Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-05-16
AaiIp &ennebef Journal.
Augusta, Monday Morning, Nay IT,
Our Common Schools.

and suggestions in relation to the public
schools of the State, which are worthy
Of careful and wide consideration. AL
though we think we have very good
school system. one through which the
money raised for the support Of schools
Is wisely expended. we have but to ex-
anime this report to learn that we are mis-
taken in our opinion. and that much must
be done to make our schools what they
should be and get the best return possible
for the money spent upon them Super
intendent Luce does not mince matters
bit. He tells the truth let it hit where it
may. He makes an honest as well as an
able report. If it be read and needed it
will do n world of good.
II il remarkable fact that while
the population Of the State. according to
the census returns, has increased during
the last decade 22,030, the number Of
scholars between the ages Of four and
twenty-one has decreased in the same
time l,06s. More grown people. less
children: is there not cause for the de-
crease of children, that others beside edu-
Gators should look to? The effect Of this.
says Superintendent Luce. is ''wholly bad,
land especially so wherever in the State
THAT monument of educational foolish
..ness, the school district system, still
Stands firmly fixed in ignorance and
'spreindice. Small schools, short and
'.poorly taught are the result. Statistics
ION file in this office. collected by my
''predecessor last year from 292 towns.
..show 702 summer terms of school
lin which the average attendance
ranged from two to ten pupils"
II this state Of things continues unchecked
for the next ten years. the Superintendent
gives it as his opinion that 1.-The result
twill be that what is true of 200 Of our
.srural schools now. will be true of more
ethan half of them at the end of that pc
'sriod. unless an adequate remedy shall be
Tin the meantime provided" The law
enacted by the legislature of 1880 to pre-
vent this state of things he regards as a
mere make shift remedy" one that evil
riirove Intellectual" In his opinion and in
Ills own language, Nothing but the en-
'.tire roofing up of our old outworn dis
strict system and the compulsory substitu-
'-tion OF the township system ofschool man.
..agement in its stead, will serve as an
defective counteractive to the tendency
''under discussion"
In regard to attendance upon the
schools, we find that only seventy per cent
are reached by them. Few children after
they have reached the age of eighteen
are found in them. and many who are
Younger do not attend This is the fault
in part of parents and partly because of a
lack in the schools. Parents who take
proper interest in the education of their
children will see that they attend school
but too many parents are shockingly ne
glectfu of the education Of their children
and allow them to lose the golden oppor-
tunity afforded them by the schools to be-
come capable men and women. Some
measures are necessary to arouse such
parents to sense of their duty. to sense
Of the gross lack of interest they have in
the welfare of their offspring. But in
many country districts the children out
grow the poor schools provided for them,
and here comes in the need of the
higher schools contemplated in the
Free High School law. but which
NAV be established or not as the
people concerned may choose. The Free
High School is necessity to the perfec-
ton OF our system. 1t is not discarded
and will not be as long rs we strive to
round out our system of schools and make
them what they ought to be. 1t is some
what encouraging to find that there was
some slight improvement in attendance
the last year As compared with previous
years. and the more satisfactory because
il is directly traceable to active agencies
set afoot by our educators and not due to
accident The goodcausc moves forward,
slight though the progress be. For
this let us be thankful and take cour-
age.
The Superintendent makes strong APP
peal for longer schools, but for no increase
of expenditure Of money until the money
now raised is well expended. 1T would
"be," he says, "of doubtful eNpediency to
.'provide more money for school purposes
It'll we stop somewhat the great wastage
Tin present supplies. Till that
..incubus. the district system. is lifted
"from our common schools, they will
never be in full and healthy working
condition and our people are beginning
Ito recognize this TACT. Already the dis
.'trict system is among the things of the
..past in thirty-five of our towns. four of
..them having abolished il during the
"year. 1t ought to be at once abolished
''in every town in the State"
We have not room i'm this article to no
tice many other parts of this excellent
report which are worthy of special atten-
non aud full OF wise recommendations.
suggestions and criticisms. The main
Recommendations in the report are sum-
med up in the following.
First. To abolish the school districts.
and nut the schools under township man.