Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1873-03-13
Miserllanfons.
What can be done to Advance the in
terest in our Common Schools.

What can be done to Advance the In
terest in our Common Schools.
In a recent issue the ARssrioaH urges bet
ter supervision "a means of promoting
our common school interests.
such supervision as is there recommend
ed no doubt would do much to advance the
cause; but before we realize anything like
tIic.eH supervision there must be a gener-
al awakening on the subject in the minds
OF the common people. They must feel
that the present supervision is inefficient.
They must feel that our schools at pres
rnt are not what they should be and that
nothing short Oft strong public opinion
and strong individual interest and effort
can make them what they should be. They
al feel the necessity Of certain amount
ct instruction in the common branches and
hence readily and willingly make provision
for II.
Now let them - fully feel the necessity
Tor better education and then we may
look for reform and improvement in our
present system. Parents should feSl that
s. is not enou N that their children should be
as cell educated as they are; for the world
j progressing intellectually ifnot morally
and will expect more from the children
Than from their parents. Men should also
leel that-the higher branches called are
not SO high a to be of no practical value to
them: they should feel that these branches
are of practical Importance to them and
that they do actually minister 10 their daily
want, and necessities. 1t is evident that
the people at large do not now feel the
practical value OF these branches.
For example all readily acknowledge the
value ofPrarical navigation and surveying,
Int how few. comparatively, realize their
connection with and dependence upon as
tromony. geometry. and trigonometry.
And 30 all enjoy the convenience of COM
municating with absent friends by means
OF the telegraph and the luxury of seeing
the absent face Of loved ones in the photo
graph; but how few really think those
Injuries were given TO u By the science of
chemistry. And so all deplore the ruined
health aud other sad results of intemper-
ance and debauchery but how few feel
that these consequences are the result Of
ignorance OF the conditions of a healthy
life: or Al least many sufferers from these
diseases could they have known one half
a, much about it 4. their physician never
would have run the perilous risk.
Il i not necessary TO multiply examples;
bat il Is safe TO say that even slight ac-
a.. sfytfa
vince any one OF their practical value to
tie humble>t family. | would not be I'M
derstood to be urging the study of these
branches 10 the neglect of the more COM
mon. For thoroughness in the elementary
branches is prerequisite to all advance
n.ent in the higher. Nor would urge the
Introduction of the higher branches into
our common schools while in their present
condition; but | would urge that we have
schools OF such length and quality that il
Will not require twelve or fifteen years to
acquire fair common school education
which means according to present inter
probation ability to read poorly to spell
(wretchedly) 10 write (unintelligiblv) and
TO cast up simple accounts.
would urge that the people be made to
feel the importance of improvement in our
schools and the necessity of giving their
children more liberal education. To
bring about this feeling will require some
time and the operation of several different
agencies; among which is the press. The
family paper will frequently gain 3 hearing
when all others fail.
Another means is to employ teachers
that will employ every opportunity to bring
parents and scholars together face to face.
Every parent should visit the schools in
his own district and see for himself the
improvement made from term to term and
also the disadvantages and suggest the
means to remove them. This would be
the best Kind of supervision, for il would
be the very means most likely TO bring it
about. For by this individual inspection
the parent will be convinced by his own
senses that Il competent supervision is an
absolute necessity.
Another means is a more careful selec-
ton of school agents.
Strange as it may seem it is true that
people act as if they thought any one was
fit for school agent. But with the pres
ent district system the school agency is
the most important Office in town; and the
agent should be the ablest men in town;
men of good judgment. interested in the
cause Of education, and having good un-
Outstanding of hnman nature and its pecul-
iarities as exhibited in their own districts
men who have sufficient public spirit to
visit each term Of school at least twice and
who are capable of judging about how
much to expect from teachers and scholars.
And when the district has an agent who
has been successful in his selection of
teachers. he should not be removed simply
to give some one else chance. There are
many exceptions. but as a rule school
teachers make the best agents.
Then there should be cooperation be
tween agents and the school committee.
Committees should supply agents with
complete list of all the successful and all
the unsuccessful teachers that have taught
in their town for three years past.
But can our legislature do nothing to adj
vance the cause. Probably not much till
the people are enough interested In the
subject to attend the conventions and
nominate for Representatives men who are
in sympathy with the Esprit of progress"
which characterixes our times. Il il not
strange that men who have not seen the
inside Of a school room for twenty or thir-