Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1894-01-04

the longest act that had ever as ,el be n
engrafted upon the school laws Of Massa-
chusetts. In this they authorized the
school district system. ordered that every
town containing fifty families should be
provided with a school-msster or school
masters of good morals to teach children
to read and write, and to instruct them in
the English language as we'll as In arith.
metic, photography and decent behavior,
for such terms IS shall be equivalent to
six months in such year.
1t further provided that the president,
professors and tutors of the university at
Cambria se, and all other teachers ard in
structors of youth, shall take dligent care
to impress upon their minds the principles
of piety, justice, love of truth, country,
humanity and universal benevolence, So
briefly, industry, frugality, chastity, mod
Grafton AID temperance, aud those other
virtues which are the ornament of society
ltfurther provided that no person shall be
employed a school-master unless he shall
have recei, ci an education at some college
or university, or shall produce a certificate
from learned minister well skilled in the
Greek and Latin languages. residing in the
town,or from two ministers in the vicinity
that they have reason to believe the caudi-
| date is qualified to discharge the duties
devolved upon such school master by this
act, and the candidate shall produce a
| certificate from a settled minister in the
town or district where he resides, or from
the selectmen of such town or district, that
he sustains good moral character
II also provided for the inspection of
schools by ministers or selectmen. 1t also
provided for the raising of money for
school purposes, by assessment.
In $500 an act was passed increasing the
powers OF school districts. and in 1877 the
school district was further perfected
Al the beginning Of the present century
lGl towns had been Incorporated in the
present limits of Maine, and public schools
were established and managed in all of
them according TO the laws of the com
monwea!th. Ia only seven can any record
be found Of grammar school.
MAINE A STATE.
In 1870 the State Of Maine was formed
and in ls2l the first school law Of Maine
was enacted, which contained the frame
work and substance Of our school laws TO-
day
|. Ii provided for the minimum
amount per inhabtant, for school pur-
poses-foity cents-iust one half what i,
required to-day.
z. II provided that not exceeding one
third Of school money may be expended IN
summer school to be taught hy mistress.
or when the sum SO allotted 10 districts
shall not exceed thirty-ive dollars, the
whole may be expended in the same ln4n-
ner.
3. II preserved the section Of the Old
law which provided for the moral in
struction OF youth.
4. Il provided for experimenting
school committee OF not less than three
nor more than seven, with about the same
powers a. are conferred upon similar
officers under our present school laws
IL provided for the necessary sup
ply Of school books. when through poverty
or neglect the parents fail 10 furnish
them.
t. Il provided for the certhcatlon of
teachers not only By the experimenting
>chao! committee, bat also from some
pen u of liberal education, literary pur.
SUITS and good moral character residing 10
the county.
= Il provided for the enforcement #
The >capol AK by certain forle!lurre. - be
recovered i,l Indictment "a,