Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1871-02-16

veuuSIy Juus 1911
MR. EDrroR:-I have noticed quite .
number Of articles In your paper the past
season on the new School law and School
teaching. II b . subject that have quite
an intercst In and have hoped aud still do
hope that something may be done o. some
plan adopted that viii advance the cause
Of education.
The old system Of hi. ing teachers had
many good qualities and also many bad
ones. do not propose at this time to dis
cuss the good or bad qualities Of the old
law. but to speak more particularly Of the
trial and repeal Of the newt mean the
law passed at the last legislature-This
was passed at-the las part Of the session
of the legislature Of eighteen hundred and
seventy. The law Of the State requires
that the annual town meetings Of the sew
eral towns shall be held In the mouth Of
March Of each year. that School Agents
may be chosen in town meeting or the
towns may vote that the districts may
choose their own. This town has its meet
ing the last Monday in the month aud a
number Of other towns the same day.
This il usually done to accommodate the
men that lumber or work ia the woods.
At our last annual meeting we did not
know what change had been made in the
law and In fact some towns had held their
meetings before the law was approved.
We knew that there was \ change, but rs
the Law was not published then, we did
not know its nature. we therefore voted that
each district choose its own Agent.
some said the district system was done
away with aud this left the dist riots In
doubt wither there was any need Of their
holding meetings. The most Of the Agents
posted notices, but in nearly one half II
the districts of this town no meetings were
held. This placed the committee In d.
lemma which was hard to get out Of With
no law to guide us, eleven school teachers
TO he furnished ut once to commence
Schools about the thirty-first Of May, and
at that late day, was no small task for the
committee TO perform. But we set our
selves At work after receiving some instruc-
tons from our noble county Supervisor,
W. J. Corthell. and hired the best teacher.
We could find at that late day. County
supervisors. Corthell and Stetson. came
and held institutes and lectur ed three DAYS
and evenings with us. The instruction
they impaired 10 the teachers in the Insti-
tute, rs well As that Of the lectures to tn.
public, has been productive Of n great
amount of good. The teachers were
awakened to = new interes, and parent.
have watched their children more Jealous
ly then they were wont to do here before.
ThAt a committee starting as we did under
such circumstances, should make some
mistakes (as doubtless We have) should be
expected, but must say that the most Of
our Schools have been more successful
the past year then they have been for the
last ten years. The committees hiring the
teachers tend to awake their interest in
the schools more than IL does where they
are hired by somebody else, they feel
more responsibility for the success OF the
Schools then they possibly can where the
teachers are hired by School Agents. But
has this law been faithfully tried: | an
swer no, and say here that those who ask
Tor hs repeal. as general thing, have
tried 1t the least, in my opinion, at any
rate, We have not had II In effect more then
nine months. This Is not long enough TO
test any law. and more especially one that
l.. nf 81.
of"ur youth. do hope that our legi,la.
ture will consider we'll this subject before
they act and be very careful and not take
any backward steps in the educational sys-
ten of our state.
have one more thought TO mention on
this SUBJECT. aud that is this. what duty or
power has the School Agents lost that they
possessed before. Before they hired the
teachers, agreed on wages. and then the
teachers had to goto the experimenting
School Committee to see II they would let
them teach in that district. The change is
the committee examine the teachers. see
what schools they are best adapted to
teach. and make the best trade they can
WIN tcatttfp. NOW VINO mum DIV
this: Certainly not the people. Who then,
the teacher. No; because IL he does not
pass suitable examination for one School.
he may for another. who then. Is injured
by this very unjust legislation l am not
able To see that any one is injured, but on
the other hand the people, children and
teachers are benefited by the law. There
can be no trade made between . comflit-
tee and any amount Of teachers, as was
often made between persons that wanted to
teach. and their friends that wished to
teach. Then there is this advantage, II the
committee know they are to hire the teach
ers they can do 1t In season and thereby
secure good teachers.
Now say let US have this law tried be-
fore IL Is repealed. Let the committee OF
every town take hold Of il and carry Il out
the best they can. not finding fault with
the law. Take hold Of 1t and give Il fair
trial, then IL It does not work well we will
oil join In is repeal. will not write any
more nj present. Yours, q.
Letter ffso Dseehlla.
BROOKLIN Feb. Sth, 1871.
Mix. EDITOR II noticed in the columns
Of the American" the remarks by Radical
on the New Law" p 1t Is termed lie Com