Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-03-13
School Report
Filed for Year Past


has filed his report for the year 1921.
1t says: "By being able to move into
the new high school building many
difficulties in the housing conditions
which, have confronted the citizens of
Gardiner for number of years havo
been overcome.
The seventh and eighth grades
have been transferred from Central
street and Highland avenue to the old
high school building. and the fourth
grade from Plummcr street to Cen
trail street. BY this arrangement it
gives the first grade children in both
parts Of the city opportunity to at
tend school the required number of
hours each day, thus overcoming the
necessity of attending school on the
part-time plan as has been the Gus
tom for the past few years. 1t is
hoped now the children will be better
fitted to handle the upper grade work.
much, has been done along the line
Of repairs during the past year and
there is much more that needs to be
done. About one-half the money spent
along this line was for plumbing and
overcoming A1any defects in order to
meet the requirements of the State
health department The most expensive
job was the installation of an entire
ly new basement outfit in the Plum
mer street school. Much credit is
due the teachers and children in the
old high school building for the work
that has been accomplished by them
in improving the appearance of the
desks and basement walls. There have
been great changes made in the South
Gardiner Grammar school under the
principalship of Miss Harriet Eaton.
Through the help of citizens in that
part of the city. and the untiring eff
forts of Miss Eaton, the building has
been wired and equipped with electric
lights and now many of the citizens
look upon 1t as a community center
and not as an old and neglected school
building.
"One of the difficult things we have
to contend with is the teacher uues-
ton. 1t seems almost impossible to
secure competent teachers to fill va
cancies when they occur So far we
have been fortunate in having some
former local teachers come to the res
cue, but we seem to have reached the
place where the local help supply has
been exhausted.
ave are expected to compete with
other cities and larger towns of the
State with our work in the school,
room. In fact this Is something that
rightfully belongs to the boys and
girls. and it is demanded by the pa
rents. On the other hands, when va
cancies in the teaching force occur do
the parents, who are the citizens, de-
mand that we go out and compete
with other places in securing the
| skilled labor? The citizens of Gardi-
ner we'll know the difficulties that
confront the school board and ought
not to expect too large an income on
the sum invested"
In closing, Mr.. Gerrish acknowl-
edges the hearty cooperation Of the
teachers. the city government, citizens
and students. To Mr.. Ross, the for
mer superintendent, and to ]. w. Rob-
inson, chairman of the school board,
/ he is also grateful.
Principal T. c. Chaffee of the High
school, reports that S2o pupils were
enrolled in the Gardiner High for the
year 1s2o-21. $50 boys and 142 girls:
D. Freshmen, 81 Sophomores, 70 Ju-
niors and "a Seniors. Fifty-one
'tudents were graduated in June and
this number 20 are continuing their
incation in other institutions, 6 in
'ormal school, 10 college. /: business
College. l Worcester Academy and l
training for a nurse.
THE department Of physical train