Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1876-02-08
our E,tucastoaat Interests.
lieu Schools.

A strong effort is being made. during
the present legislative session. TO secure
the repeal OF our High School Law. The
opposition 20 this law comes from cities (
and from towns which cover large tract /
OF territory OF are divided by several +
small villages. Ii is claimed that the law 7
works uncyenly. and hence Injustice Is
done to certain sections. Cities are taxed
heavily 10 furnish more liberal education
to the rural districts than they could afford /
to give, unaided. la certain sense all
laws to raise educational funds must
work unevenly. Most OF our State
School tax must be paid by cities, and
the luuds mus, De Distributed 50 as to
particularly bench, rural districts. II is
a settled policy 10 this oOunlry,-that OF
State education. and the only question
at issue, Is how far shall il be carried. OF
10 what extent Shall the commonwealth
educate her ciuzens The more highly
educated are Our people. the better will
be.our government, ald The .imi, TO free
education should be that set by the State,
inancia. ability. We believe that the
best Interests OF Maias demand that .
higher grade Of education than that lur'
ui,hed 10y our common schools should DC
placed before every family 10 The State.
The people have felt the need OF these
advantages, aud hence every town O! SIZE
has its Academy. These academies were
all brought into existence by private
munidcenoe, by the efforts Of religious
societies or by combination OF indiyid-
uals. iacited TO scion by village pride.
What means OF support have these acad-
emies Most Of them own bu, q building
and lot. 4 few have from enc to i've
thousand dollars OF invested funds, Yield
Ing from sixty 20 two hundred dollars in
come. or course this is insufficient TO
support such Institutions. breath has
been kept ia many of them Tor years by
legislative donations or private su5scrip-
lions. Every Legislature was teset BY
claimants Tor small amounts 90 Keep ihe!'
academies from expiring. Aad, 81, ollor
3, such rCQUes. was granted, howl went
cp from Kindred institutions "h'e' 1Su
tten sighted H>Fe was '''~eA- l'J'S
lice. Many worthy 'aSu'u'I'1N were
neglected o-cSusc 'he5 MAJ h~t I"H1'
enco' sui.icitu, 20 secure an approprA'
ton. The widest mouihed and i'a"cS'
toned wcIo considered, either iso-' po-'l
or importantly. Si.. The people called
for more aud legislators were ready To-
respond 10 ihe demand. NOTWITHSTANDING
this aid,mos, ct our academies were rap
i5.l sinking into oblivion, hen the S-a'o
tooA The whole matter IN hand Jy passing
sL&. is known IS ,Lo High School Law.
A; the time OF is eusc.me1. we gave o1r
readers general idea OF lis operation,
and every wei. informed citizen has since
become i~ui.'ar with lis "'r~irs. Ter
maps ms %" Is no' 'ae "'s' "A''n eouid
be devised, 1ut u supplies q want a-d
should not be repealed until the friends
OF higher etucaNon nave 'omeiH'as oe''
ter 20 offer The objection raised 10 the
High School Law. That large towns are
notable TO accommodate al. 'Loir scholars
a. such schools, seems 20 weigh more
heAyiiy than any other argument against
the measure. AZ first glance this seems
serious difficulty, bat It may be readily