Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1880-12-30
Who Shall Hire Tsachera 2

| ~ to transfer the selection IT teachers from
the agent to the 5. s. Committee. Abstract
ly considered, the change appears consonant
with common sense aud sound theory. but
in my Judgment the change would BE- inoppor.
tune at this time. No innovation affecting
change of power and right long exercised.
can be made in democratic government.
unless supported By the general sense of,he
people. Any such contemplated change ought
to be preceded by the most thorough discus
sion and education Of the people. This is
one of those questions in regard to which
the grea, body Of the people are singularly
sensitive. and sadly ignoran, of their inner
en-, rights, and the question should be thor
oughly can,asscd in every school dis,ric, or
town at least in the state, and until this is
done such n change would be imperative to
great exten, or If put in force would result
in great mischief
\ few wears since the Maine Legislature
pursuant to the Recommendation. and spurred
on by the earnest efforts Of that ndefa,igable
educational worker and then State Super
intenden, of Public Schools, Hon. Warren
johnson, made the change referred to- We
all remember the result. That old cry Of
Capitalization Of power which has so often
escaped the lips Of the enemies Of our gov
eminent was echoed and re-eehocd from
every school district in the State. School
Committee men stood trembling under the
weight OF responsibility tina, had been thrust,
upon them unsough,, while the fury of pop
ular feeling was lashing around them In
some cases school houses were threatened
b, lire. and parents declared they would not
send their scholars to school If the commit
tee hired the teachers.
The great body Of the people to whom
the simple Office Of agent had always been
open. and by which they had been linked in
personal interest and sympathy with our
common school system, fe, the change to
be an insult to their intelligence, and blow
a, their rights.
II vas TO them a. If the state had said,
you have abused the prerogaiive invested in
you. and We viii take il from YOU. without
Your consent OF approval, and transfer il TO
ADLER and more competent hands The mass
OF the people whose prcjudiecs had been
aroused in great measure by mischievous
demagogue.. read in the sign. of the times
a tendency to lin the public schools beyond
their reach and guardianship. and place them
IN the absolute care Of a le,tered aristocrac,.
Whether the feeling was just or no, Is not
the question. The fact remains that it ex-
listed TO so great an extent as to impede and
IN many towns, pre-, cnt the operation Of the
Law altogether
The swim repeal or modification Of the
Law at the next session OF the legislature
shows how strong the protest Of the people
had been agains, it, and how useless it is TO
adop, radical changes. until the soil Of the
people has been prepared TO receive them.
Such changes must grow into the people and
no, the people forced into them.
Though 1t has been several years since
tina; experiment; vas tired upon the people
and failed, We, the subjee, has scarcely been
referred 10 in school reports and educational
conventions, these ocn,crs OF educational
thought and agitation. The obnoxious lax
passed on, Of existence with the Indignation
of the public 80 thoroughly stamped upon it,
that nobody has had the courage to revive
IT. Ny first objection then is. the people
arc no, prepared FOR the change. Again
would the change be an improvement upon
the presen, Law in relation TO the subjec,
matter under consideration
The la~ q it nov stands leaves it option
al with towns, TO determine hy vote whether
the agents or the committee shall employ
the teachers. II the influential men, inter
es,ed in the progress Of education in any
town. are convinced that such a change
would improve the condition of our schools,
they could no doubt bring j; about by the
proper amount Of discussion at the annual
town meeting, and without the hearty sup
port Of this element, would the Law il
changed be likely to prove effective and sue
ee.sfll in any town.
Let our pr ointment educators and state
school officers. Who are deeply moved with
the conviction that the change under dis
eussion IS the great remedy for defective
school system. bring the force Of their logic.
and their persuasive appeals TO bear upon
| this class, and through it TO the great mass
Of the people, urging towns to give the
change a fair trial, and test its value. BY
constant, agitation and proper effort under
our present Law the change could be
brought about as fast as If would be praeti-
cable and effective. But If the Law is again
forced upon the people. and again brought
into disrepuie, il will retard greatly the
gradual introduction of the change.
Upon whose shoulders is j, proposed to
transfer this right and privilege so long en-
joyed By the people in common? What is
the personnel Of that class upon whom rests
the important work Of examining teachers,
! and supervising our public schools, and has
it shown itself as class, worthy Of addi-
tional duties and responsibilities One
| would infer from the odious and unjus,
comparisons drawn between the school
agen, and town committee. BY those who
advocate the immediate change, that they
had in view a class Of ideal educators-m
who have manifested a marked interest in
our public schools, and Who are naturally
and professionally qualified for the sphere Of
work which it is proposed to enlarge. The
case is quite the reverse. In a majority of
cases committees are chosen because they
are supposed to have q good education; in
few instances because they are known to
be extremely ignorant Often the ignorance
Of the mass clamors for representative
man, in part as rebuke or check to the ag-
gressive influence Of those who believe in