Standish High School - Crimson Rambler Yearbook (Standish, ME)

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but I am a good Arithmeticker.N For the most part the boys, after getting to the age of real assistance on the farm and in the woods, attended school only through the winter. That created a real problem in the matter of discipline. Men, for the most part, were hired for teachers. It was here that physical strength had to be considered, as well as teaching qualifications. As late as 1885 or 1886 a Mr. Chapman taught at Standish Village. He was six feet, four inches and weigh- ed nearly 200 pounds. It is needless to state that he never had trouble with any boy more than once. Our first high school was established in l893, with an appropriation of 3500 from the Town andQ25O from the State. Until 1915 the school was conducted something along the lines of a traveling library. The first term was at Standish Village, and while it was voted to rotate to Sebago Lake as well as to Steep Falls Villages in those first days, it was not until the new building was completed in 1915 that it was held at Sebago Lake Village. The high school was on the second floor and Primary and Grammar grades occupied the first floor, until September 1922 In 1897 the high school faculty consisted of a Principal and Assistant, who were paid 516.25 and S10 per week respectively In 1929 the Gymnasium When we consider with an appropriation voted a total of over serious we take the m A LA- and Assembly Hall were added. how our first school started in 1786 of th5.oo and that in March of 1949 we Q53,000, we get a little idea of how tter of education for the children and youth of our Town. Fred E. Cole, Town Clerk, WGRTHY USE OF OUR LEISURE TIME I am sure that all of us at one time or another find our selves with time on our hands, we dornm know what to do with ourselves, there is no place to go, nothing to do-we are just bored. Of course, some have more leisure time than others. Often we just sit and wish away the time, wishing that the hour when we have some appointment to keep or something spec- ial to do would hurry up and come. If only we would stop and think of the short time that we are alive, I am sure we

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Wages for men on the roads were brought up at nearly every Town Meeting. In 1738, they voted to pay men 66 cents per dayfll hourslg oxen the sameg for a plough 33 cents. Usually when it was voted to build a piece of road, it would specify going from one neighbor to another and then add, uFollow the Trail as now ian. It is no wonder that roads used to be so winding. Our present Maine Central Railroad, a branch of the Boston and Maine, was, at one time, the Portland and Ogdensburg Railroad. The original survey ran up the valley, between Almon Marean's farm and Standish village, bypassing Sebago Lake and Steep Falls Villages. Standish voted to hire money and take Q20,000 in stock. At that time prominent in Town affairs from Steep Falls were Coolbroths, Tuckers, Sanborns, and Baileys. The story went, no doubt much exaggerated, that these men and others put on a banquet for the railroad paowle, witf plenty of liquid refreshments. After the change in the railroad location, nSquireH Swasey was able to have the Town relieved of its financial A obligations, as the first location was a part of the agreement whereby Standish voted to buy the amount of stock. We have a great many odd names for the different communities, such as: Pudding Hill, Oak Hill, Mount Hunger, Cooper Town, Harmonville, Paine Neighborhood, Paddy York Hill, York's Corner, Cabbage Yard, and Deer Hill, to say nothing of other Neighborhoods. The number of these little communities brings to mind the family cemeteries scattered over the Town. There are nearly forty that are listed, as having veterans of different wars buried there. This is in addition to a great many which have no veterans buried in them. No comments on the Town would be anything like complete, without mention of nPoet Thomas Shawn who lived near Sebago Lake Village. He could strike off unlimited numbers of verses on any event that took place in the Town. At one time following a day of training of soldiers, when some of the irresponsible element went on a wild spree partly demolishing a church which stood in the Square, the Poet wrote a long poem which ended with a prediction that: nFire and brimstone would come down on the Town, as the result of the wickedness.U In the matter of education we have come a long way since November 27, 1786, when the Town, at a special meeting, voted to raise 3a5,oo for a school master for at term of three months. Included in the vote, it was specified that he should be boarded around. In 1792 this was increased to about Q500.00 and no mention made of board. This was the period when School Agents hired teachers and it was not always that teaching qualifications secured the position. One young teacher when asked how she was getting along replied uPretty good. I am not much of a Grammarist,

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would not wish it away. Certainly all of us know through experience that when we are doing some specific thing the time flies by sometimes fast- er than we wish it would. If we would find sole means of keep- ing ourselves busy, we would certainly enjoy life more. .One of the best ways is to find some hobby terest us and will be a change from our regular her we work in some occupation or go to school. It is always profitable to have a hobby in earn some extra money. Those that are skillful with their hands and fingers should make things Many people enjoy making collections of various that will in- routine whet- which we can in working and sell them. things. The main purpose of a hobby is to amuse usg therefore we should pick something that is not tiring or tedious. If we have an occupation such as working in an office or going to school all day, we should choose a hobby that requires us to be out doors and do physical work. Sports would be a good choice. If we enjoy baseball, tennis, golf, skiing, skating, swimming, or any of the other sports we not only are happy being with others and practicing good sportsmanship but our bodies benefit physically and our minds are rested and care- free. However if our work requires phsical labor and outdoor work, we often like to rest in or, if a girl, to sew or knit. ledge and enjoyment by readinf books. I am sure all of us enjoy and if we have phonohraphs, we we like and listening to them. hobby but a very enjoyable one. enjoy collecting out spare tiie, to read books We can gain much common know- music, of one kind or anotherg the records This is a rather expensive We can enjoy this at much less an expense by listening to the radio. There are numerous programs on the radio w ich include all types of music. Many people prefer other kinds of programs on the radio which help to amuse us and keep uc occupied. Whatever activities we wish to do in our leisure time we should do so that we won't waste time. By doing this we will become happier, healthier and more prosperous people. Jean Johnson '51