Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-03-19


ing Of the Smith Parent Teachers
association, took place Tuesday
afternoon, after school, in the Kin
dergarten room. The pupils in Miss
Wadsworth's class entertained the
mothers with songs and dances. in
Guiding folks songs. The children
were credit to their teacher and
displayed much ability.
A most important part OF the
meeting was the explanation and
discussion upon the two-session day
at COny High school The topic was
taken up by Mr.. Burrill and Mr..
Perkins.
Mr.. Burrill, expressed his graft
f1cation for the entertainment by the
children and was particularly pleas
ed with the clear and distinct
enuciation, declaring it to be an ex-
cellent thing to promote and con-
graduated Miss Wadsworth. the
teacher, upon her work. AS to the
two-session movement, Mr.. Burrill
explained that he nor Mr.. Perkins
had any Interior motive, except the
best interests of the children in Au-
gusta. Having studied 1t carefully.
and compared the work with other
schools, they feel that the pupils
should have more time.
In regard to the Junior High
school. he explained that 1t is diff
flcult to group all ages together and
described the Junior high school as
n broadening place. n place to give
the child a chance to find himself,
as II Is quite important for the child
to decide what he wants to make
his life worth. as early as possible.
He believes that such an opportunity
hn trit N 81
school.
The Augusta high school Is over
crowded and junior high school will
take the seventh and eighth grades
from the city's overcrowded ele-
mentary schools. The freshman
class from the High school will also
be included in the Junior high
school,
Mr. Perkins took up the two-ses-
sion day In High school. The school
day begins at five minutes past
and closes at / i. NJ. leaving four
hours and 40 minutes for school
work. The fact is that there are
:,G5 days in the year and out of that
time there are only $50 school days,
giving the small per centage of the
children's time to that valuable fac
tor, education. Youth is the time for
the formation of habits. Our boys
and girls are forming lcisurely at
titude toward their work. The queS-
tionnaire has been sent to 46 of
the most prominent state capltols
in tho country to find out what sort
Of places advocate two sessions or
longer school life. Thirty-eight out
OF the 40 returned a favorable an
swer.
Tho hours between 10 and | O'Clock
are, as we can all understand. poor
hours for school work. At Cony the
school day is hurried. the Assembly
Is shortened. except by taking time
from the regular school periods.
making It more difficult for the pu-
pills to do the required work for col
lege. More time for Assembly
should be given to arouse the school
spirit and for patriotic obserNanceS
and to hear the noted people who
would like to speak to the schools.
Mr.. Perkins idea is To start the
school at SIS, close at L. NJ: begin
the afternoon session at l.l1 and
close Mt $50 7. NJ. In regard to the
children who work their way
through High school. according to
missionaries, only 6J out of a6O pu-
nils are taking advantage OF the one
session, to earn their way and some
of these pupils are not really haN-
ing to earn, but do 1t for spending
money and are developing extra
yagent habits and are hurting their
school work.
Mr.. Perkins and Mr.. Burrill have
the utmost sympathy for the children
who are trying an education in TINS
manner and believe thar everything
" Ill be done to help them.
Ninety eight pupils live one and
These children who come from the
country schools are not so well pre-
pared for high school as those who
have had the advantage OF city
schools and particularly need the eX-
ira instruction. For this class of pu-
nils, there will be provision made at
Cony high school for the noon hour.
In regard to the school lunch. in
the past II had t. be given to so
many, that they could II take care OF
1. adequately. BY the new plan, only
about IS will stay and i could be ar
ranged to give satisfactory well
planned lunch for the smaller num-
Der with proper diet.
In reply to the question. will the
longer day still require study out of
school, Mr.. Perkins answered. Yes,
about an hour" Will the pupils have
time for school athletics: They would
be even better fitted. The boys go
home at o'clock, come back at fr-
regular times by the old plan. With
the two sessions. they can so home.
have their dinner on time, come back
and be excused from c45 p. NJ, that
being q supervised hour of study.
This excuse Is made If the boys are
up with their work. The boys will
therefor be in better condition, have
their school work completed and be
ready for exercise.
The work of the Red Cross Infant
Welfare clinic was most interesting
ly described by Miss Winn. the Red
Cross nurse in charge. ,Couses and
prevention of sickness W. outlined.
The care OF the babies was an espe-
ciaily interesting phase of the work.
The methods of bathing babies and
appliances and methods for the sick
room, including the feeding Of the
sick. she outlined.