Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-05-01
THE DEATH ON WARREN JOHNSON.

| days Daily, OF the death Of llJn. w srren John
son, reccntly OF this city, and formerly Superin-
| tondent of the Common Schools of this State
| This sad event occurred on Saturday evening last.
l a. his new home in N,w;on, Mass alter an ILL
ness of oaly few ]ays, the cause of deAlu being
designated by hi. physicians as blood poi.oning.
| Warren johnson was born in Vienna, in Ken
nebec County on the oath of December, 1880, and
| consequently al the time OF his death in the
forty-seyenth year Of his age After receiving the
common school education afforded by his town. he
/ fitted for college at Pennington Academy, enter
ed Bowdoin College in 1850. aud graduated with
high honors in the class of 1854. After leaving
college, he was Assistant in Pennington Acade.
my two years. Principal of Foxcroft Academy one
year, and Tutor in Bowdoin College two years.
Thus fitted for the profess ion of teaching-a pro.
fcssion that he dearly loved, and to which he de-
voted all the energies of his nature-in the fall of
1857 he founded the Franklin Family School for
| Boys at Topsham, Of which he continued as Prin-
| cipal and business manager until his appointment
as State Superintendent Of Schools.
| From the Franklin School, Mr.. johnson was
called to higher position, and in 1868 was ap-
pointed by Governor Chamberlain to the Oil :e
| Of Superintendent Of the Common Schools OF
| Maine, TO succeed DR.. Ballard. He was reap
pointed in 1871, by Gov. Perham. and again in
1874 by Gov. Dngley, and resigned the place last
September, after having filed it for nearly nine
years, to accept the responsible position of Super
intendent of the city schools of Newton, Mass.
1t was in connection with the common schools of
Maine that Mr.. johnson made for himself name
that will be enduring lie found the schools in a
low and depressed state, suffering from a lack of
careful oversight, practical plans Of work, and
monty sufficient TO carry on the educational ma
chnery. lie Immediately put on the harness, and
went to work. The duties of his office were to ex-
ercise a general supervision Of schools, adv Use
and direct town committees, colate and dissent
nate information relating to school systems, etc.
prescribe studies to be taught, act as supern tend
| ent Of the two State Normal Schools, hold county
| teachers institutes, make the necessary arrange
ments for holding State Educational conventions,
and annually present to the Governor and Coun-
Gil the result of his inquiries. Investigations and
labors generally. A multiplicity of duties, GER
tsinly; sufficient to employ the entire energies of
an active man. Bat while he filled every depart
ment of his ofi,e with conspicuous fidelity and
great ability, Mr.. johnson made himself felt most
| poently in the legislation Of the State affecting
the cause of popular education.
| Among the prominent permanent changes
brought about during Mr.. Johnsons administra-
| ton, may be mentioned: First-The increase of
| the school revenue, by the school mill tax, the
effect of which is TO place the burden upon prop
| erty. The mill tax alone adds yearly to the
| school fund 1924 $50. Second-The pa sage Of a
law bringing the towns under responsibility for
| the proper expenditure of the school money re-
, curing mum icipal officers to make regular returns
to the educational department, showing the
amount and kind of expenditures, and authoriz-
ing the Governor and Council to direct the State
Treasurer to withhold payment TO towns that fail
faithfully to expend their school money. Many
serious abuses have been corrected under this law
Third-Support Of secondary education by the
State Direct in the form OF free high schools,
taking the place of the old academy system, and
aIordng free education to all, in MIR. johnson {.
own words, "from the primer to the threshold of
the college proper"
These comprise the three great measures that
| his mind wrought out and that have become en-
| grated permanently into the common school sys-
| tenn of the State. Under Mr.. John sons admins
traton was inaagurated the movement looking to
the clifton Of the old district system, allowing
towns to abolish the same at their will and pleas
ure. The towns are slowly but surely adopting
the change Towns also have the privilege OF
adopting free text books, the municipality or dis
trict furnishing books to the scholar, instead OF
the parent Through Mr.. Johnson's influence the
compulsory educational law was passed.
| Through Mr.. Johnson's persistent efforts, in
1869 the Office Of County Supervisor was estab-
| llshed in each county, an effective medium be-
tween the town superintendent and the State Su-
derintendent No agency ever proved so poten-
tisl for the up lifting of the schools or to inspire
| the teachers in their work. The teachers inst-
tutes o. training schools, conducted by eminent ed
ucators in our State and from beyond State,
| held in the several counties, the means of a
greater revival in the cause of education, than Il
| other causes combined. This system was three
years in operation, when, much to the regret of
Mr.. Johnson, it cut of in the midst of its use.
fitness by that little word so often misused econo-
n.y. The general forces set in motion by his an
nual reports, which were eagerly sought for and
extensively read and copied from, cannot be
measured. As an educator, Mr.. johnson was en-
thus iastic, far-seeing and courageous. lie would
sometimes work for the passage of law which at
the time would seem utterly frutless and ineAi-
cent; but wait little, and an enactment would
| soon follow that had the teeth and the snap to it,
The first was cypher; the second figure one.
placed at the left of the cypher. In all his plans
he looked with keen eye ahead to the results,
even before the preliminary steps were taken.
He was upright and downright, too much so per-
haps for present personal popularity. He was
persistent and plucky; knowing when he was
thoroughly whipped in any measure, but quick on
his feet again, ready to achieve victory in the
midst of defeat. Those who fought his measures
always gave him credit for deep convictions and
honest and upright purposes. We have seen HIM
bearing burdens of losses and disappointments
that wcnd crush men of less pluck and recupera-
tive energy. Bat with all his cares he was a
| genial man socially. When one came into close
social relations with him, the apathy engendered
by the sharp corners in his argumenta,ive and in
cisive style would be forgotten. lie was often
accused of being visionary, but he was simply
logical, taking facts as he found them and cal nv