Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1875-01-12

uted 10 municipalities by the State fol
common school purposes. has been
increased from less than fifty thousand
dollars TO more than three hundred and
seventy five thousand dollars, and includ-
ing The amount contributed by the State
Tor free high schools and normal schools.
to moro than four hundred and twenty
five thousand dollars; and will reach the
pi esent year more than four hundred and
lily thousand dollars. OF the aggregate
expenditures for public school purposes
about three iiIths are paid by municipal.
tiles and two iiiths by the State. whereas
ten or fifteen years since nearly all was
paid by municipalities.
The Tree high school system adopted
two years since has been more success.
full than It's most ardent flends dared
to hope. and promises TO exert still
greater influence for good in the future.
During the past year l6l towns have
maintained $40 terms OF Tree high
schools. giving instruction to about 1900
pupils, at u cost ol not far from 500, 900.
OF which q little less than $4,000 Kill
be contributed by the State.
Probably the legislature will not con.
slider il prudent, under eXlstlng clrcum-
stances. TO take any steps AZ the present
session looking To the establishment Ol u
system OF school supervision intermediate
between the State Superintendent aud
the several School Committees. The
best interests Of the State, however.
unqueslionably demand the early inaugu.
ration oil such a system Ot school super
vision aud inspection as will give increas
ed efficiency 10 our public schools. IL is
not so much more school money that i
needed. n il il more systematic and
profitable use OF The means now devoted
10 this vital interest Our Normal schools
arc doing most valuable service ior the
State in furnishing the common schools
with trained teachers; and these lnstilu.
lions should receive generous consldera
ton ut the hands OF tho Legislature. A
proposition from the Trustees Of BridgtOn
Academy. offering 10 transfer 10 the
State the property Of that institution,
on condition that it be used tor Normal
school purposes, am informed, will be
presented Tor your consideration.
In the judgment OF many OF our best
educators the iims has arrived Tor this
State to enact law making attendance
upon some school n certain portion oil
,hc year obligatory upon children be
tween the ages OF eight and fourteen
Years In my annual address one yeag
since. in view OF the dangerous increase
Of i!lileracy among certain classes Of
the population, urged the Justice and
importance OF an enactment OF this
character whenever public sentiment
should be advanced sufficiently 10 secure
It's enforcement 10 any considerable
extent. Inc discussions which have
taken place on this question within u
year or two have certainly aronsed
public attention To the danger which
threatens free institutions from the
increasing ranks OF Ignorance; and the
indications are so hopeful that such an
would not be suffered to
remain q dead letter. but would on The
contrary prove in many cases an instru.
ment for good. that commend the
important subject 10 your favorable
consideration.
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND MECHANIC
ARTS.
The report Of the Trustees Of the Stale
College OF Agriculture and Mechanic Afts
represents that the institution 10 rapidly
increasing Its number OF students and It's
usefulness aud my own observation con.
firms these conclusions. The trustees
ask for an appropriation OF twenty seven
thousand dollars TO meet current expen
ses and outstanding liabilities, purchase
apparatus, erect farm house, and make
preparations for the construction o! an
other college building. There is do doub.
that this snm is much needed the present
year 10 put the institution in condition
OF The highest usefulness. aud that large
sums beyond the interest Of the tund
derived from the national grant. will
always be required, from year TO year,
from some sources. in order 10 effectually
carry out the object for which the college
was established. When the legislature
accepted the national grant. aud thus
became The sponsor of the new institu-
ton, II deyiated from the wise and well
established policy Of leaving the interests
of the higher education to private liber.
alily and care, supplemented by such
occasional incidental state aid as might
be needed TO encourage individual effort
The reasons for this departure from q
traditional policy. had their basis in o
desire to take advantage Of the liberal
national grant, and more particularly in
the belief OF many eminent men that a
new class of higher institutions OF learn.
ing was needed. which should so direct
their educational work as TO turn out
young men 10 be better farmers. carpen.
ters. blacksmiths and artisans generally,
instead oil so generally graduating them
for proiessional-liie.
While these considerations undoubtedly
controlled the Legislature. yet none OF the
most ardent advocates OF the new depart
ure imagined That they were establishing
an institution which was 10 depend ell.
,ireIy on public appropriations for It's sup
port. II was supposed that While the new
college would be IN especial object ol
public regard. its principal support would
come from private citizens. regret.
therefore, TO observe growing tendency
10 regard this institution as child oil the
State, which needs no private aid or caro-.
| regret is not simply from the fact that
it will necessarily entail large annual
expenditure On the State treasury, but
also because | believe that 1t would be
better for the college TO bring itself into
such close sympathy with the people as
can only be secured by relying largely on
private contribution 10 further its work.
STATE INSTITUTIONS.
The reports Of the Trustees Of The In.
sane Hospital and Reform School, and OF
the Inspectora Of the State Prison, show
that these State institutions are in On un.
usually favorable condition.
THE INSANE HOSPITAL.
The Hospital continues to be in very
crowded condition. over 400 names ap.
pearing on the roll, Notwithstanding the