Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-01-21
the subject was pressing itself upon the Sc.

the subject was pressing itself upon the Sc
rious attention of educators. Nom attend
ance thwarts all the efforts to Improvement in
schools The State provides instruction, but
cheats herself by not compelling attendance
upon that instruction. We are deprived of
one-half of the legitimate fruits of the schools,
because one-half of the $4,000 children of the
State are absent from them. This is q waste
of the States generous expenditures. Opin-
ions are various in regard to the question of
compulsory attendance. Some are willing to
trust to an intelligent and educated public
sentiment. This would do if the people were
all educated; but it is not so. Attendance
upon these schools is necessary for the growth
and development of this intelligence. If
compulsory laws are thought arbitrary, we
should remember that individual rights must
bend to State necessities. The State must be
just to herself and to her citizens. The pro-
lection of life and property depends upon the
education of the people. 1t is wrong to take
the peoples money for schools without return
ing fair equivalent in educated citizens. In
view of the deplorable effects of ignorance,
the State has right to demand that these
children who are now in the school of ignor-
ance and crime shall attend the schools pro-
vided and fostered by the State.
Ignorance is antagonistic to our form of
government and has in it the elements to
overturn the entire superstructure. The
State has no right to allow itself to be cheated
by the negligence and avarice of parents. We
have now laws looking to this end but they
are dead and inefficient As the law now
reads, towns shall provide instruction, and
may see that there is attendance. Let the
State say that each town shall compel their
attendance Such law would put one thou
sand more scholars in the schools of his
county. Mr.. Plummer referred to other
means to draw children to the schools and
urged his fellow laborers to go forth into their
fields feeling that they have great work to
perform.
The President remarked that the various
topics presented during the day were open for
discussion, and he hoped all would feel free
to participate.
Senator French of Franklin county, spoke
upon the district system, which he said was
formerly the great centre of attraction. 1t is
indeed the foundation upon which our COM
mon schools rest The districts were former
ly large, embracing wide range of territory
and there was no complaint about the long
distance to the school house. Butpeople have
become refined and tender-impressed with
the idea that there must be a school house
at every mans door, and SO the districts have
multiplied But the notion that children can
not go a mile to good school is becoming
exploded. He thought it was not necessary
to abolish the district system entirely, thought
the towns should exercise their judgment in
uniting small districts. Then make the agent
the financial head and intrust to the superin-
tending school committee the duty of provid-
ing teachers He was in favor of grading
schools whenever it could be done. In re-
gard to compulsory law, he thought the best
method was to make the school so profitable
and attractive that the children would be
drawn into it of their own free will
The discussion was continued until the ad-
journment by Messrs. Smith of Parsonsfeld,
Supervisor Plummer and others.
The public meetings of this interesting and
we trust profitable session of the board will
close this evening. In the afternoon at two
O'Clock an essay will be read by w. S. knowl-
ton, Supervisor of Piscataquis county, upon
''Object Teaching" and one on ''Sehool Ar
chitecture," by c. 7. Abbott, Supervisor of
of
county is down on the programme for this af
ternoon on the subject of Text Books" He
has been absent most of the time from the
meetings on account of sickness, and it is ex-
,rersel? doubtful if he will be present to-day
In ske eyening. at 7 o'clock, w. T. Corthell
Superior Of Washington county, will speak
Upon ihe subject of classification of Schools
Our citizens should certainly attend the meet
ing this evening. listI