The Portland daily press., 1881-03-11
How Shall We Reform the School
SystemP -oG

To the Editor Of the Press:
suppose that nearly everyone who has any
special interest in the common schools of the
State feels that the system is far from perfect,
and it is not strange that that feeling finds
vent every year in attempts to secure some
further educational legislation.
But Legislatures come and go, and, as a rule
the desired reforms seem as far away as ever.
Ii were to ask an explanation of the fact, L
can fancy some one answering after
this fashion, "There has been no persistency
in these attempts to secure legislative action;
the leading friends of education have hardly
seemed to know what they do want. A few
years ago State uniformity of text books was
the cry; that issue has been practically
dropped. More recently, demand was made
for county boards for the examination of teach
ers, on the ground that the town school com
mittees were NOT fit for that duty, and this win
ter a law was asked for, to take the hiring of
teachers from the district agent, and give it
into the hands of these same incompetent
school committee men. Next time it will be
something else."
This answer would not cover the ground.
nor would it be fair in its summary of the
measures that have from time to time been
brought before the Legislature. Still there
are grains of truth in it. 1t seems to me that
if anything is to be accomplished by legisla-
tive aid, the leading educators must decide
what is the one measure that will do the most
for the schools, and then stick to it until it is
carried. 10 put it conversely, doubt the pol
ICY OF having new educational project for
each Legislature to sit down upon.
Turfhar | To halt tI,ot
too much stress is laid upon assistance from the
Legislature, and that it is possible to effect the
most satisfactory and permanent results with
out it.
The three measures that have been men,
toned were undoubtedly directed against radi-
cal weaknesses in the school system. Each has
been refused the sanction of the Legislature,
but the refusal has by no means cut off ali
remedy. For instance, while it would be an
improvement to entrust the employment of
teachers to school committees rather than to
the agents, presume that no advocate of
that measure would deny that far greater ad-
vantage is gained by abolishing the school dis
tricts and making the town the unit in the
system. - %
Now the latter plan could not at present be
brought about by Legislative enactment, but
1t can be and has been adopted by individual
towns, to the satisfaction, believe, of every
intelligent citizen. This measure, unlike the
other, removes all possibility of conflict of
authority, gives schools of uniform length and
quality throughout the town, and secures
something like permanency in the teaching
force. Furthermore, the change once made is
likely to be lasting one. 1t seems to me that
1t would be better to transfer from the Legis-
lature to the town meeting, the struggle to put
the employment OF teachers where it belongs.
1t would require no great effort to have the
question presented definitely within year in
half OF the towns of the State; certainly no
more effort than would be needed to awaken
among the people feeling in favor of any ed
ucational reform, sufficient to give it ghost of
chance before the Legislature 7I
In this way the question would be brought
directly before the sovereign people; the dis
cusslon could not fail to be of value, whatever
the decision at first, and if the measure were
persistently urged it would in most cases be
carried at last
The people will consent to change a part of
their town policy themselves, far more readily
than they will submit to such change VIXEN
imposed upon them.
Every town that adopts the new system be-
comes powerful lever to aid in the move
ment. l- .T".l sl. n
A word in regard to the other two meas
ures that were spoken of. h falnH0-
State uniformity OF text books has become in
this State dead ISSUE" but the evils 1t was
meant to remove still live. The plan of sup
plying pupils with text books by the town,
adopted with excellent results by Bath and
Lewiston, would, If generally accepted, do
away with any need of, or desire for, State un-
iformity. a17 .'II'I'
Here again is an opportunity for work in the
towns.
The establishment of county boards of exam
ination was designed to draw a line between
competent and incompetent teachers, and to
put the business of teaching on something like
professional basis. 1t did not need even the
son of a prophet to predict what would be the
fate OF that measure in the Legislature
But some of the leading teachers of the
State have recently formed an association (the
Maine Pedagogical Society ON plan similar
to that adopted by members of other profess
sions, which, if the hopes of its founders are
realized, will in time do much toward estab-
fishing professional standard.
To sum up what have been trying to ex-
press: r .r
believe that, at any rate for the next few
years. friends of education should look to the
town house rather than to the state house for
legislation; that the necessary public senti-
ment can be awakened by appeals directly to
the people through the press and educational
meetings, better than by petitions and ad-
dresses before legislative committees; and that
educators by thorough and extended organiza-
tion can do more than in any other way to
make, in educational progress, the future put
the past to shame. r.