Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-10-02
8ailu . yfniltbtr Journal.
Aasusta. Monday Morning, Oct 2.



The report of the Commissioner Of
Education, covering the year 1880. which
has recently been ISSUED from the gov
eminent printing Office, devotes consider
able space to the subject Of rural schools.
The remarks Of the Commissioner upon
this point apply to this State. in which the
schools are mostly in rural districts. The
evils attending rural schools have been
pointed out in previous reports. but dur
ing 20 and 80 more attention was given
10 them than before, and improvement has
already commenced.
One of the evils is the district system.
Its disastrous effects" says the Com
missioner. 'are summed up in reports
from every section: small schools, short
terms. meagre salaries, poor teachers in
cessant change. multiplicity of irrespon-
sible officers. and instruction devoid of
spirit and lacking the conditions necessary
10 steady progression. The township sys-
tenn Is universally recommended as sub
stitute for the district, and the time seems
to have come when the Legislatures Of
The States should meet the demand"
The efficiency of the schools. the Com
missioner thinks. would be greatly in
creased by proper attention to the order
and continuity of studies; on this point
the experience of other countries is in
structive; In our own country graded
courses Of study have accomplished excel
lent results wherever they have been tried,
and there seems to be no excuse for delay
in their universal adoption.
The branches taught in the country
schools are few in number (being IN gen.
eral only photography. reading, writing,
grammar. geography, and arithmetic),
and it requires but little thought to sys-
tsmatize the instruction or to adjust a
model scheme to the requirements of par
SECULAR schools.
The lack Of competent teachers in the
rural schools is common complaint.
Il arises from the insufficient num-
Der of trained teachers. bad modes
OF appointment, low salaries, short school
years and uncertain tenure of office.
On this subject the suggestions Of the
Commission are very important. In his
judgment the present modes of appoint
ment are open TO severe criticism. In
most of the States the matter rests virtu-
ally with county superintendent or local
trustees but, as no standards of qualifica-
ton obtain for these officers, their judg-
ment of teachers is exceedingly unreliable.
Efforts have recently been made in certain
of the States to place this matter Of APP
pointment on a better basis. In Connec-
ticut the council of education recommends
to the legislature the passage of an &C, in
regard to the examination of teachers.
In Vermont the association of teachers
has prepared plan to be submitted to the
legislature, looking to improved methods
of appointment and licensing of teachers.
It must be admitted that, with all defects
in training and in modes of appointment.
the teachers are better than their wages.
Rural schools suffer from the frequent
change of teachers. The practice of en-
ploying men for winter and women for
summer terms prevails in many places.
and where the same teachers serve through
both terms engagements are seldom made
for more than single school year. This
arrangement appears to have resulted
from the voluntary principle, which has
operated freely in public school affairs.
As soon rs the evil consequences of the
uncertain tenure attracted attention, like
every other established custom. it found
defenders. Thus. it has been urged that
the annual appointment affords an easy
means of Kidding the schools of incom-
petent teachers. The assertion would
have weight did not the facts offer abun-
dant evidence to the contrary.
All the suggestions and recommends
tons mentioned above are, We think,
fully concurred in by the best educators
in our State, and may be found in the re-
ports Of our Superintendents of Common
Schools running back several years. yet
the evils complained of still exist and
will exist until an earnest effort is made
by the people and the Legislature to inaa-
.gurate and sustain better order Of
things.