Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-01-03
Whole amCurt Of dob.


leSs, (AiuL icipal u ai-tttDr 50S4 AGO
Whole amCurt Of dob. .l:-ft0
The sinking funds established by acts of
1850 and 1868 are rapidly acsumulating, ard
will be amply sufficient to meet the debt as it
natures.
Exclusive OF the mill tax, the State tax Of
1872 was reduced fifty or sixty thousand dol
lars from the previous year. The taxpayers
will now he glad to learn that in the opinion
OF the Treasurer, if there are no eXtraordi
nary appropriations made by this legislature,
the State tax for the year 1873 can be reduced
TO five mills or dollar, being q reduction Of
Sic, 600 from the State tax of 1872
While il is our duty to provide for all just
/ and necessary expenses, we shall, l trust, ex-
ercise the most rigid scrutiny in regard 70 all
our appropriations and disbursements.
EDUCATION.
Fer complete exhibit Of the educational
report Of tie State Superintendent Of Public
Schools. He makes some important sugRes-
tions that will, trust, receive your careful
consideration. Our Normal schools are DO
ing well, but the demand for thoroughly
trained teachers is greater than they can sup
ply. In Government like ours, where the
source Of power is in the people, free schools
and general educetion are the surest guaran
tees Of goc1 government and the perpetuily
Of free Institutions. The material prosperity
and moral standing of the State coTresHocd
with the degree of intelligence among the
people. The State that best educ9tcs its peo-
pie, will. Other things being equal, he tbe
'trorcest and Toat prosperous. Elacation
iifts Up the masses. aud secures greater ecral
ity CT wealth and influence. Il creates in3i-
vidual strength and reliancei ignorance brings
weakness and depend nee, 1t secures pro
gress; the neglect of it carries US backward.
1t brings national power and respect; through
ignorance boih are forfeited Our hope is in
tie intelligence Of the people; our danger :
in the ignorance that IS controlled by corrupt
men. To the forces which education has
planted II The heart the brain and the con-
science cI TIE people, we owe our success
in the past. and upon them we rest cur hopes
u tie future, Tile grand superstructure Of
Tree government which we are building can
only rest securely upon the immoyable, en-
lurng foundation Of universal public el-
ucG;ion.
We rely chiefly upon Cur common school
system to provide ior the intellectual wants
. ol the yCuEg, and for carrying each success
sive generation forward to a higher plane OF
moral and intellectual development. Every
question, then, bearing upon this subject is
Of vital Importance. The wages Of teachers
are less in this lhan in any other State in the
country. Hence many Of our best teachers
leave the State or engage in other pursuits.
We cannot expect good schools wi hout good
teachers, and but few good teachers can be
had without good pay.
| am glad 10 notice that the proportion Of
female to male teachers is gradually increas-
ing; this is as it should bt, There are some
occupations open 10 men that are not access
ible to women. but for this they are peculiar
Is adapted. Many OF our best and most sue
cPssfu teachers Gvc females. | am here re-
minded Of what apnears to me- to be great in
justice 10 female teachers. 1.-THE wages OF
male teachers in this State average thirty
three dollars and seventeen cents per month,
exclusive of board. The average wages for
l.nalo teachers, exclusive Of board is four
teen dollars and forty cents per month. This
is wrong. y given amount OF labor, equally
well performed, is worth the same whether
done by male or female. \ woman can
live no cheaper than man; it costs rs much
Tor her education as for his; she sas no adj
vantage in the cost Of hoard, clothing, rail
road, stage and hack fare, hotel bills, books
magazines or papers. Indeed, present Gus
tom, in some Of the most important of these
items Of expenditures demand more of hcr
than OF him. Why, then, must she be COM
pcllCd to accept one dollar Tor services OF
equal value wth those for which YOU pay him
two dollars and thirty cents: | earnestly
hope the neXt report of the Superintendent
of Public Schools will show q large increase
in the wages OF female teachers.
suggest that our present public school
system is defective in that it does not, except
in rare instances, furnish facilities tsr in.
struction beyond those offered in the district
school This has created necessity Tor a
large number of acadamies and private high
schools; and these htve in some respects,
detracted from the interest so desirable IN the
public school. Many Of our wcathiest and
most intelligent citizens rely chiefly upon
private institutions for the education Of their
children. They do this because, in thei'
opinion, the instruction in the public school