Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1871-04-07
Onr Common Schools.


mission, few short articles for youl pa
per, setting forth the condition OF onr
common schools. The subject is certain
" one of no mean Importance TO every
citizen OF Maine.
II is well known tl,al the schools III
this State had run down 10 very low
condition, during the last fourteen years.
The older class of teachers had lett the
ranks; younger teachers had had no mo't'
els of instruction, never saw an Institute
or Normal School, and, rs consequence.
laborcd under as great 4 disadvantage as
u young apprentice would in building u
house. Visit almost any school, and the
countenances OF II larger potion OF the
children botokcn stupidity. Nothing was
done to kinde up u love for learning
The war, with its consequences, had d.
yered our young men and citizens gen.
orally. from the nore peaceful wolK oil
educating tho young. There were tx
ception, 10 this. Occasionally teacher
was iuund who succeeded well, but they
were exceptions. So low had our SUSTAIN
| fallen, that il was serious question with
some, even among the highest officials in
The State, whether it was mol best TO let
every one look after his own children, and
pay no farther attention to them as n
State, condition that would educate the
rich and leave in ignorance the poor
Public education began to despair OF ever
doug anything more 10 elevate our COM
mon schools. The more discerning and
intelligent men took their children out OF
the common schools, and sent them TO
select schools, as their only remedy. Null
titudes Of young people were sent out OF
the State TO school, at al expense that
would have supported \ good high school
two term. in year, in nearly any town
in the State. II was rare that Commit
tee could refuse certificate to teacher,
however incompetent, without creating =
spirit of rebellion. Such vas the condi-
ton of great majority Of our schools
only two years ago.
/ On the appointment OF tho present
State Superintendent, he found himself
utterly helpless. and The Legislature wise
" appropriated sum for County and
Town Institutes, and q general Supcryis-
or Of our schools. ut the expense o. toU
cents 10 each inhabiiant, n tax that has
caused more groaning than all other tax
ea ever imposed on tho people. but whose
results have moro been felt in clevatlng
our schools out of the slough of despond,
than anything that has ever been dome
Since that time multitude Of public ed.
ucators have been encouraged, and have
taken hold of the work Of improving the
condition o. or schools. School Com.
mittces. with few exceptions at least in
Oxford County. have taken hold OF the
work. and donc MI in their power, and
have dorc more and better work than
ever before. There is scarcely town
that have visited, where have not had
the hearty aid OF the Committee, without
which my labor would be ot little &C.
count. and ia, condition of The schools III
each town in the County, i very much IN
proportion TO The efficiency Of the Com
mittce. Teachers have been stimulated
to prepare themselves Tor thei, work. y
large majority al our teachers have al
tended either Town OF County Institute,
and during the last winter. more good
work has BEEN done in our common
:, hools. than ever saw in this or any
other County in The State. \ score OF
teachers can now be found where one eN.
isled tour years ago, who will 81" honor
TO themselves anywhere.
All this has been done in less than Two
years. In many OF our villages. the boys
have begun 10 zee that roaming the streets
and visiting saloons, was not the plan 10
make men, and more Of them are nov 10
be seen in the public and high schools
AMI academies.
state what have seen and what
know. But. more nf This next week.
SUPERVISOR.