The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1823-11-04


Trhe following essay, on the subject Of AcAD-
EmIEs, we copy from the Christian Mirror, at
the request Of sundy individuals, who feel an
interest in The plan proposed; and we hesitate
not to reconInend it to the careful attention Of
hose TO whom it is more particularly addressed.
n eundersood to be written by gentleman,
whose literary and scientific attainments toeeth-
erAa''A'sa iueonsiderable experience, entitle him
to writs,ans SPEAK with confidence, as to vs.ats
evsf he may psopose 1t is also entirely coinci-
dent with the mos mature and well formed
opinions we have heard expressed on the sub
jectl
ACADEMIES IN MAINE.
lie, particularly Of the Trustees ~ tho r1nrv IN
corporated Academies IA onr state ~ ! view
Of the condition Of this class 81 our literary in
stitutions- Of the plan adopted Nv onr Legisla-
tors for the support Of our comrnon schools. Il
may be safely said, that II has been wisely
laid, and, ] believe, is well exscuted Kno,vl
edge, thus widely diffused. will.Nve NAV con
fdently hope, be the stability of Oh times The
instruction furnished at our Collares also 4
systematic, and the course of study approved
But in our Academies, there is mua which
needs emendatiou and Improvement.
There are in this State, It is believed.ot least
twenty-ssven incorporated Academies. \ num-
Der fully adequate to the supply of New Eng.
land, II wei endowed and wisely regulated
But in their present condition, they do not meet
the wants even Of this State
The Academies in this State NAV be divided
into three classes. 1st. Those which have onlS
a nominal existence. Cd. Those where instrnc
ton Is afforded during part Of the wear only
and.3d Those. which are in constant operation
Ishall attempt TO describe the condition ofeacH
of these three different classes Of Academies
pointing ont existing evils and then sueges
some remedies.
l. There are many Academies in this Stat,
which are only nominal in their existence.
Ever village, that would lift Id head it'll,
lREnong surrounding villages,
QuantSaa lsnta solsnt inter vi5ursa euprsssi,
must have an Academy It's enterprisins inhsb
ifants collect materials, and, at the expens.
fnf perhaps sir Or seven hundred dollars erect
building. The next winter the representativ,
Is instructed 70 ask for an act Of incorporation
and this IS followed with a grant Of half town
ship Of land. The good people after this expee
10 breathe literary atmosphere, and what per
ihapS they regard as of more consequence Il
end home market for the produce Of thei
farms But this fair prospect is soon clouded
Il i found, that something more than buildfnl
Is necessary. The wild lands cannot BE- sold
tuition money viii not pay the salary OF an able
andeNperienced instructor, and without such n
structor scholars win not collect from othei
towns and thus the Academy never goes into
operation Perhaps the next wintera naxfey
is hired, and the Academy becomes a common
school +; or else the building unused goes 70 de-
cay. Such IS the history Of nearly one half the
Incorporated Academies Of this State. II is Oh.
viOus, that the principal evil incurred BY these
nominal Academies is the waste OF property
which i Thus .unded, particularly Ut the public
grants, which, il directed to fewer objects Eligh,
be OF essential service
2 But perhaps the case NAV not be so bad as
this There may be few influential men IN the
town and is vicinity, who wish 10 give their
sons public education, and contributing 70 4
fund what would otherwise be expend-
ed in sending them abroad, they hire for a few
months graduate, who BY imparting little OF
has stock OF knowledge, NAV raise sum sufh-
RENT TO defray part az is original cost. Thus
.Be doors Of the Academy arr thrown open a
sW months in the year Eight or ten attempt
h study or the Latin and Greek Languages.
while the schooi-r0Oul Is flied VITA noisy NJ
,hins reading, cypherinr, spelling, playing, &c
o that should the instructor Be ever 50 well
Iualiheu for his station, he cen devote but little
imc and but small part Of bis attention III those
yho are in course OF preparation Tor College.
md SIX or perhaps eight months q this divided