Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1894-03-01
Correspondence.
Death of the District School.

To the Editor Of The american.
The town system of public schools has come
all over the State. 1t has been long time on
the way, but II has arrived at last in 1894,
about 100 years from TIE time It disappeared
In the evolution Of the district system. 1t has
been more than quarter of q century since
the enthusiastic leaders OF educational reform
10 this State began the attempt to squeeze the
more than 4.0e0 little school municipalities
into one-tenth that number of school precincts;
or. IN other words. 10 revive the town system.
The skulls OF our legislators have been an
nualy pounded with the oft-repealed logic of
theoretical and practical educators to reduce
them 10 the required ihinness TO receive this
Cosmopolitan idea OF educational management.
Many advantages and much good perspectivels
have been protested by round theorists Ms to
the results of this new change in the order OF
school management. II probably has the con-
sent or scque-ceuee OF nue-tenths those i'm
mediatey and emphaticaily interested In pop
uiar education. aud the condemnation of two
thirds of the cilz n tax -payers IN towns where
tue district system has not been abolished.
la quite number OF towns the town $, stem
towns 1t has been tried and subsequently,
sboIi,bed, but 10 most towns where IL has
orvn adopted II ha. becun- ii x ure. Whether
At NH prove universal success, adapted 10
,he varying condition, aud .xlgvuci-s OF the
10" Us throughout the State, Is question that
the future alone can solve. But the idea has
become 80 thoroughly engrafted upon the du.
catlonaI thought OF the age, aud the town
system adopted b, 50 man, towu>, that the
AN viii I've likely to remain IN force Tor
generation, At least, unless a powerful effort is
nade at the next session of the legislature for
lis repeal.
But the probability i It has come TO stay,
because our people are fast learning that 10
battle against the inevitable Is a hopeless, task.
as well h an exciting Inconvenience. The
great pendulum OF human progress keeps on
swinging, marking The steps of the race, aud II
one strikes 1t il only flies back to rebound with
renewed force.
Let Us accept the town s. the be-, unit of
our common school system. and extract all the
pleasure aud comfort We can from its peaceful
| introduction; but let Us not get our hopes 80
ui-h that The ladder of realization will not
reach halfway TO the summit.
r"s'' 'e' u not expect mat our SCHOOLS VIII
be supplied With much better grade OF teach.
e''' We nave f''d VARIOUS schemes 10 Maine
70 produce that rare>t OF ali products the
ideal teacher-in sufficient numbers to meet
tue demand. OF the times. but they don't mi-
'''''''Ne 'AS' enough W IAc' 'he re'a'Ne per
eu'A-e o' fAu' S'hAf' teachers Is 'Ad'! on
| tft..
'"' N'''n'
ine P'oi'ssioh OF 'eAeh'hs requires more
''aih> 'oan a"s o'hef profession on eaFtn' har-
H'N@'" 70 Tue greatest nerve FORCE personal
| =" '"u enthusiasm Aui 'he dfme''
"'' 'e"1'''S' 'lo'A a. i1"'''es' ahd thf pffe
'A'u 'o' '"e 'A'e N any t"id greater el-e" heFr
nan 10 the seAo''-Fo'in Nifmtl training.
'"eis INSTITUTES oe''ei "a-'s' nave greatly
| 'hP'V'eu me material 'hro"h ihi" me maFAct,
~ '"'' intense ambition 'oF lame thst per
''N'' p'Ne' 'h'' moves tne ma->e'' ths' of't-
49, - a." '"a' = MOI sA''u - l" suFu u" 'Sh'
"''"'" '"s ioui walls Oh a-ehoo''hou'e SEEK
''"' ~ par 'i '"s 'eaf 1tf- no" III 'h'
"''N ''o' "'i's ot IN t'e'' 10 Fr@Sh the hi&h"'R
'0'"'s III '"' 'AuHT' Oh ihe'F profession con
''"' u 'H'f 'Ae oi' Feaea thfi !HiA' 'tsGe Wen
'''-"' ana 'nefe 10 rel their iaoIe'' anu
''.'' ''''I"''
N'eu'' '''''''' aud Deter supervision on Tue
P'F' Oh supervisors ma! help Them out same
""''' ""' Tue more 'AA'H"S drhthd7 "nI
'"''P'' o''''i'h' oil the same "fn'er vi" no
H"'o' uiNF "u' man! s'"hS a>r'fAh'> VINO
"'' "A'' '''"' 'o' insure u'Nc"pli' Ut
| t"' '"'-' "u'"o''' anu greater PERSONAL