Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1870-04-14
EDUCATION.
NUMBER w.



We find by the table in the State Super
intendents Report that the whole number
of School Houses In Hancock Co. Is oro
hundred aud serenity t,eo. OF this number
only one hundred and forty-one are report
ed to be in good condition. There are one
hundred and thirty School Houses
which can be imagined better than ac-
curately described. II is safe to say that
| one half of the school children ofour coun-
ty are subjected to priyations aud dcpriva-
tons which cannot be held before the
people in strong enough light. We are
responsible for the failures that come from
our omission in this respect. The teach
er and the place for Instruction. form the
expensive part of the School System. Here
is where the outlay and sacrifice OF means
l. required. The people rejoice in good
dwelling houses. gardens, barns, shops.
even In Halls and Churches In the very To-
calities where their school buildings pre-
sent the picture of restitution and despair.
| Where a tax Is proposed Tor increased IA
cilitics for popular Education the chances
are that Ii encounters stiff opposition.
| The children will he sometimes encouraged
| by parents in desire for dress and snowy
| decoration where the mind is forsakcn
and exposed.
The school buildings are the type and
symbol oil the general determination,
aud moral aims of every community.
There seems To be desire on the part
of most towns. TO spend a. little for Ell
ucation a. the law will allow. Our cs-
Inmates of the objects which taxation
ought to provide for. are very strange.
Ii seems hard 10 convince parents that
| the tone of the community, round about
| their homes. is of the utmost concern to
them. The companionship OF children
most affects their growth and leaves It's
| indcllibc mark. Where every surround
| in. j. rough, and coarse. and vulgar,
4 rs it must be when the school intcrcs tS
are neglected, there is wrought into the
mind roughness and commouns-s. We
are allowing the matter of bad school
houses. and cheap instruction to contin-
ne TO scar and dcfacc communities at
our great peril.
/ What ieariully uneven and unwi,e
| OUTLAY i, made in erecting great pub
\ lie building. in which occasionally TO
| assemble, for concerts. and theatricals,
and dancing. and exhibitions. and lee
lures, in village where the very con
versation OF the population displays poor
and scanty schooling. The common
schools are low, and conducted in a par.
-imonious spirit generally. The people
that give generously in some directions /;
that fare sumtouslv; that clothc them
selves and their children. often in the
latest STYLES and patterns, cannot write
nor talk in good English. We mean in
dealing 50 plainly with faults and ten
denotes, to show how the Young are
iarcing. They are in the hands and at
the mercy of those. from whom all the
means and opportunity Of education
come.
Can the people morally afford tn let
| the old and wretchcd school houses long
point AT them. in kind of inockerv
The children are hst passing ont OF their
school years. and they have no power to
restore or recover them again. We who
are now on the stage of action, atone
hare the potrer of providing our sue
ces.ors with the mean, to make AN hon
orable and respectable liiework. How
can we be Indifferent to the planting
and training which is put into our hands.
We have not now the space, for speak
iug of model School Houses.
ANY District desiring 10 obtain plan
Of District School House. most ap-
proved, will please make inquiry Of
COUNTY SUPERVISOR.