Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1878-01-08


February 9;h, 1871, be 80 amended rs 10 sup
crail 10 the powers thereby conferred on
the Justices Of supreme judicial court, Ru-
thority 10 dissolve attachments and 10 fix
limit of time for the presentation OF claims
to the receivers. (: IL not clear thst such
authority j. included in the general powcr-
with which the Justice, are invested by the
section Tcfe-rd -.
The schools.
one of the first and mos. conclusive tests
that are applied 10 a state 10 determine is
general quality and the degree OF progress II
has arrived ats the inquiry into the meas
ures il adopts u promote and diiiuse educa
ton, and the amount of the public contrlbu
ton towards the support of schools. The
wise and liberal policy pursued by our own
state may well cause the test 10 be invited
rI;Ec. than avoided.
Leaving the management and control OF
the schools to their respective communities,
the State yet exercises strengthening and
healthful Influence upon them in many ways.
Even by the simple aud just requirement OF
vouchers for the lawful use of the aid it sup
plies, It incidentally produces an important
and beneficial effect in that il compels care.
method and accountability IN the conduct OF
the affairs relating to schools. wide aud
legitimate field OF usefulness Is before L II
providing for better quality of instruction.
The fact has long been apparent u all con
vcrsan, with the subject, that the difficulty oi
procuring competent teachers ) the cn!ri
hindrAncc 70 the Improvement OF the COM
mon schools. Tho State has attempted q
meet the want by the institution Of tao nor
nal schools Tor training teachers, but their
inaltquqcv il evident when their capacity :
compared with the army OF teachers required.
The Superintendent OF Common Schools adj
yDcl.es. Gsan CNprdIont for ensurinS the en-
pi0vment ot 4 better class of teachers, the cs-
Enlistment by law Of boards of examination
IN each county, whose certificate shall be IN
tisDcnsab.c 10 every teacher. lie propose
that the members OF the several boards shaii
boz appointed by the Governor and Council,
and shall not be entitled 70 compensation
from the State, hu; shall be authorized TO ca
act In return for their services, the paymeu'
of 4 small Zee by each person examined - ''
Li5 qualifications Tor teacher Nel!-qu4l-
ii IA teachers would gladly hail the OppoFtt-
nitv 90 procure credentials from such BODY.
and municipal officers wOuld welcome a de-
vice that would lessen the ri-N OF employing
incompetent instructors.
The Superintendent also recommends IT,
holding Of Normal Institutes At convenient
places 70 continue not less than four weeks
each The Teachers Institutes OF former
wears held sessions of such brief duration
that they could DO little more than inspire
their attendants with the desire 10 lit them
selves more thoroughly for the profession o.;
tesching. Normal Institutes, conducted &C
cording TO the plan suggested, would not only
awaken the desire for improvement. but sup
ply the means of gratifying IT, Their est
mated annual cost Is two thousand dollars
Both the County Boards OF Examination and
the Normal Institutes seem eminently worthy
of adoption IS ;nstrumentalities for remedy
ING an evil that seriously affects the charac-
ter Of our schools.
The present plan Of distributing the mon
eys contributed By the State towards the sup
hos