Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-10-24
MEMBERS AUGUSTA
FATHERS CLUB
VISIT new J. \. s.

Fifteen Augusta citizens represent
ing the school department and the new
~ organized Fathers Club Of that city
visited Waterville yesterday afternoon
and under the guidance of Principal
Neil Merrill made a thorough inspec-
ton of the new Junior high school
building at the corner Of Pleasant and
school streets. Every one of the WIS.,
itors expressed admiration concerning
Watcrville's finest school building and
several expressed the hope that Au-
gusta may in the near future have
similar structure.
After leaving the school about 3
o'clock the party went on to Oakland
where they visited the new high school
building there which is in process of
construction.
The members Of the committee were
Frank Hewins, chairman of the Au-
gusta Board Of Education; Fred W.
Burrill, superintendent of the Augusta
public schools: Rev. H. V. Brown, DIR.
Forrest c. Tyson. president of the
Fathers Club: Edward Perkins. prin-
cipal Of Cony High school: Edward J.
Lacasse. Frank L. Tracy. Fl. r. Man
sur. Henry T. Gilmore. Roger North, f..
III. Ingraham. Carl Norton. w r.
blanchard. Robert Hayden and W. G.
Smith
The members Of the committee ar
rived at the Junior high building about
o'clock and Principal Merrill at once
took them into the school auditorium.
which is large. finely equipped room
seating over 700. From there they
went into the gymnasium, which is
large enough for the physical educa-
tion classes and athletic contests. Soon
oF< Lo -
a class period rang and several re-
marked on the ease and smoothness in
which the $40 pupils went from room
to room and in a very few minutes
were in their proper places ready for
the next class.
Among the departments that inter-
ested the committee the most were the
manual training and automobile de-
partments. Going first to the manual
training room they saw the pupils at
work under competent instruction ia
miliarizing themselves with the use of
tools and woodworking machines. This
room is equipped with benches supplied
with tools. a band saw. planer. circular
saw and lathe. All of the machines
are equipped with the hest safety de-
vices. One youngster pdoudly display
ed a decoy duck that he had almost
completed. while Rev. Mr. Brown
spent part of his time there in aiding
Il hoy in building large lamp shade.
Next they went into the Automo-
bile room. which was practically filled
with four cars. One car had been
brought to the shop from a garage
in a condition that one would have
thought made it fit only for the junk
dealer, but the boys had been at work
on it for several weeks and before
they are through with the car It will
be almost as good as new. Another
big sedan was there only for a few
days while the valves were being
ground and the carbon taken out Of
the engine.
The next stop on the tour was in
the showerbath rooms. There are
two rooms. one for the boys and the
other for the girls. each equipped
with 16 showerbatks. and the chill
dren are sent there after their physi-
cal exercises.
Principal Merrill took the party
into one of the classrooms and DEM
onstrated the workings of one Of the
automatic ventilators which keeps
each room at an even temperature
and with pure air at all times. From
there they went for a moment to the
library where several children were
engaged either in studying or doing
reference work.
The Domestic Science department
pleased many of the members and
several remarked at the delicious
odors er1anating from some of the
kettles simmering on the gas stoves.
Part Of this department is given over
to cooking and the other part to sew
ing.
The members Of the party then
went back to the main corridor on
the first floor and while there they
about the merits OF the
One Of the things that i'm
pressed the men most was the ade-
quate fire protection that the build
ing afforded. There are no outside
fire escapes but besides the end en-