
average attendance as compared with
enrolment, however. fails to show
such a high average. The average of 65
per cent will seem low to those not
understanding the situation, and while
no doubt 1t should and can be con-
siderably raised the conditions sur
rounding these schools will never he
favorable to high attendance records
This years report shows a slight
increase in the school year, but the
average for all the schools in the un-
organized townships appears to be
low in comparison with the avera &c
for the town and city schools of the
State. However, a careful study of
the statistics will show that the aver
age length of the school year where
schools have been regularly main
tained is considerably higher than the
general average shown, as the average
for the unorganized township schools
as whole is lowered on account of
that considerable number of schools
which each year are closed, re-opened
or newly established and consequent
ly are in session from few to many
weeks less than they would have been
if regularly maintained.
The number of teachers employed
shows a slight increase from the pre-
ceding year, while the percentage of
permapency remains the same. The
fiscal statistics show a considerable
variation in the different items of ex-
penditure, but the tctal expenditure IS
about the same as that Of the preced.
ing year. approximately $25,O00."