The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1869-02-25
s0wyEON SCHOOLS. NEW SYSTEM
EsssGE0sEnb.

COMMON SCHOOLS. NEW SYSTEM
EsssGE0sEns.
The following letter from an intelligent men,
oer of our Legislature will slow the interest
The people and their representatives are TAX
ue in the important subject of our common
,eAools.-than which, especially with reference
lo certain proposed changes in our school poll
IS, the public cannot find one more worthy its
serious attention
AUGUSTA Feb. 10, 1869.
DIX. p. SIMoNroN-DEAK SIR: Herewith |
send YOU School Report for 1868, We shall
probably be called upon to make changes in
our school laws; and knowing the interest you
take IN education, shall be pleased to learn
what changes, if any, you deem necessasy.
Very Respectfully Yours,
Ia the brief space which our limits permits,
we can 90 little more than direct attention to
some ot the recommendations of Mr. Johnson,
the Superintendent of schools, il his interest
ing report before US. The chief of these are,
/. The district system. =. Teachers Instit-
tutes. 3. County Superyisorships. 4 State
uniformity of Text Books. > Compulsory at
lcndance.
/. The dis ,rict system. BY this is meant our
present system OF dividing the cities and towns
iuto districts, each an Independent government
b., Itself This it is proposed to change for
the t1gHs sgStem, to dispense with districts and
agents, and let he own oYn lie school houses,
have the care oi them, employ the teachers
through the school committee, &c. Some of
the advantages claimed lor the town policy
are-leSs expense for school-houses, many
small districts could, is they should be, put
nto others, thus giving them better Auuses and
1nser schools; better teachers. the school
Committee being better judges i'll this respect
Wan agents; greatly facilitating the grading
ui schools; to end disputes about district
oouudaries-each child going 10 that school
most convenient aud beneficial subject to town
fegulauous-to promote uniformity Of text
books, &c
In our Judgment this change, for most places,
would be decided Improvement, and, unlike
most changes, would involve no increase Of
expenses. Many places in our State-Bangor,
Bath, Rockand, &c.-haye tried it, and with
excellent results, we learn; Is is the case
With some oi the other States It has in its
tayor The recommendations oI your most en-
i
poses, au act enabling rather than compelling
Lowns 20 adopt il, 50 to avoid the friction
Incident TO novel and compulsory measures,
would, we think, be the tlue policy.
=. Teachers Institutes. The Report recon-
mends one OF THESE tor each county, to contin-
ue ten days, $500. 90 each, OF S4, 800 90 a
year, for the State, IL be paid by the State.
And while no doubt they would be productive
Of much good, Two serious objections, we think
he against them. One IS their bad repu tation.
Some ten years ago we had, for several years,
precisely The same thing, And we say OF
t4cn US Tie great Trojan Hero said from his
,NPefieace,- -''i ol which miserable things l |
sa". ID great pant OF which was, that they |
proved failures, lhey viii i'll the future, like
causes producing liac effects. For, y ajority
%: teachers, aAa persons intending to become
such, VIII not tend tlcm. Free tuition through
LIE bounty vi the state, and tree board, OF al
merely nominal cost, through tie hospitality Of
the citizens, made them cheap and very pleas
ANT holiday season, d sort of matrimonial tair,
which bore about The same relation to educa-
Hon as horse racing shows do to agriculture.
Bes ldes, at large cosl to Lhe people the State
IS running two Normal Schools, whose office
Is TO DO weil what these Institutes can do but
lmperlcctly and The result viii be precisely
what We see Ia financial matters, s,-teachers
viii prefer cheap and imperfect schools, as the
multitude 90 cheap and base currency 10 one
that is solid and enduring; that the effect of
portion Of the pupils from the Normal Schools
.,l,.
yer from circulation. And it is a complaint in
this Report, page 81, that, even without this com
petition, voting men and women" do not suni-
cientiy d" avail themselves Of the advantages OF
these special training schools"
II these inherent objections are lot fatal TO
second trial of these Institutes. The time is
For when taxation, national, otate and munich
pal, is bearing like fearful incubus alike
upon production, capital and labor; and when
from high prices and small incomes, the peo-
pie crying-"What snail we 90 to be saved"
from want,-it is at once a blunder and Il crime
to add to these erevous burdens; especially
Tor Objects where experience shows such doubt
tul utility. And While measures of certain or
even seeming, necessity shall ever have our
generous support, we must raise cur voice, es-
peciaIy in times like these against the eXpendi-
ture of public money for any and all schemes
which come not stamped with the lest, ''for
Yuluc received.
Next week We shall notice the other propoS-
cd measures.
kER0@EyE.
ITS Uses AND ABUSES.
Last week we spoke OF kerosene explosions,