Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1880-01-22
Maine State Educational Association


The Thirteenth Annual Session Of the
Maine Educational Association was held
at the High School House, at Gardiner,
Dec. 30 and 81, 1879, aud Jan. i. 1880 y E
A large number of teachers and friends
OF education we're present, including the
State Supt. Z. $. Morris, and our ubiqui-
tous Military Governor Chamberlain. who
gave an entertaining address on "Eduoa-
tion In France.n Among the various pa
pers read In the Association was one by
Lyman b.. Shehan OF Portland. on Com
puls0ry Education" showing the fearful
neglect of the law in this regard, especial
ly among French children in the towns OF
Maine.
In the discussion that ensued. Hon. W.
]. t;Ortbell favored the passage OF All act
that would make the distribution OF the
school fund by the State depend upon the
compliance. ON the part Of cities and
towns. with the provisions Of the trusnt
act. The distribution should be based
upon the aggregate number OF days Of
school attendance IN each city and town.
This would secure the attention Of the
municipal officers whose duty It Is to en-
force the law. This rule is enforced Id the
province OF New Brunswick, and secures
an average OF thirty-seven and a. half
weeks Of school during the year. II the
legislature Of the State would change the
present law, and make the distribution OF
the public money depend upon q strict
compliance with the law, irreguiarity and
truancy would practically end.
C. &. Rounds OF Pennington. also read q
paper on the DUTY CT the State to the
Public Schools" Claiming that q provision
should be made for manual education,
especially rs = large proportion OF our
people live by manual labor.
Among the resolutions adopted BY the
Association We note the following IS being
OF universal interest:
Resolred-That, inssmuch as all republican
freedom aad national prosperity Is, Is history
shows, dependent upon widely -diftused iutelIi.
gence among the people, II Is the manifest duty
of any political party holding the control OF
our State government TO pass such laws and
uAAt SUCH Appropriations as required Oy our
State constitution 4, shah give the highest eff
cheney to our public schools, normal schools,
and other schools and semin ar les dependent
on the fostering care Of the State.
Reso1ced-That this Associsi ion recognizes
In the free high school an important and neces-
sary part OF our public-schoOl system that It's
success and influence 10 the State were highly
satisfactory; and that its re-establishment
would be eminently wise and judicious.
Nor is this opinion confined to the edu-
Gators OF our own State. The N +.
Journal OF Education says:
Let 1t be borne IN mind that the first
demonstration Of Governor Garcelon and
his group OF "fusion' statesmen IN the
standardization of republican government
In the pine-tree State was wholesale
crusade against its excellent system OF
public Instruction. Only the determined
resistance of the better side of the Com.
monwealth prevented that eminent body
from escorting Maine to the educational
back seat among Northern States 1t
should surprise nobody that an admins
tration that began with such an attempt to
put out the light would inevitably end In
the darkness Of revolution.
The following officers were chosen for
the ensuing year:
Pesident-W. ]. Cortheil, of Gorhsm.
Vice President NJ. e. Fernald, OF Orono.
Secretary and Iredsurer-W. .. Fletcher,
Of Biddeford.
,Erecutire Committee-E. s. Morris, of
Biddeford; X. Woodbury., of Castine; @.
b. Files, OF Augusta.
State Editor and Agen. Of JourHGl-W.
o. Fletcher.
The Committee on Time and Place OF
Meeting reported the time to be the cor
responding week one year hence, and
PiNsfield to be the place, which was
adopted.