Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1873-01-06
ISIS l,csC,si7 %
Increa,. of sinking Fund IN is13, 81 952 %
Trust Funds held by tho Stale cXclu'
sjye of sinking Fund, se,oiS~
The following is the statement OF the
,,t,I,l;c Inbt Inn I 1874.

1871 hNHftN Loan HtNiNNN
.' 1888, War Loanl 5SS'NS
iss9, Municipal War Debt SoSt4oo
Whole amount of Debt, l,lS',"o
The sinking funds established by acts
OF 1865 and 1865 are rapidly accumulate
ing. and will be amply sufficient 10 meet
the debt as it natures.
Exclusive OF the mill tax, the State tax
OF 1872 was reduced fifty or sixty thou
sand dollars from the previous year.
The taxpayers will now be glad 10 learn
that in the opinion OF the Treasurer, II
there are no extraordinary appropriations
made by This Legislature, the State tan
for the year 1873 can be reduced TO live
mills on dollar. being reduction OF
$4,000 from the State tax OF 1872.
While il is our duty TO provide for MI
just and necessary expenses, We shall, |
| trust. exercise the most rigid scrutiny In
regard to all our appropriations and dis
hursemenls.
EDUCATION.
For complete exhibit OF the educa
liOnal work OF the State, you are referred
TO the report of the State Superintendent
| OF Public Schools. He makes some im-
pOrtant suggestions that will, | trust, TO-
ceiye Your careful consideration. Our
Normal schools are doing well, but the
demand Tor thoroughly trained teachers
is greater than they eau supply. In
| Government like ours, where the source
OF power is in the people, free schools
and general education are the surest
guarantees Of good government and the
perpctuity of Tree institutions. Tho ma
| terial prosperity and moral standing OF
the State correspond with the degree OF
/ intelligence among the pSOple. The
/ State that best educates It's people, will,
other things being equal. be the strongest
aud most prosperous. Education lifts up
the masses. and secures greater equality
of wealth and influence. 1t creates in
dividual strength and reliance; ignorance
brings weakness and dependence. II sc.
cures progress; the neglect OF It carries
Us backward. IL brings national power
and respect; through ignorance both are
forfeited. Our hope is in the Intelligence
OF the people; our danger is in the igno-
rance that is controlled by corrupt men.
To the forces which education has plant
ed in The heart, the brain and the con-
science of the people. we owe our success
in the past, and upon them We rest our
hopes of the future. This grand super
structure of free government which we
are building can only rest securely upon
the immov3ble. enduring foundation OF
universal public education.
We rely chiefly upon our common
school system 10 provide tor the intcllec'
tual wants OF the young, and for carrying
each successive generation forward 10 n
higher plane OF moral and intellectual
development. Every question. then,
bearing upon this subject Is OF vital I'M
p0rtance The wages OF teachers ale
less in this than any other State IN the
country. HeuCe many OF our best teach.
els leave the State or engage in other
pursuits We cannot expect good schools
without good teachers, and but few good
teachers can be had without good pay.
am glad 10 notice that the proportion
of female 10 male teachers is gradually
increasing; this is As it should be. There
arc some occupations open TO men that
axe not accessible 10 women, but for this
thoy are peculiarly adapted. Many OF
our hes; and most successful teachers are
females. l am here reminded of what
appears TO me great injustice 10 female
teachers. The wages Of male teachers
in this State average thirty-three dollars
and seventeen cents permOnth, exclusive
of board. The average wages loy female
teachers, exclusive OF board. Is fourteen
dollars and forty cents per month. This
is wrong. A given amount OF labor,
equally well performed. j. worth The
same, whether done by male or female.
A woman can live no cheaper than a
man; it costs as much for hcl education
as Tor his; she has no advantage in the
cost OF board, clothing, railroad, stage
and hack lare. hotel bills, books, maya
zines or papers. Indeed present custom,
in some OF the most important OF these
items of expenditures demand more Of her
chan OF him. Why, then, must she he
compelled 20 accept one dollar for sery-
ices OF equal value with those for which
YOU pay him twOdoliarS and thirty cents ?
1 earnestly hope the next report OF the
Superintendent of Public schools will
show large increase in the wages of
female teachers.
suggest that our present public school
system is defective in that it does not, cX-
cept in rare instances. furnish facilities
Tor instruction beyond those offered in
the district school This has created Il
necessity for large number Of academies
and private high schools; and these have
in some respects, detraeted from the in
terest so desirable in the public school.
Many of our wealthiest and most intelli-
gen. citizens rely chiefly upon private in.
Al 81. IL.
dren They do this because, In their
opinion, the instruction in the public
school is not what it should be, or because
= higher grade OF studies is desired
The result is that the interest which all
citizens should have in our common
schools, Is, to some extent, at least, with
drawn, and the active efforts OF many
whose cooperation and advice are great
~ needed, ara turned into other educa-
tional channels. And This will continue
until our schools are raised TO the stand
Vrd required by the progressive demands
Of tue times.
Our public schools should be the best
schools in the State; and should furnish
opportunities. not only for primary and
intermediate studies, but to prepare for
college, or the practical duties of life.
These advantages should be as Tree TO
the children as the water they drink or
The air they breathe.
In most Of our cities, and in some of the
larger towns, public schools of the grade
indicated are in successful operation. In
the smaller towns is will, OF course. be
more difficult. but it appears to me not
impracticable to establish in every town
OF one thousand or more inhabitants, q
public high school. equal in grade to our
best academies. Two or more smaller
towns could unite for this purpose This