Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1871-06-20
Hioh schools and academies.


Hf1h Schools and academies.
Every town in Oxford County has its
village, or four corners. Every town has
a large number OF young people who
would esteem il great privilege to at.
tend High School or Academy. Many
OF these young people have good brains
but possess limited means TO at
tend school. The expenses OF board,
books and tuition, are too great for them
TO go far from home to school. Inc
wealthy parent can do this, but in most
cases would prefer to hvae their children
near home under their own oversight
From one to two thousand children and
youth will want to attend school the com
inc Autumn in Oxford County alone,
We have five incorporated institutions
in this County. With good teachers they
will secure as many pupils as they have
accommodation Most of these have
experienced principals, and their schools
will compare most iavorably with those
of other Counties in Maine. They are
necessary parts of our school system
In so large scattered population we
cannot dispense with them any more to-
day than we could twenty five years ago
Large numbers of our teachers receive
their final education ut these academies.
Next to orr Academies are the numer-
Gus High Schools in the villages. They
meet an extensive want. \ good High
School Spring and Fall is of the greatest
value. There is a feeling OF pride and a
stimulus on the part of The teacher and
pupils to have good school. Not only
the common branches, but the higher
English studies and the languages are
usually studied, and the value of such a
school cannot be over.estmated. During
the last Fall and Spring not lar from iit'
teen hundred different pupils attended
the High Schools aud Academies in Ok
ford County alone. SO large number
never attended such schools before. Just
in proportion as public sentiment is arons-
cd to the Importance OF securing better
teachers for Our common schools, SO VIII
il seek to extend the education OF chill
dren in the High School and Academy.
and the more of these we have mt home
the less The tendency to send on; OF the
County and out OF the State. Thousands
of dollars have been saved in this way
during the last year, very few have lett
the County for this purpose during this
time
1t is bad policy to neglect the common
school. Wealthy and intelligent people
can do so and will send their children
away, which they will certainly do un-
less they can have good schools near
home. Such course may make their
children more intelligent. but those of the
ignorant are made more ignorant The
true policy then is, to make district schools
as good as we can, and encourage the
High School and Academy in our own
town.
Now | would suggest that every town
and village in the County make arrange
ments for High School the coming Fall.
If gentleman teacher cannot be secur-
ed. obtain the services OF some expcri
enced and accomplished lady teacher.
The value OF such n school cannot bo as
timaled bv dollars and cents. Ii is true
tnat there may be individuals in every
town who will den0unce every move
mcnt made 10 give 4 better education 10
the Young, but the world wags on, and
human progress is everywhere manifest.
Let such cheat their own children out OF
an ability to do business for themselves,
if they choose. \ cobblcr cannot sell
his clumsy shoes at premium, nor a
bunglng carriage-makcr his wagon Ev-
cry mechanic must know the best rules
OF his trade to succeed well at the pres
ent day. Foreign mechanics who are
scientifically educated aud emigrate to
this country secure the best positions in
every department of labor. We must
educate our children to compete with
Them, if possible.
| should be glad, then, to see our
academies filed the coming Autumn, as
| have no doubt they will be, and 10 have
High School in every town. | would
. like 10 see, ut least, one teacher from
each town attend the Normal School AT
Pennington, and one young man from
each town attend the Agricultural Col
lege at Orono.
NJ County in the State, in proportion
) to its population, educaies so many young
, men for public positions rs Oxford Coun.
ty. They have the positive assurance
, that every dollar invested in solid edu.
cation will return TO them hundred
fold. Do not let our young people, then,
| be cheated out of their education. II they
+ have limited means, let them arrange 10
board themselves, which they can do in
} most towns at trifling expense. A little
self denial in this direction, will not in
jure them.
| Now. how shall these things be nc
complished? Let two or three persons
in each town put themselves in cor
l respondencc as soon rs convenient with
f some teacher for the Fall term, and lei
| the result be known TO parents who have
children TO he educated, and we may OK.
, pect good results. The length OF nearly
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