Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-03-06

The Augusta Kiwanis club at its
regular luncheon session, held Thurs
day noon at the Augusta Girls Com
munity clubhouse. pledged itself to
raise $4,000 to establish free bed at
the Augusta General hospital. This
act is in conformance with the pro-
| gram of the Kiwanis club to aid in
any civic enterprise possible, and the
fund will be raised through public
entertainments. Because of the
amount Of the endowment. the club
will not be able to make payment in
full for some time, but has sub
scribed to a program which will be
eliminated with the final payment
of the $4,000 subscription.
| Frank Hewins, chairman of the
| Augusta Board Of Education, was the
speaker at the meeting yesterday
noon and his talk was in relation to
the city schools with special refer
ence to the need of additional school
buildings and the value of the junior
high school system.
! Mr.. Hewins intimated that the Au-
J gusta City Government at it's regu-
lar April meeting, might take steps
| NSA ehS VI SlllkiIS
fund, which would provide funds for
the starting of work on a new school
building when the need should be-
come absolutely imperative sometime
in the future.
The new junior high school build
ing should be built near the present
Cony High school was the declara-
ton of the chairman of the school
board. Its proximity to the high
school would be desirable so that the
pupils of both schools might use a
gymnasium in common, and also to
permit of an interchange of students
and instructors in certain classes.
In his opening remarks the speak,
err told his listeners something of the
remarkable development of the Au-
gusta schools and Of the increase in
attendance. which over a period of
Is years was an increase of 33 Ia
percent. The expense of operating
the schools increased proportionately
with the rapid growth in attendance.
The cost of running Cony High
school increased from $15,6O1 in 1913
to $50.410 in 1929, ten years later.
The teachers salaries alone for Cony
High school in 1928 were s32,S54,
which was twice the total cost of
years previous.
In regard to the idea and ideal of
the junior high school system, Mr..
Hewins said:
Scientific analysis of the educa-
tional process shows that when a
child has completed the sixth grade
work, he has received the general
fundamentals of his education (for
instance in mathematics). At this
age the child is able to reason for
himself, formulate his own opinions
and show desire to pursue certain
lines of study. So it is at this stage
of the child's education that the jan
Tor high school organization pro-
vides the essentials for just this stu
alton. At the present time we seek
to give the child a college education
in the elementary schools. In fact
the whole system in our schools is
based upon the academic education
instead Of the practical; the theo-
retical, not manual. It is e-sided
institution.
"The junior high organization On
der the 6-3-3 plan consists of six
years in the elementary grades, three
years in the junior high and three in
the senior high schools. In other
and eighth grades and the freshman
class. The grouping of these boys
and girls together comes at the age
of adolescence. changing from boy
and girlhood into early manhood and
womanhood-the most important
period Of their young lives"
The address by Chairman Hewins
was followed with the closest of at
tention, and the kiwanians received
a clearer and more comprehensive
understanding Of the school problem
Of Augusta from his talk.
Two new members were received
at the meeting yesterday, Howard
Beal Of the F. H. Beal Furniture
Company, and Howard McFarlane OF
the S. u. Warren Paper Co. The
charge to the new members was most
effectively given by DR.. Augustus O
, Thomas