Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1873-04-22
Eree Hiah school BIZ.


NJ. Editor A few words in reply 10
"laris, " in "Oxford Register" April H..
First, The fathers aud god-lathers OF
the Free High School Bill do not differ in
their Interpretation Of. the act. The ex'
plantations thus far given we've made to
correct statements made by certain per-
sous who had not examined the act III
full, and were laboring under certain
erroneous impressions.
Second. Tho "gratui,y" is precisely
the same us the Mill Tax fund, the Say.
ings Bank tax and tho interest of tho
Perm. Fund. The benefits are npplica-
bic to the ,Ch0lc people, to every town in
The State.-quilc unlike glaluities given
TO Academies, iocal in their brnelilS, and
ucyer free schools, The,c Il not town
in The State unable to avail itself Of the
advantages OF this act
Third, Much stress is laid upon taxing
the poor people, the poor towns Now
let US see. suppose the State Treasurer
disburSes $225,000 annually IN aid OF
Free High Schools This will be giving
$500 TO each town. Grafton, the poorest
town In Oxford County. will receive
$500. How much docs Grafton have TO
contribute To- the State Treasurer 10
realize this glaIuily? The sum of S2G.67 !
And this principle holds true in regard 10
every poor town. Who pays The broad
margin between $500 and $50 OF The
wealth OF Counties and towns OF the
State. the wild lands and other interests,
that, without this Estate" arrangement
would not contribute one cent towards
the support of schools. Where is the
large" IN this plan Of helping Grafton
or any other town TO Tho privileges that
they can 2coHre In 10 aihcr wayG The
rich towns do not complain, chcerlully
paying the tax-why should the poor
towns find lault. who receive the benefits?
This attempt to prejudice the public
mini il too transparent; It will not stand
the test OF "faets.''
Fourth, The assertion that the design
of the bill is TO drire the people into =
support of Free High Schools is the
purest fiction of diseased Imagination,
The desigo Of The !ramcrs Of his net WAS
to answer the great demand OF the day,
Free education for al, hom the lowest
primary elias, up TO the threshold OF col
lege. Superior education" will no
longer lager IN iuii!onary schools. scat
tered here and there. far from the great
body OF the people. constantly asking
/ for "graiuities." but ail,rdng nothing
gratuituus-but the facilities Tor higher
cGltEra az pQw brought into every town.
within the reach OF every family. There
i, no driring in hi, matter No town Is
compelled to have a High School. Why
not say because the State declines To pay
tbs town OF Paris tho $500 due from The
State Treasury on account at lh1 Mill
Tax and other funds I'LL Paris pays her
State tax, therefore she j. drirsH driven
10 pay fora school hundred miles from
Oxford County driven 10 pay tor 4
school to which oar boys can not gain al
mission without paying lnr it; driven t.
support q school. tie like ct which prob
ably never can be had in Oxford County.
This dririHg process /, = oolorcd glass
obscuring and distorIius plain clear
vision OF the broad aud generous Icaiu IS
OF The Free High School system.
rim, There is moi - town IN Oxford
County that cannot under The prov i>iouS
OF The act hay, Free High school.
Paris" is challenged /" name one.
/ Take the town ol Paris. W." school S
are permitted Ia each town, and Two
terms OF each can bc held within the
year. A spring term OF one school can
/ be held IA south pari, and 4 fall term ~
/ the Hill. y spring term ol the DINER
/ school can be- held at West Paris, and a
I lal. term a, Youth or Yves; Paris. II the
town will not rise money, districts OF
I iHdiriRuais may avail themselves OF the
provisions of the act. We doubt whether
any school legislation WAS ever more
generous, popular and beneiieent thu
this in aid of Free High Schools. II
carried out according 10 the expectations
of those who enacted the law, they Will
become the American High Schools OF
the people. meeting The immediate busi'
ness and mechanical wants ol the groa'
agricultural and manufacturing interests
OF Maine. They will bc the GROWING
feature of our public school system, IN
term,diale between The "cOmmon6schoo
and the higher scmlnaris-.
MAINS.
Free High School.
Nr Editor:-I notice il ynnr last
] IL Ina1 - Il tri- III I'LL