Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1874-01-13

L
aud also in such other directions as are
demanded 10y the increasing industrial
and business wants OF the times. II Is
especial noteworthy that large portion
OF the youth of both sexes reached by
these schools, are those who had already
Withdrawn from the common schools
with deficient education or whom Pov.
erty or other circumstances had prevented
from leaving their homes TO obtain better
opportunities for education than those al.
lorlcd by the short winter term of their
district school Many youth who will
hereafter make most valuable teachers OF
our common schools, are receiving in the
Free High School that broader and deeper
culture so essential TO prepare them Tor
this high work. The influence on tho
common schools OF such pupils as have
stlended the Free High School, is already
proving in the highest degree beneficial.
80 far rs am informed, in most of the
towns in which such school has been held,
new interest has been awakened in the
cause OF education.
IL WAS leared by some that the system
would be impracticable for small Of
sparce ~ settled towns; but some OF the
most successful Fee High Schools main.
tanned during the autumn. have been in
Just such localities. In Que case, at least
sparsely settled plantation has main.
tanned most flonrishing school for eleven
weeks, by municipal appropriation OF
soyenty-hYc dollars. increased hy an equal
amount from the State. Indeed. thus lar
the most complete success OF the Free
High School system has been in eXclu'
II ely farming towns. where this adjunct
q. The co nmon school system is afording
>rrh facilities for education rs can but
-r,e 10 increase the attractions OF that
rural illc which Is the source of our ma.
li,nal strength and purity. With con-
lnusncc of the system there eau be scarce.
Iy II doubt that within briel period these
schools will he established in most OF the
towns ol the State; aud will give such
IN impetus TO our educational interests rs
nothing else could.
EDUCATIONAL EXPENDITURES.
Tho aggregate expenditure Tor the
puzzle .chon,s ul the State, during The
past school Year la, been : ,OJ0, ,596, eN-
c.uSNu oi tic amount expended tor
school building, and Free high schoo.S.
Ot tui- >Im towns have directly conui
y.trd 500. .Gis. and tho State -. I,95o.
u TO- tuI> ,unl should be added the an
uuN expenditures Tor schuo buildings,
Free lush ovh1uis Normal schools. and
COLLEGE oi A1rcuJac and Mechanic
Art, and tnu puu.ic tnd private cNPcndl
mlr, .Jr ulsc AcllcmIrS, ScmlulIics
lad nl. ncr Institutions ut learning which
-upp.cmrn, uu educational Slslcn and
rcnicr such laslin. benefits on the State,
uvtc can be- dltic Gnuhl that the amount
would reach a millions and hal dollars.
80 iar. an auuud, expenditure on the
part cl the people, Is conclusive ans
w,r 90 the sug. estlon that the people arc
losing Their iitere.t IN our irec schools.
/, our e. edit ~ = State, let II bc said.
sever before Na> there - general inter
fst ln educ ,:ion; never before 80 almost
universal Willingness 10 MAKE the largest
,4rtiiccs. va order that our children may
nave the incslimable blessings OF intel.
rciua. culture. Al that the people OF
Name ash J., to bc assured that their con
uuaion- lor 80 grand an end, are pru
t,n.1 aud wisely oxpond d. 10 my
mind, indeed, IL seems clear that the
SurG uu which our educa o.s may at
present well unite lhcr earnest efforts
= not 50 much 10 secure larger school
iv, ,vnucs-aithouS these are essential
b. sJu.c iuCtlitics--as To- devise methods
Is which better results may DC obtained
tom the means at OUT disposed. by this
o. sLol.d uot be- inferred that there Is not
,lc Closest ,eJuuuy in school cXpendI
Jtic, tlr ,hc most paIt, there i this {;
| Ia44 Nct t..ll policy which loses sight ol
| BE- lact that II good teachers is cheap ut
any price, aud poor instructor dear
c,cu IL his services are grttuilOuS, Is not
uuc economy, but waste.
NORMAL SCHOOLS.
Its in this direction that our tWo Nor
nil Schools are conlerring lasting benefits
upDn the puU.ic schools oil this State.
| Recognizing the truth thai the highest
suoces. as teacher requires not only
natural aptitude. but also, like other
professions, special preparation and train.
linz, the Stale has wisely established aud
maintains these ils tuiiOns rs part OF
Il, educational system. Probably 10
muuey expended IN educIllOna. direc
| lions Yields larger returns. Inc teach
ers WHO 90 iorlh from Pennington and
Casli t. not only impress themselves on
The schools over which they are called to
presitlr, bul also make their influence
! tell tor good over many other other ln-
structors " ilh whom they come in con.
| tact. No one who has watched the
progress of our common schools Tor The
pas. decade, can have failed To discover a
striking improvement ia methods OF in
suuctioh, coming largely from The nilu
euce ol oar normal schools. Whatever
appropriations are required 10 maintain
their high standard and excellence, aud
iuci ease their means OF usefulness, should
be made; and made, too, in the interest
OF The wsest economy. 1t should not be
forgotten that Il special necessity for in
creasing the efficiency ot our common
school system, has arisen from the iac'
that the intense activity pervadng mod
ern American lite. is seriously abrIdglng
the time within which our public school:
| must 10 lntiI "Oln' W "'t"N'"""'- D"'
Youth from them al least five years earlier
than formerly; while at the same time II
is necesslating a broader culture.
SCHOOL SUPERVISION.
Next TO skillul instruction, nothing Il
more essential 10 the highest efficiency o
our public schools, than careful, lnteiil
gent and well sustained inspection ant
superyision. Excellent rs is the work o
most of oar school committees, yet II Is
not to be expected thlt men engaged II
other pursuits. can spare the lime re
quisite to keep abreast Of the progressive
educational movements of the times, ant
thus bc able 10 suggest improvement il
the work OF the teachers under thei
charge, and inspire in them that probes
sional pride and ambition which is 50 es