Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-05-10

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tation of teachers to the rural schools
postage, etc.
Charles L. Flynt stated tia, !,
would seem that items such as tbos.
enumerated by Mr.. Stuart were ,ars,
enough to justify their printing: ana
this Mr. Stuart answered by sav,a
that the special book from which W.
estimates were taken did not contain
these smaller items. but it was n,
easy matter to divide up the larsar
items into these smaller units,
In answer to a question by q e.
Frost. Mr.. Stuart explained that sso
was not the maximum that anv te,.,
er had been raised. The Salary Of owe
teacher. for instance. was raised s2os
and another was raised $3.50.
Cost of Second Year kinderaart.,
Mrs. Myron NJ Davis asked NJ
stuart how much extra the kinder.
garten would cost. and Mr.. Stuart a.,
swered that for the remainder of ~.
fiscal year X would be about s9soo
Mrs. Davis expressed the opinion tb.,
this was a small amount consider,,
what the children got out of it.
Mayor Fogg, the moderator. was y,
the opinion that whatever action ~
meeting should take on the ma,tn.
would be simply advisory. for il vas
undoubtedly true that the Board ot
Education has absolute control over
the working out of the system If
study in the schools. and also tho
power to say whether there shouId
oe one year or two years. of kinder
garten.
Hon. Henry F.. Dunnack asked -
That was not true of all of the nro-
gram of the meeting. and the modn,-
ator answered in the negative for th,s
meeting has the absolute power -
raise money for the schools. and M
ono else has that power.
Hon. Benedict F. Maher asked for
an explanation OF both sides of tho
matter. stating taht in
his opinion the opposing side seemed
to have the better OF il.
Mrs. W. r. Pattangall suggested an
arrangement by which the second
year of the kindergarten be abolished
and making the age OF the child on
terlng the kindergarten four years.
Mr.. Stuart said he thought If was
generally agreed that the aycrar.
child was not mentally deveIoned
enough TO handy readily the mech
anics of reading until the age is SIX
Hon. Guy +. Gannett suggested
That hat was a matter that shhuld he
left to the Board of Education to
work out andt hat the mothers might
take it up with the board. and h.
moved that the meeting appropriate
the sum of s1ls,210 for the schools
as called for in the estimate Of the
Board
There was some question il this
amount included enough for the
maintenance of the second year OF
kindergarten. and Mr.. Stuart replied
that it did not.
Mr.. Files said that he felt there
should be two years of kindergarten.
and he moved that the estimate Of
the Board be amended by adding
$500 for maintaining this other year
of the kindergarten
Frank HeHins OF the Board stated
that he had spent one week in the
schools of the city trying TO find out
if one or two years of kindergarten
was more beneficial to the children,
and he could say that it was the one
year. He stated that another reason
for the one year plan was that the
Nash school is congested and that
that plan would take care of the sit
uation. and would also make diff
ference at the Williams school. II"
also took up the matter from the
financial side. He said that for his
own children. he had found the one
year plan the better.
Lester NJ Hart suggested that the
plan Of having one year or KINDER
garter and then sub primary class
in the afternoons might be soln-
ton to the matter.
Mr.. Viles asked Mr.. Hewins If the
Board of Education was united IN inc
one year kindergarten plan ana MI
Hewins replied that ii was the unan'-
nous vote of the Board. Mr.. NlleS
then withdrew his motion.
judge :. s. Lancaster then read
some lists of figures comparing tn"
cost OF education in Augusta WIN
that of Auburn and other cities
showing instances where the COSTS OF
comparative items Were more IN IN"
city of Augusta. He said that thef'
was no man more in favor OF gooo
schools than he. but the people must
know where the money goes 10.
The motion made by Mr.. GanneO
that the meeting raise the sum Of
$119,2l09 for the support of the
schools for 1912. was then voted
upon and was passed almost unani-
mously.
Appropriation for Athletic Field
The next article of the warrant /"
be taken up was to see if the meetihe
would raise the sum of $1,000 for grad
ing and otherwise improving th'
Williams athletic field at Cony hlgh
school. Mr.. Hewins of the Board o.
Education spoke Of the deploraphe
condition of the field for athletics
to estimates the $500 "ouIu
about take care of leveling the neio
from q four per cent. as it now 49, 10
q one per cent. grade, an excavation
of about 5000 cubic yards Of dirt AT
so cents a yard There were other
items TO be included in the improve
ment of the field, including a neat oi
fence on the north an"
west sides. two gates, and circular
dirt track around the field. The totai
cost would be about $5001.