The Portland daily press., 1871-02-28

1
TO- he Editor Of the Press:
| ih recent issue OF the PRESS a very good
article apseared over the sion,tpra nj s.Sic-
' ~ WHICH he points out deficiencies with
oue suggesting :uil remedies. lie ouotes-
we need better Teachers" and assents ,bere-
TO, but denies that the present svstem mite
us in .be way to obtain them." Further ho
asserts that the teachers hred by the s :
COMMITTEE do not suit so well, and that In
many schools the quality is not so good as
they are accustomed to have, although the
expense is greater"
These are probably facts, but can it be a
iault of teachers for the "litte interest" of
parents? DO not these facts point to anoth-
er and unmistakable source OF deficiency p
The Character of teachers cannot change in a
single year to give this result, 1t must be in
.,.e s9iectlon or rejection of teachers by par
ties In power. Is not the remedy 10 the
hands OF parents themselves?
Inc officer standing between the teacher
anu the common school is justly responsible
10 greater degree than is generally supposed
lof the well being of town schools-tor their
success or failure, Tor the satisfaction or dis.
satisfaction which may prevail relative To this
or that school OF teacher. The character. tbe
education-or lack OF educaton-the course
taken, whether it be an open, positive posi-
tion in defence OF right at all times and
wherever found, and the depreciation of
wrong, both in principle and practice or the
other course OF man-pleasipg, crouching eva
sion, determines 10 surprising extent the
character OF The schools and scholars of anv
town or city. They cannot well rise above
their superntendence, neither will the super
intending committee elevate the schools of
town above themselves.
Ii the committee be made up OF men who
themselves have not enjoyed the advantages
OF culture and education, they cannot be pre-
pared to transmit to others that wherein thew
themselves are deficient; neither are they full
ly qualified to superntend, or even recognize
and duly appreciate the efforts and objects of
teachers who are thus prepared and NAV
chance to come within their jurisdiction.
Where such men have succeeded in filling the
board of S. S. Committee for succession of
years it will quite readily appear that the
schools OF such towns have remained about
so so, with but little change in method or dis
cipline for the last score of years, and but lit
tie advancement in range of study, OR prof.
cheney OF scholars, save what may have OBJ
tanned from sheer force of circumstances.
All this prevails Notwithstanding the high
taxes paid by citizens in the erection of
school houses, furnishing of school rooms and
employment OF teachers. Their expectations
have not been realized. They have found
their children still delving upon the old
ground. term after term, and are at a loss for
a reason, when If they would carefully search
out and follow up the working OF their school
affairs. they would find the educational foun-
tam OF their town to be lying very low, and
the streams drouing their sluggish course
along narrow channels of years ago.
Children are thus daily wronged and injur-
ed by untavorable inf1uences, and by being de-
prived OF that enlightened guidance anu in
struction which they justly demand at the
hands OF their educators, and which they
would most readily receive were they in
their schools intrusted to the superintendence
of unbiased men of character and education,
rather than political aspirants and pariizan
workers.
In these days of science and research the
common school Can hardly, even with the aid
of that misnomer "the town high school,"
fit one for the duties OF the school room,
much less for those of town superntend
ance. Our higher institutions of learning
must furnish our teachers anu superntend-
ents, and he who is heard speaking dsparag
inely or in a refractory manner Of such insti-
tutions or of teachers coming from them,
must indeed exhibit the oUt-croppng OF
perverted taste, or an enlightened prejudice
Parents, give your schools and your chill
dren a experimenting school committee of
unprejudced men, OF high and sound princi-
pie and character, OF good education, and
you need look no further Tor good and profit
able schools than TO give your committee your
| aid and support. C.ES.