From collection Kosti Ruohomaa Collection
LB2017.19.3498
"Mrs. M. is called to meet with the Schoool Board and give a general review of what is happening at McLain School. Here they ask about physical plant requirements, books needed, problematic children. Mrs. M. asks for a fence around the playground for greater safery. The budget doesn't allow it at this particular time. Mrs. M. would like to have a substitute so that she could devote more time to visiting the other classes in her school. Again it is a probnlem of the Superintendent answering that he has a limited fund for substitutes and he cannot spare it unless in emergency, or at least not until May when he sees his way clear to give that amount out of the budget. The Board generally understands the majority of the problems but with the limitations of budget they cannot acquiesce to many of the requests." - Kosti Ruohomaa, pink notes to accompany contact sheet The photoessay follows a day in life of teacher and principal Doris MacDougal at the McLain Grammar School in Rockland, Maine. The essay focuses on the challenge of managing increasing class sizes as post-war baby boom starts to overwhelm schools across the country. The article illustrates both MacDougal's teaching and administrative responsibilities, with a bit of homelife at the end. Ruohomaa, Kosti. “Your Children’s Other Mother.” Pageant, Nov. 1951, pp 51-57.
