Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-02-08

statistics and to argue that the benefits re-
ceived from free high schools are not com
mensurate with the outlay for their support,
and that the system acts uncqually on the
people.
Mr. lvEs of Castine, defended the system
and would be sorry to see ii abolished There
was free high school in his vicinity, and it
would be sustained whether the State assists
it or not. But he was interested in this mat
ter. We must worship God and educate our
children. His knowledge forced him 10 the
conclusion that our common schools are in
terior to those of other States not because
our system is wrong, but because they are not
up to the standard. And in order that they
may be raised up we need high and normal
schools. Our common schools go down just
in proportion the standard of our high
schools are depressed. five are to have econ
omy, let us not take il out of our children.
Mr. HAYES of Vassalboro' was opposed to
the free high school law as now existing, and
SO were his constituents, because they believe
that the money thus expended could be bet
ter expended in the cause of education. One
hundred towns out of the $50 towns that
awaited themselves of the benefits of the law
have abandoned their schools. If every town
aysiled itself of the law, less opposition to
the system would arise: but there would still
be contention among themselves incident to
the location of such schools. 1t had been
enacted as a theory, and as such looked WELL
but after being put into practice it has failed.
Mr.. BoyNToN of Bangor opposed the sys-
tenn. We are not alone in the discussion of
the question of education. 1t is already cX
ercising New York and Massachusetts.
And while all are willing To spend the last
dollar we can spare to educate the masses, it
is Il fact that we have failed in our system.
1t does not reach the masses. All have done
what was in their power for that cause, from
which has come these schemes of high and
normal schools, and we have been imposed
upon by them. The primary object is to edu
cate every bare footed boy in the State This
system does not reach him. And if there
ever was a poor old State that suffered il is
the State of Maine from education run mad
He submitted whether the State should longer
continue the losing game.
Mr.. PERRY of Camden, said if there could
be a high school in every town in the State
then there could be no objection to them, be-
cause all would then be served alike. Blu;
he was opposed to them and always had been
because all are not served alike. and it is
made unequal. He believed in building up
our common schools.
Mr.. lIrrCHINsoN of Lewiston, was very
much interested in the subject because he be-
lieved it Il matter that interests every one di-
rccty or indirectly in the State. He knew
there were various opinions on the subject of
free high schools, as in all matters of educa-
ton. We have for years been attempting to
advance the cause of general education, com
mon school cducation and after trial siX
years find that all the plans that have been
attempted, all the theories that have been
raised, all the expectations that have been
built up are sought to be overthrow. He
4 = ,f cob, in,
until lie was 20 years old; but he did not
deem that good enough for his and others
children. The high school act was passed in
1873 From time to time they have been es
tablishcd and their success had been varied,
sometimes being kept up and sometimes not
The opposition here was not surprising: be-
cause in every city, town and hamlet there
are always men opposed every time to the
raising of money for school purposes beyond
the mercst pittancc
He found that the town from which came
the gentleman who introduced the order for
the repeal of the free high school act, raised
Sl04 last year for the support Of schools,
while it received from the mill tax Sl97. He
asked if, under our present laws, the poor
towns are suffering? The extra outlay for
the support of free high schools amounts
to six cents per capita. Yet gentlemen
against the system think nothing of spending
for one cigar more than the sum total that the
tax upon each would be for one year to help
support these free high schools. lie asked
gentlemen to consider the matter carefully
before sweeping away this system. Consider
wisely, and let it not be charged upon the 18th
legislature, whatever else may be charged
upon it, that it takes one step backward in
their legislation which will tend to overthrow
our system of schools in the State.
Mr.. Brown of Bangor said the last speaker
begged the whole question, because he as
sumed that these schools must 60 down if aid
from the State is withheld He contended
that they would be able to run without such
aid. The academies formerly in being had
given way to the free high and normal schools
where scholars can be educated at the expense
OF the State, which was wrong. He was in
favor of the State doing its duty, to give every
boy and girl good, practical, elementary
English education.
Beyond this the State was under no obi
CATION to go. If they were not satisfied with
this and wished to go further, it should be
done at their own expense. One person
should not be educated. fed or clothed at the
expense of another. The advantages should
be equal. Mr.. Brown continued at some
length in support of his views.
Mr. FARRINGToS of Fryeburg, in listening
to some of the arguments against free high
schools, said he had thought of this adage,
"Whom the gods would destroy they first
make mad" He thought there was an inten-
ton to inhame the sense of the House to that
pitch that it would become reckless upon IA
proposition that needs the most candid con-
sideration. He regarded this as a charge up
on the outer works of the Notifications of the
common school system in the State, charge
that would bring down our common school
system to simple primary school. And it
would be found that .vcry gentleman speak
ing against free high schools comes from
those places that are burdened by the mill
tax, question that must soon be met. AMI
he had been told that the Committee having
the matter in charge, had voted unanimously
to report a suspension or repeal of that law.
This was why he called it charge on the
outer carthworks. If the free high schools
were abolished, the same arguments used
would be used for the repeal of the mill tax.
Mr. Harrington then proceeded to argue the
advantages of the system of free high schools
to the poorer class of towns in the way of
better teachers, SC.
MIR MorTToS of ScarborO' favored the