Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1871-03-02
School Reform.

| measure
! before II can be received or understoo,
by the mass Of the people, every da
furnishes additional evidence. Thci
reasoninSs are in circle, and the oh
Jcct must be pointed ont, not only once
out rou must keep YOUR finger in th,
direction, until it becomes a habit I,
look that way
In rcsumlng this subject, would sav
that 1t Is not for the sake Of argument
nor Tor any particular sect. party q,
person, but ii j. sincerely for the bene.
ut OF our Common schools.
Ia tins letter ! wish 10 consider brief.
w. some OF the ideas advanced III vo,r
Brooklin correspondent. and alsn sto,
other aud greater advantages, that must
OF necessity follow, from the practice q,
the new law. He saws that he doe nnt
believe III condemning (without m \
az that has been, because there NAV he
q chance to improve. Neither do /. for
That reason. Admitting that tho ola
\ system worked we'll in its day i tb,,
! any reason why il should still be adher-
eu ~ The emancipation proclamation
waN good thing in lis time. but i that
any reason why it should be repea,ad
every year, Tic old podawgcr wa. \
e""d 'hlhg nt one time. because il was
the best and only one ia use. or thouoh,
q but are we mol justified IN cond,,,,
in- i to-day?
ne refers to the matter Of An Aeon,
hIrln. relative, aud asks wber. ,,,a
IT ~ =. f"r one such ca>c we IaigLf
ii"t complain but when there ~, tvy.t,..,
Agents IN town, and thcy each ono
employ second cousin" we tbi,L !,
i quite different thing. What. let M
Az would become of tic teacher. MA
nave no uncle, for Agents. Hut nf III.
We might not complain, lil The Agcnt
A'' Ai"a'~ with vicw ID thc best in-
t'rr-i oi The school. Tint he may think
efcn' that he is governed by uu,eIs. II
motives many times, am willing tnal-
mt; but fpr hi, blund-ring mi.tol.,.
condemn HE system
Your correspondent would bavc =.
thihA that our bu,incs, men. ana ...n.,
captains owe All they ar, ii Tia f..,,-
mon schools. This, IN Inv opinion i. !
grand mistake. How many Of nr,.
Young men come out Of school w;tb !
practical business education. ~ evcr
with any idea 81 busince, wl,a,eveya |
Not one. They have fAi, 10 learn sft.r-
ward. And hero il another -fauI with |
our school system We have too ,n,rh |
. the speculative, aud not enough Of
me practical education. Our leader.
afe aware "t this, aud are alrcad, i,tr,-
ancihg improvements and even H. III.
respect they are meetiag with orpo.i- 4
ton at the hands of the people. Bntbe 4
closing remark Of your CORRESPONDENT .
= me worst Of all Only for fha,
c"n'd think that his letter wa. vr;,,.,
i"r the sake Of argument. But after
coming out with hi- ''picks" dit the way
along and sometimes purposelv mi.up-
derstanding me, for the sake ofa ..roiu, !,
winds up" by assuring Il, that he
stands with the p"oplc-in oppo.iuo
ach4nge. may be wrong. and If d. I
beg pardon
Will now undertake u show some Of
the advantages that would follow. \.
The natural fruit of the new law. When /
We consider. the Inconvenience and |
aWkwardncs~ attending a teacher. up- |
der the old law, in obtaining A school
AMI contrast il with the present mode,
We are sure that we feel ashamed ia,
having worn our wooden shoes" so |
long. ~ one time (~ome fifteen wears |
ago. was nearly three weeks finding
vacancies, and hunting up Agents. be- |
siucs Us costing me some thirty dollars |
Tor travelling expenses, and did not sur- |
coed IN getting school after ali.
would 20 to every district, aud 10 every
Agents house, and from there 10 bis /
barn or ii~h-hou>e to find the man
Sometimes would climb up IL tree.
and remain there whole day, watching |
for coasters to come in, and when tbe
right ono did come, would be sure 10 .
be- Mt the wharf in season to meet the /
Captain, or cook, as the case might be |
and then and there make known m,
business. lon will say that this was |
doing the work thoroughly, but i, was
some advantage to me after all, learn |
ed To distinguish one coaster from
another, and to this dav | am n unod
Judge in the matter. This NAV be an
extreme case, but can assure Won. thar
there was no other way bur to fya,eJ if
Won happened to belong to the class ot
lll-fated school teachers. Under the
present law, ave only to see the Com
mittec OF my own town, to learn the
whole thing, or drop line to the S. 5
Committee Of any town, and by return
mail should learn the conditions OF
each school, needing teacher. ANY
one caa see, if they will. that this is an
advantage worthy of consideration.
But the advantages are not all with the
teachers. The Committee, alone respon-
,ibe tor the success of the schools. AS
matter of course, become familiar with
'hetn all. They are supposed to be the
right men in tile right place l. there a
smart scholar in district No |. they
know it. There are always some smart
scholars ia every school. The Commit
tee are watching them, and the moment
they ale far enough advanced in their
studies, they are called to teach. Not a
school for which they are not suited
not happen-but they are de.ignedlv
placed where they cannot but learn to
like the business. With such teachers.
the Committee must be interested. and
even ready to advise them in the man.