Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-03-11

school committee of TIE Wateryille
Rotary club has been completed and
is most comprehensive document.
II covers every phase Of the school
situation IN this city and introduces
recommendations 10 take care of
present needs to say nothing of a
look into the future, forecasting the
school needs for several years hence.
The work of the committee was
most Systematically done. A school
survey was taken and large charts
made showing where tie school build
ings are located and stickers empIoy-
ed to show where the children of
school age are located, the different
grades being represented by different
colored stickers. Thus an accurate
idea Of the school situation is pre-
scented at glance and the work done
is OF great value.
At the committees suggestion the
Rotary club has passed over free of
charge the charts and maps made and
also the written reports to the Board
OF Education. the Superintendent of
schools and the city government for
their guidance and suggestion in
working out the matter of the con-
struction of new school building.
which is now being publicly recog-
nized as n burning question which
cannot be much longer ignored. Re-
ports have also been donated to the
newspapers for their files
The scope of the report is five-fold
and includes:
First. a survey of the school popu-
lation of the city
Second, survey of the present
school equipment as far as physical
property is concerned.
Third. survey of the school grad
ing system and a study of those items
needing correction or revision.
Fourth. recommendations of ways
and means to meet the present needs,
as developed by the first three sur
vcys.
Firth, a survey and study of the
needs of this city so far as it's schools
are concerned. for a period of the
next 10 years.
The committee makes public &C
acknowledgement of the great service
rendered by William II. Patten, sup
erintendent of schools. the board of
education and the principals and
teachers in the different buildings.
Also to Stanley +. MARI of the en-
gineering department of the Hollngs-
worth and Whitney company and
John +. Choate of the Horace Pur-
lnton company. as well as the Cham
Der OF Commerce.
a study of the big chart shows
that the largest part of the school
population is on the Plains below
Lockwood street and east of Silver
street and the business section of
the city as far north as the college
Srouhus' IL also SHOWS another
thickly populated area bounded by
College avenue. Chaplin street. Hill
side avenue and Ash street. Other
parts of the city do not Show this
congestion.
SubtractinS the number Of pupils
taken care of by Coburn, Mount
Merici and the parochial schools,
which number GS:;. there are 3.2S4
children for the city to take care of.
AS far as numbers are concerned.
there are more OF grammar school
age for which provision must he
made.
In the survey of the present school
property. everything pertaining to
the school buildings was looked into.
The structural material, when built,
general condition as to depreciation.
number of stories. size, number OF
grades with number of pupils ages
represented. number of teachers and
number of pupils per teacher. Also
the sanitation. ventilation, lighting
and playground space was looked
into as well as particular attention
paid to fire protection and all its at
tendant features To do this was an
exhaustive work and u diagram of
garding all the above were made as
a part of the report.
The grading system was then com
sidered and after thorough investi-
CATION the committee recommends
the "6-33-3' plan suggested in pub
lie several times by superintendent
Patten. The committee says plainly
that they are convinced that he is
right The adoption of this system
would mean, according to the report,
that the present Grammar schools
| would house the first six grades.
Then the pupils would so to a CEN
trail junior High school for three
years and then to High school for
three years 1t is pointed out that
this system of grading would in
crease the efficiency OF our school
system so per cent.
The committee reports that every
| thing points to the lot on which the
present Pleasant street building now
stands as the location for new jun
| ior high school. While this would
| not afford room for Fairgrounds. it is
suggested that more land he acquired
I as may be and the rectanGle dor
| dered by School. Pleasant and Win
ter streets. the Catholic church pro
perty and Percival court be made in
| time the school yard.
| Recommendation of the commit
| tee include the tearing down of the
present Pleasant street building and
| the construction of a broom scboo,
| house, planned. furnished and equip
| ped according to the very best stand
| ards, and capable of housing at least
| 500 pupils. Among other features this
| building should provide an assembly
room, gymnasium, shop rooms and
! provision for future growth in the
way of courses peculiarly adapted 20