The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1866-03-23

had without regard 10 inc methou VI ns se1uhc-
ment while education may be deemed .he pam
49, rnouIeJre. and includes and compartments the
d;sciplire and instruction which forms ami shapes
the mind. establishes the manners aud habits, ana
cnliphtcns the whole understanding. but wh'ie
knowiedce may be n concomitant OF genius, tha'
heayen.b born gift is rare and exceptional anu 'ne
light of instinct being insufficient, we nave W
spell out our way from youth 10 age, iearh'uS ~
experience and observation rs We 60, 80 thst m
the great majority of cases knowledge IS attaina
BILE only through the tedious path ot cduca'ion'
But as the true value attaching to all Knowledge
attained through human channels may be manly
determined by the method Of its requirement, too
much attention cannot be given to this part oil
tho subject.
That old cnuplet,
"'Ti. ,iHca,ioH forms ne mind.
,y.,i ~ ~. friJ - bent The u'e's iaoiin,d,"
l. inst rs true AT the present ,lsy when Il wns
written. And hence we may see that the demands
of eJucat,on ms npplicl Ia the instruction al our
children, are not met simply by buying books,
furnishing money. or erecting school houses, al
though all of these are imperative and nlspensa'
BILE /; hut that moro than sll depends upon the ca
pacity II the teacher to properly mould AMI form
the mind anil character of the pupil, So that all
the faculties may be developed and cxeriel in the
right direction in after life. The qualifications
Of a teacher are too apt to he measured by the
amount Of learning he possesses, without regard
impart il Ia others. Il is not the teacher who sue.
cccJs 10 the greatest extent in filling the memory
of the child with mountains Of unarrangeI ar i'm
properly adjusted facts, great rough nsh,ers OF
eruditiOn thrown up IN pnrpOseless CONFUSION {,
who Is To w. considered the most competent hut
rather he who erects in tho mind from the perfect
ashlers ~ thought, study AMI practice, well
proportional temple of knowledge, even though
that temple bc small. yet answering some purpose
in life. In fact on the selection III proper teach
ers in great measure depends the success or TAIL
IRE Of our whole school system. hut ~ thls re-
spect we should congratulate ourselves that our
city has been peculiarly fortunate, as eyinccd 10y
the markell prosperity anl success Of educational
affairs. Our greatest neel ut the present time is
not go much the want Of proper teachers rs the
want Of proper school room Recommendations Tor
our rapidly increasing population and how this
want il ~ be met il very Justly matter ot much
snlictule. This Is especially applicable To Dist.
Four, In which the school houses are in very
bal condition. and wholly inadequate to accom-
MEDIATE the children In that section at the city.
No one will believe for moment that there Is any
disposition on the part OF our citizens to neglect
this important matter, or that any one Is inds-
posed to sustain or increase the efficiency OF our
school system on the contrary no expenditures
are more generally acQuiesccd In By all classes,
than those directed 10 this department. The great
difficulty appears 10 be in the want OF some one
to lead off in the movement, on the principle that
ness, and SO the whole subject has been neglected
from year to year until now II has assumed pro-
portions which can no longer be hidden. More
school houses arc needed nnd must be had, and
the sooner we have them the better. And in this
connection il should be remembered that no chill
grows up without being educated. IL not elucat-
ell at home or In school he Is educated IN the
streets if not educated by teachers he will he el-
ucatel Ly companions older than himself In wick
clncss II not educated in virtue he will DO edu.
catei In vice, anl the latter Is usually, 10y the
very nature Of man, more thorough and efficient
of its kind than the former. No mere police or
truant regulations can prevent 1t the only rem
ely lies in extending our facilities tor school edu
cation. But school houses erected ten ar fifteen
years ago, with but little or nothing done to them
since, many Ut them originally poorly planned,
and with none Of the modern cOnvencnces or I'm
pr0yements for heating or ventilation, should not
be expected to fully answer the demands Of the
present day and generation. Aud another I'M
portant fact should not be overlooked, that the
character Of the child IL most indebly affected
by early associations and Impressions, and that
constant anl habitual attendance at school IN
shabby, dirty school house, mny exert m nm
wholesome moral influence which never be
fully countersc,el in after life.
What wouh most fully aud satisfactorily meet
the wants Of the people, in this respect, Mt the
present time do not consider myself qualified
10 Judge. My opinion is, however, that VIC neci
first class High School building, centrally loca
tel, AMI open, not only TO graduates from all our
minor schools, but to properly qualified pupils
from other places, our own having the prefer
ence. This arrangement would leave the present
High School building to be used for Grammar
School, and in q great measure meet requirements
which cannot be fully or satisfactorily met In any
other manner. Although heerection of new school
houses, and the repairing OF oil ones are matters
properly dcvolying upon the Districts, some ac-
ton on your part which will properly meet the
emergencies vf the present ease may be consider.
ell worthy to be undertaken.
The amount appropriated Tor Schools the past
year was ~. 800 but On account OF the greatly
increased expenses attending their administration
this sum was found To bc inadequate. AMI $1,000,
was transferred To the School Funds from other
appropriations. The whole amount expended
during the year was somewhat over -, 200. IL
should be taken into consideration however, that
all the expenses attending the conducting Of this
department have been enhanced in equal ratio
with the expenses ia others, and that n large part
of our school money is yearly absorbed in making
old and dilapiIatcl school houses partially ten.
aniahle; so that the amount of money formerly
rase,l, AMI quite adequate 20 maintain our
schools, is, unlcr the present orler Of things,
wholly insufficient.
STREETS.
believe have heard il stated that there
was time when the several departments Of
the City Government devoted to Finances, the
cause OF Education. the care OF the Poor, the
protection Of property from Fire, the public
Health, and tho maintenance OF efficient Police
regulations, were very properly considered Ms
possessing n small degree Of Importance in CON-
paris0n with other matters m charge OF the
City Authorities; but for the benefit Of the
new members of the Council, now for tho FIRST
time entering upon their pleas,n, and proiita-
al, q I,.N Id, ,,,at
have long since passed away, M il will be found
that il il not Schools, neither is it Paupcrs,
Fires, Health, or Police which attract the
greatest share Of public attention and solicit
tude, hut Streets. Thousands of dollars might
be expended neeilessly and loolishly in any and
eyerv other department, if any were 81 dis
posed, and not ripple OF dsipprovil stir the
placid surface Of the public mind, or whisper
Of dscontcn, he heard loud as zephyr's sigh
hut let load Of gravel be dumped where Mr.. |
Smith thinks the vile dirt is not required. or
Load IN omitted where Mr.. Jones thinks 1t is
needed-which loo li,cs, by the way. are usu.
ally one and the samc--and it will not be sill. |
very rippes and zephyr whispers that we shall
see and hear, but waves Of Indignation tower |
ing mountains high. and tornadocs of ven.
geancc threatening both political AMI social dc.
struction, combined in storm OF public con.
demnation. Why this should be the case |
canno. say, hut have heard it remarked that il
i, by no means peculiar to any one place, but
applies to all incorporated communities through.
out tho civilized world. At any rate the i'm
por:anre attaching to this department. canno,
be denied, il it is judged by tho degree OF pub
lie attention il USUALLY attracts.
During the nearly live year. Of war through
which we have just passed, the resources and
attention Of the people being in y large degree
Diverted In other I'M iters an almost tOtal neg.