Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-06-28
p REPUBLICAN, NOMINATION.
rTR HIGH SCHOOLS.

graduates which they send out, and to
learn that classes which upon entering
counted their numbers by scores have
dwindled In four years to almost nothing
Such state of things is not encouraging
for our advanced schools. We build fine
houses, pay roundly for teachers, and these
thin classes are the result. We cndcay-
or to render orr schools attractive and use
cul by generous outlay, but it is evident
that we are not successful; and il is not
surprising to learn that opinions are often
expressed that the return is not proportion
ate to the outlay. In Augusta the gradu-
ates this year arc four, in Lewiston thir
teen, in Portland sixty-siN, and SO through
the State, we presume.
Now granting that sometimes teachers
are incompetent to discharge successfully |
their duties, and fail to accomplish wha;
they may properly be expected to perform,
the responsibility after all for the feeble re-
suits of the schools rests chiefly upon the
parents and community. \ teacher can
not have full classes when pupils are kept
away or allowed of their own volition to
be absent. lie cannot make scholars with
out pupils. 4 class enters the High School.
The frs. year it meets with 4 9ht reduc-
ton in Numbers, the next year the de-
crease is larger, the next still more, and
the last year not tenth of the original
number is left. The cause of this we have
not far to go to find. Primarily it is due
to the fact that our people place too light
value upon education and the means
which are provided fer their children to
obtain it. If they understood the impor-
tonce to the children of the training which
they might obtain in the schools they would
make a better use of the opportunities
which they have. They would not allow
their BOYS TO be in the streets when they
should be ia the schools. They would not
permit them to abandon school for bust
ness or work, and lose an education that
would make men Of them, TO gain little
money that will be spent in frivolity. Few
boys will attend school steadily Of their
own choice The temptations to leave are
many, and the advantages of learning are
not appreciated. 1t requires the steady
hand and encouraging voice OF the father
and mother to keep the boy on his course
In ninety-nine cases i'll hundred where
scholars have been kept punctually 4
school it will be found upon cxaminatio!
to have been due principally to the effort
OF the parents. II the parents are inter
ested in the school the children will be
Then again il is not sufficient that the chile
be sent to school, but that he be encour
aged 10 mako a good use Of the opportu-
mites afforded him for instruction. The
course Of study in orr High Schools is not
rigid but flexible; no one is required to
study Latin and Greek and Geometry un-
less they choose, hut may take simpler and
perhaps more practical branches OF learn
ing. OF which they can surely find enough
II the scholar is not properly advised and
directed by parents and teachers in his stud
les. but is permitted to follow his own feel
ings and crude notions "a to what il best
for him, the probability is that tho first
year finds him ut the close uncertain wheth-
CT TO continue another year, or what 10
study il he remains, and the second year
finishes his education, he believing that he
has learned about everything that can be
Of any service to him in life. The greed
of gain in both parents and children takes
the latter ont of school at an early age.
A boy at fifteen or sixteen may be able to
earn something in store or factory or else
where, and so he gives up. with the con-
sent OF his parents, perhaps by their advice
and solicitation, the grand privileges of the
High School that would make him man
fitted for broader and higher usefulness.
10 become narrowed down Tor life to the
possibilities of an inferior employment and
deficient training. The sxpcncc held
near the eye hides the dollar little far
Their OFF, In making haste to be a man
the boy who turns his back upon an cdu.
cation remains child always. We are
surprised at the number OF people Of mod
crate means, to whom the High School of
iers its favors almost without money OF
price, neglectin9 10 avail themselves OF
The opportunity 10 educate their children
The rich seldom fail to give their children
the means of an education, even al large
expense, and why the poor should refuse
the means of being eqnal with the rich a
far as they can in educating their children
is one OF the mysteries Of human nature.
We might mention other matters that
tend to depreciate our High Schools, but
we deem it more important to call atcn-
ton 10 the fundamental cause that oper-
a.es against their prosperity, than 10 no.
tice less evils. We must 90 to the bot
tom of the difficulty Our people must
feel that the school is valuable to them
and their children. When they under
stand that 1t gives Il hundred fold more