Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1875-05-04
Supsrintendent Johnson,s Report.

Qualification Ot honesty anu CapaCaNls
Superintendent JOhnsob'S Report.
Hon. Warren johnson presents the
people of Maine with a ia page report
this year, with 2l6 pages in appendix and
rs fuG page engraviugs.
The work is compiled in Mr.. Johnson's
usually comprehensive and exhaustive
STYLE. |, opens with a STA, stical SAM
mary, showing the numbered scholars IN
the Stale, average attendance. ut all and
every term. the wages of tea hers, length
OF schools. number OF ieache 5 employed,
etc. etc.
The reader will be surprised to notice
that on, 40 per cent. of The scholars in
this State. attend school. But this state
menl needs some explanation and quail
d-a,ion. The school census includes all
persons between the ages OF and p
years, while practically, as Mr.. johnson
stated las, year. the school age is from
to Is years. The United States census
shows that over 50 per cent Of scholars
between ) and Is. in the State, attend
school. This percentage corresponds
with The average attendance )f registered
scholars. Last winter the advocates OF
compulsory education made use OF the
statement that less than half our children
attended school. to assist in carrying
their point, aud we make this explanation
10 show the incorrec,neSS OF their reason
in. and 10 yindicAle the parents aud
guardians OF this Safe. W. have not
Tie statistics OF other States Il hand, but
feel perfectly safe in stating that no other
State. either with or without \ compulso
IS law, can show better record than
this State. viz: that more han 90 per
cent Of their children Of suitable age at
tend school regularly, and that too OF
the4 own free will and accord.
Mr.. johnson devotes large part OF his
report 70 our Normal Schools and gives
place 20 suggestions from eminent edu-
on,ors Of the State, and to ab:tracls lrom
the reports Of town Supervisors and
Committees. Ne shall. q; some future
time, give our readers the ben fit OF these
suggestions.
Our Normal Schools are dong A good
work for education, in fitting young per-
sons Tor teaching. and in creating an
interest in educational matters. They
have been very effective aud more than
usually prosperous during the past year.
Daring the year there was IN increase
in the number OF Free gh Schools.
from 10 in % TO l42 in -. by towns.
and The Districts availing the ~ selves oil
The provisions oi this law where towns
have not, has fallen from - ID %. This
gives an increase 10 the number OF terms
from 2S7 to 555. and in the number oil
school weeks from 2,65l to .176. The
number OF students is IA s2S agains.
0,2S6 the previous year, and he average
attendance has Increased frim sips 10
Il. 6j2. The towns and Districts 10 Ok
iord County supporting Free High
schools were, Andover. Brow field. Can
ton. Hartford, Norway. Oxford, and
Waterford.
O.her valuable statistics m.Y be given
TO our readers at some future line.
We quote the following suggestions
from School Committees ia Ills County
.4ador,r. Yes; make attendance
compulsory. Abolish the district system.
Put the hiring OF teachers and the fur
nishiug Of books wholly in the hands oil
the ). ). Committee. Have iupery isors
in towns OF less than two hume red voters.
Make il compulsory tor towns 10 raise
no; less than 20 cents per int abitant tor
Tree high schools. Give the ). ). Com
mittee to expend one tenth OF the school
money for the purchase OF on line maps,
globes, library, and other ap oaratus Tor
schools Have q committee of three in
each county, appointed by the State Sup
erintendent, 10 examine teachers. who
shall not be allowed TO teacl without 8
certificate from such committee.
Canton State uniformity OF textbooks;
the books 10 be printed by the State, and
furnished TO each town st cost, TO be
paid for by tax assess upOl the prop
erty OF the town.
Denmark. Let The scholars be enum-
Grated by the municipal officers instead
OF district agents.
Greenwood. Abolish sehoo districts
Hebron. The high school law should be
amended 10 secure equality 0i taxation
and privileges. Hebron. with q large
number of less populous AMI wealthy
towns, gets no benefit from ths law.
Mason Compulsory attt ndsnce Is
advisable. The county supervisor sys-
tenn worked well, and shonll be re-es-
tablished It's repeal was ve.y unwise
oxford. Compulsory attendance of all
children from seven to fourteen years oil
age. A law that does away with the
dis. riot system, or mskes he school