Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-05-04
Aboiishing the schools"

"D. L. Pike proposed that the expenses should
be Gu. down, and introduced a order which would
practically abolish the schools"
We submit to our intelligent readers in the dis
tlic, who heard the order of Mr.. Pike read at the
meeting, that stated the case very mildly in the
above pal aglaph. We should be pleased to re-
produce the order, but diligent inquiry fails to
bring it to the light Of day, ami il has probably
been ,qaelched. Even Mr.. Pike, whose sensitive.
ness to public condemna.i ion praise i, not uotori
Gus in Offering the order disclaimed its parentage
though asserting that it expressed his sentiments,
presenting it As the fertile product of snothers
brain II wa. received with ridicule, those present
evidently regarding it as one Of Mr. Pixies attempts
at wit and sarcasm, n field III which he reves
with great pleasure rs duck in the mud. The
order was Withdrawn while the people were split
ting their sides with laughter over Mr.. Pixies
speech accompany ug its presentation. in shor, the
order, at one fen blow, would practically abolish
the schools" by reducing the salaries of teachers to
such extent a. to drive every qualified teacher
from tue city. What's the use of herding the
children together in schools if there are to ach-
ers 10 instruct them Would the Standard have
the people of the villa &c district sell these positions
to the lowest bidder That would carry out the
-pilt of Nj. Pixies order. Probably we could
get drunken lbertine on the street whose name
has been mentioned in connection with the posi-
ton, to take Mr.. Robertson's place 10 the gram
mar school for thousand dollars "A year. That
would be a saving of 800 year, bat it would
ac'ically abolish" the grammar school, The
district might in further carrying out the benef-
cent order of Mr.. Pike, get rid of the high
school teacher by cutting down his salary.
three or four hundred dollars throw the languag-
es out discharge Of the assistants, and estab-
sh the grade to that of an ordinary country
school. Descending with Mr. Pixies "knfe Of
retrenchmcnt," to the Intermediate and primary
schools where the teachers each instructng
from 30 to 60 scholars, without any assistance at
salary of - week, much less wages thai are
made 10y the smart female com 1ositor, in this office
cut down these salaries, would you Mr.. Pike, and
put these teachers on bread and water Here is
where Mr. Pike's grim humor comes in, and we
imagine the gentleman shaking hi, fat sides
with laughter when this most eficctua plan Of
practically abolishing the schools" occurred to
him.
To correct a few Inaccuracies OF the Standard
The Directors asked for precisely the sum this
year that they recommended for lat year-vH :
ST., 600. Although the total expenses of the dis
uict last year were sl0.7lS .0S, yet $4,000 was
asked for to meet probable deficiencies growing
ont of the failure TO realize uucollected taxes
now due the district, and also the less amount to
be received II. the State on account of the
,hriukage Of the deposits 10 savings banks which
are taxed. SO the Directors asked for that sum
out of abundant caution, in order to prov ide for
contingencies tha. may possibly arise. The
repairs on school houses last year were tlfing
This year, unes. some steps taken to build a
new high school hou.e,-n order to make the
present school houses mhaJitable, mot to say de-
cent? an expenditure of at least $1,000 will be
needed. And then there are the Attachments
and discounts amounting to $1,000 more, to pro-
vide for. These do not seem to have a place at
all in the Standards calculations. 1t seems to be
blinded entirely by the gigantic and enormou,
sum Of foui hundred dollars, yearly paid oat to
teach singing and encourage the art Of voice
building,
so much for letting little ght in on the
standard article. The friends Of advanced educa-
with opposition in their honest eiflits to advance
the Interests Of education, and maintain liberal
policy towards those institutions in which the
minds of their children are being moulded. These
enemies have come in the form of gentlemen of
luxury and wealth who have retired from active
life and have special interest in the culture Of
the rising generstion-the poor mans son and
daughter though endowed with the highest natural
talents must be deprived of the luxury of the graded
school. The enemies have appeared in the persons
OF those who are not fathers and never expect
to beco me SUCH who look upon their taxes paid fol
schools as so much money wasted lin the well-mean-
ing individual who was educated in "the little red
school house under the HILL" and who doesn't
want the boys and gutl. to have any better advan.
tages then he had. But these enemies of educa-
ton never assumed more rcpulsiye attitude than
when they don the gown aud bell, and the three
coruered hat of the clown, rolling in the luxury OF
wealth accumulated by woishipplng at the shrine
OF the paper credit god, splitting v lie tobacco juice
over the seats ef the school house, and adyocat-
ing retrenchment and reform The people of
the district demonstrated By their vote the other
afternoon that they have not the fullest faith in
that sort Of retreuchment and reform.