Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-11-19
INSTRUCTIVE PROGRAM IN ALL
AUGUSTA SCHOOLS TO INTEREST
: CITIZENS IN EDUCATION week

Education Week, Nov. Is and "a
VIII De observed in the Augusta
scnoois simultaneously with the
and breadth of tho United States
In this city the observance will fol-
low the general outline of the pro-
gram Tor the different days as pub
nshed for the guidance of the
schools. But also in this city par
ticular stress will be placed on the
cooperation of the parents and citi-
Zens. During this week it is hoped
that parents and all interested win
make special effort to attend the
regular sessions of the high and
sraue SCHOOLS and observe at first
hand the system of our schools,
1t is hoped that Educational Weel,
VIII first of all serve to impress upon
the citizens of the community their
responsibility in regard to the schools
ana that their visitations to the var
iouS buildings this week will be but
the start of more complete effort
along these lines to continue through
out the school year.
Seek Cooperation Parents
1t may be a fine commentary on
the faith that the parents have in
our school principals and teachers,
80 thoS eASy ScHu lllelr C0llUfcn TO
the schools year after year. but never
themselves go to see what system
OF education is being used or who are
the people who have the training
OF the children in charge. Superin-
tendent Fred w. Burrill and the en-
tire teaching personnel of the city's
schools desire and seek the interest
ana cooperation of the parents and
friends.
Miss Lou NJ Buker, the Primary
supervisor points out something of
the present day methods being used
IN the Augusta schools, and in refer
ence to the teaching force says:
Augusta citizens have reason to be
proud of their teaching staff. In my
years of experience in Massachu-
sets and Connecticut schools, no.
where have l seen a more compre-
hensive educational program or
greater actual accomplishments than
here in Augusta"
Primary Grade Methods
The parents have been hearing
much lately about the health work in
the schools, because it is vital. They
already know what fine work the
school nurse is doing. To be sure,
one women did say she thought the
mothers were perfectly able to say
what their children should eat, but
just then her own child rushed up
to her, shouting. Say, mother, I've
had five hot dogs tonight" and she
changed her mind: The milk lunches
are doing wonders in building up the
children, and in the kindergartens
a rest period before the closing exer-
else refreshs the little people who
have been tempted to play too hard.
However, much we talk about the
ut 81 4 4l,t
never taught better and never I'M
der such pleasant conditions. Read
ing is at the base of all knowledge.
If q man can read. he can learn any
thing in his power to grasp. The
key of all knowledge is in his hand.
In the Augusta schools this very
year q new system of reading is be-
ing taught in two buildings. so that
our teachers will know for a fact
whether it is better than the old. In
one of the first grade rooms the
other day. children who could not
read in September read ten pages
aloud in twenty minutes and did it
well.
The reading habit is being formed
by hundreds of children. who arc re-
warded for doing their regular work
quickly by being allowed to read
quietly by themselves. There is q
bookcase in every room, with suit
able books from which each child
may make his own selections. "A
library table, in a corner. made at
tractive by rugs and pictures. is the
pride of many rooms. The child with
u taste for reading has a wonderful
time there.
individuality Encouraged
Meanwhile the child whose bent is
for making things with his hands is
expressing his own individuality,
finding out what he likes best to do.
and doing it and that means Ions
start in his preparatiO for life. This
work begins in the very first yea:.
In every kindergarten, the first three
quarters of an hour each day is given
up to group work, and each child
chooses his or her own group. and
makes paper dolls. paints and papers
the doll house, makes furniture for
it, according to his taste.
In one of the second grade rooms
may be seen cut-out picture, rep
resenting an Indian scene. which is
very effective and entirely cut by the
children.
In one of the kindergartens, q
model grocery has been running for
a month, where one may buy luscious
paper fruit. canned goods. and pro-
visions. The children are learning
more things than hand-work and
elementary arithmetic in that little
shop. The other day a small boy
came out of the shop weeping bitter
and finally made the teacher under
stand he bad been discharged as
clerk. The manager. upon being
questioned, said he didn't wait on
customers properly. Teacher asked
if it wouldn't be we'll to give him
another chance, and they thought it
over and decided that it would. Those
fchildren will remember all their
lives that anybody who has failed
once and taken his failure to heart
should be given another chance.
Rural School Improvement
/. The rural schools, so neglected
years ago, now have as well trained
teachers as the city schools. They,