Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-10-29
SUPT, GLOVER IS
SPEAKER MEETING
W0MAN'S CLUB

c. +. Glover, superintendent Of the
Wuterville public schools delivered
an address before the members of
the Watcrville Woman's Club last
evening at Library hall on the sub
ject of Public Laws and Public
Schools. The meeting was held under
che auspices of the educational COM
mitt tee of the club 1t was the OPEN
ing night of the club season and the
ball W." filled to capacity with men,
hers.
Superintendent GloVerS discussion
was very interesting and he disclosed
some facts concerning the history OF
the public school that were surprise
to some He told the members that
the college originated first for the
sons and daughters of the rich and
then came the academy and finally
the public school, He mentioned
Harvard college for an example
founded by n group of men who gave
money to start the institution. He
told OF an instance where man
many years ago bedueathed five
pounds Il year to the college forever
lie said that it was figured out a
while ago how much that had
amounted to up to that time and it
was over $4,000.
Because the public schools came
last they at once became stepping
stone to something higher. the acad
envy following and then the college
In that fact. said Mr.. Glover is the
reason why the public schools do
scme of the things they do today as
the colleges lay down certain require
ments that must be fulfilled before
entering the institution.
Not until the public schools had
been in operation for some time were
they divided. First came the division
of the young and older pupils. then
into the nine grades. then the kinder
rarten was adopted and now there is
the junior high school plan. This
plan of the junior high school Is to
cover a gap that existed between the
grades and high school and when that
gap existed many pupils left school
at the end of the ninth grade con-
sioering themselves educated. Under
the junior high school plan the chill
dren continue without this gap and
MIR. Glover expressed the belief that
many more go to high school and
then TO college than under the old
plan.
People should never get the idea.
said the superintendent that boards
OF education and school superintend-
enIR run the schools to suit them
sefS, Chat is not the case. There
are cer,afn school laws and the SUI
perintendent and board of education
are expected 10 see that the schools
are operated to conform -1th the
provisions of these statutes.
But then. declared the speaker. life
as a whole is governed by laws. When
we are born a birth certificate must
he made out by a physician. We go
to school by law. We must be married
according to law. Even the things We
eat are inspected according to law and
then when we die we must be buried
according to law.
Superintendent Glover spoke of the
reed of keeping every child in school
as much as possible. AS an example
he mentioned that one week in the
WaterNille schools a while ago there
were a total of COS days of absences
which meant three and a half years
for one pupil. He said that he hoped
that week was below the average. For
some of the reasons why pupil
should be kept in school he gave stat
istics concerning the state appropria-
tions, One hundred dollars is allowed
for each certified teacher. S. for each
boy and girl between the ages of five
and 81 and the balance is made on the
average daily attendance. He said to
multiply that one week by So and see
what an effect it would have on the
appropriation from the state.
Another thing, said the speaker is
the fact that when pupil stays out
of school he may miss some vital
thing taken up in the CLASSROOM during
his absence that would handicap him
later on in school and I'm life. I have
had the excuse made to me when n
pupil has failed that the reason was
that he or she was absent during the
time that the particular thing was
taken up in class.
IA is absolutely essential that
every child should so to school," said
Mr.. Glover and it is the duty of ev-
cry parent to see that the child does
go to school.
In closing he urged the members of
the club to take a great interest in
the schools of the city ana his state
ment that there was nothing in the
city of greater Importance than the
boys and girls. not excepting, the
church or the college was greeted H!fh
applause.