Daily Kennebec journal., 1922-02-11
Rotary Club Hears
Report on School
Survey of Waterville

Rotary Club Friday evening at the
regular meeting held at the Elm
wood hotel. After the dinner, the
entire time was taken up by a re-
port given by Cecil NJ. DaEgett, the
chairman of the committee appoint
&. ed by the Rotary Club to make a
survey of the school situation in
the city. This survey was an eX-
haustive one, the results of which
| were shown on large charts which
were exhibited at the meeting last
evening. The rcportc covered every
| phase OF the situation and an alb
stract of the same follows:
A committee was appointed by
the Rotary Club in the winter of
1921 to study the school situation
of Watervillc. This committee was
composed of Messrs. Nivison, Libby
ard Daggctt.
The work of the committee was
, divided into five parts:
First. a survey of the present
school population.
Second, q survey of the physical
property of the school system.
Third. Il study of the present
grading system.
Fourth. u study of ways and
means of recommendations to relieve
the present congestion.
Fifth. study of the needs of the
city for the next 10 years or more.
There is a school population in
Waterville of 1000 boys and girls.
Children of kindergarten age are
in the minority. The largest num-
her are of grammar school age, with
Il lesser number of Junior High and
High school age. These children
are represented on the map of the
city of Watervllc by small stickers.
This map shows where the children
live and where the congestion is.
The present school property is
shown graphically by different
charts, one for every building.
These buildings are represented on
the map by red stickers showing
their location and relation to the
population. Two we'll defined and
Congested areas are evident, one in
the southeast part of the city and
one in the northern part of the city.
The survey of the school buildings
covered the items of sanitation
toilets. drains. sinks. Easements,
drinking water. also ventilation,
lighting. Fairgrounds, anC fire pro-
lection.
The Pleasant Street school build
ing is condemned in every particular.
The North Grammar school build
ing has many features which should
he corrected. The Western Avenue
,oI praol. Cfroot cnbpo1c chn,I15 a1cn
receive considerable attehtion.
The present grading system might
be called an "S-4" or "6-2-4" plan.
six grades in the grammar, two
in the Junior high. and four in the
high school. A beginning has been
made on what is knowL as the
"6-3-3" plan. A great deal of con-
gestion has resulted. and this coup
led with promotions and entering of
students. has added to the confusion.
The committee feels that the present
school board and superintendent of
schools are having their hands full
in trying to follow an system at all.
The kindergartens have been sus-
pended entirely. condition which
should not he allowed to continue
any longer than necessary
The different grammar schools
pour their overflow and promotions
into the Pleasant Stree school. and
this school in turn passes its over
flow and promotions on to the High
! school and q critical condition ex-
lists this year.
Provision must be made in the
central part of the city for ne"
eouipment to house at least 500 boys
and girls in Junior High school,
and further provision for taking care
of The congestion must be made at
other points.
So far as grading is concerned.
the comr.ittee recommends the
odoption of the "6-3-3" plan,-six
veors In the grammar school. three
in Junior high, and three in high
school. This, in our Judgment,
would at one stroke clear up sooo
of our difficulties. The junior high
school would take at least two
grades from the grammar school
buildings, and also the freshman
year from the High school. so that
when the pupil got ready for High
school he would enter what Is no"
the sophomore class.
We should have centfai junior
high school building capable OF