Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-04-16
COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF
WORK AND recommendations
IN annual SCHOOL REPORT

educational problem in our city for
two principal reasons. First, edu-
Gators are practically agreed that
from the standpoint of educational
advancement and efficiency the mod
ern Junior high school most nearly
fills the demand which is growing
more and more insistent that our
public schools should provide great
er equality of educational opportun-
lty. We now realize that individuals
are not alike. and that the education
and training which is suited to one
may not be suited to another. In
fortunately educational systems IN
general have been and are still bas-
ed very largely upon the principle
that individuals are alike and that
all can profit equally by a common
course OF training. Courses of study
nave been designed upon the scho-
!astlc basis, and we have been try
ing to make doctors, lawyers and
professional men and women out of
all our boys and girls. The boy or
girl with a mechanical or domestic
tendency has had all too little OBJ
portunity to obtain training along
these lines.
THE second reason for the erec-
ton of junior high school in our
city is an economic one. We believe
that every person who has visited our
High School and who has at least
fair knowledge Of what proper
school conditions should be will
agree that something should be done,
and that as soon as possible, to re-
leve the situation which exists there
at present. There are four things
needed there and they are needed
most emphatically First, better san
ltary conditions for both boys and
girls; second, additional class rooms
! with proper light, heat and ventila
ton; third, an auditorium large
enough to take care of all High
school activities such as morning
assemblies, school rallies, Chizzle-
Wlzzle Fair and graduation exercis-
es; fourth, a gymnasium fitted with
suinclent equipment to properly de-
Velop the health program of the
Schooi, and large enough to provide
playing space and room for specta-
tors at the games. To provide for
these needs would necessitate a large
addition to our present High School
building. The situation there having
been relieved. the city would face
the problem of additional room at
the Williams School which is located
IN one of the fastest growing sections
!! or the city at the present time. With
IN very few years something would
nave to be done about additional
room upon the west side Of the river,
and this would mean either a new
building in the vicinity of Capitol
Park or additions to the Lincoln or
Smith Schools. Thus the city would
be faced with the problem Of three
pudding programs instead Of one
with a probable expenditure of
! money far greater than in the case
of a single building, and with less
/ satisfactory results.
1--WE recommend the erection of q
junior high school which Shall con-
tain an auditorium and a gymnasium
sufflclently large to accommodate the
needs OF both schools. with proper
accommodation for manual and do
nestle arts. and located near enough
TO the present High School SO that
one central heating plant would he
j used for both buildings.
In order that all may understand
just what is meant by junior high
school. let me say that it is the re-
organization of the school system
upon what is known as the 6-3-3
plan. This means that the element
airy schools would contain the first
six grades. the junior high would
contain the seventh and eighth
grades of our present system and the
. Freshman Class of the High School.
! The High School would be made up
of the Sophomore, Junior and Senior
Glasses. If this system was in OPP
/ GRAFTON at the present time in our
city. the following changes would be
Z do in, hn vi ~
would take one hundred eighty five
out of the Smith School. forty-seven
out of the Williams, seventy-tw two out
of the harrington. and one hundred
sixty out of Cony High. This makes
; a total of four hundred sixty-four
which would be the enrolment in a
; Junior high II 1t had been started
last September. This would leave
| three rooms at the Smith School and
would give them the use of their
assembly hall which is now used for
class rooms, two rooms at the Will
liams and three at the Harrington
for future growth and development,
and would also relieve Cony High of
about five class rooms.
THUS from an economic stand
point / believe the arguments are
strongly in favor of the junior high
, SCHOOL instead OIL duQlllOnS 10 our
present buildings.
Williams School Playground
In the matter of the land needed
for a playground at the Williams
school. Superintendent Burrill's re-
port contains the following:
81 wish to call the attention of the
citizens and the Board of Education
to the desirability Of obtaining ad-
! ditional land for a playground at the
Williams School. There is no need
to go into the details Of the situation,
since they are familiar to the citi-
zens Of the city. Our boys and girls
are using daily for playground land
to which the city has no right, and
| for which I understand no compen-
sation has been given for number
of years. The Williams Parent
Teacher Association. very active
organization. has interested itself in
an effort to obtain additional land
for a playground. I am, informed
that it has obtained from the own
ers of the land which 1t desires TO
purchase, an offer to sell on the con-
dftion that the price be determined
by committee Of three, one person
to be chosen by the owner, one by