Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-12-16
Education.

The duties and responsibilities of thu
grange in regard to matters of educatio J
are most important and must be faith
fully met.
No influence or agency has done 50
much to extend to the farmer the mean ;
and advantages of a true education an l
to awaken an appreciation of the inn
portance of availing himself of those ad-
vantages as has the grange.
This is true not only in regard to the
details and principles of his own calling,
but also in relation to all those matters
which are occupying the best thought CT
the best men and women. those thugs
which tend to elevate humanity amt
bless mankind.
Never has the average farmer read -
much. studied so much, thought so much
| as since the organization of the grange.
The culture he is receiving and the in
centive TO study obtained through the in
fuence of the weekly or fortnightly
meetings is of incalculable advantage.
While the members of the oranges are
thus receivini, this great subjective benc-
fiji; from their connection with the order.
1t must ever be borne in mind that the
grange has another great educational
work to perform and that is along the
line of its influence upon the rural school :
of the State. More and more are sood
and thoughtful citizens coming to appre-
ciate the fact that the very citadel of ttie
strength of our republican institutions
and OF our free representative form Of
government lies in our rural schools. AT
the same time these same thoughtful
| citizens are awaking to the fact that our
rural schools are far from being what
they should be. and that the relation of
the average rural community to IFS COM
| mon schools is fairly entitled to the
sharpest criticism.
Many of the older men and women of
our New England towns are looking
back regrctfully to the odd red school
house, and to the rugged advantages of
d practical education which they there
enjoyed. under circumstances calculated
to bring out the firmest and most endur
| ing qualities of manhood and woman
hood.
That Old school house. with its deal
benches carved and notched by the busy
| jackkniveS of numerous generations and
| its threshold worn by the footsteps Of
many feet whose Wanderings nave long
since ceased, was mighty Factor in the
moulding OF the characters of the boys
and girls of its time.
Thus sang Names tuneful poet, David
Barker, than whom no man had sweeter
appreciation of'ithe homely customs of
the olden time:
Had 1 this tough old world to rule.
My sceptre. sword and mallet
Should be the dear old district school,
Gods bible and the ballot.
While. however. we acknowledge the
great worth of the old time school. yet
we must bear in mind that. with the on
ward march of our advancing civiliza-
ton. whether for the better or for the
| worse. the entire environment has
changed and we are brought face to face
with different conditions.
The old time schoolmaster with his
pronounced individuality and his self
| assertive influence over the parents as
well as the children. has passed out over
that old. worn threshold never to return.
With him have passed their places not
to be supplied by others. the eager throngs
| or AZ. ~ and sometimes even 10 boys and
girls. from four years old to 20, who trod
| those narrow aisles in the days that are
gone. Now the abandoned school houses
| in many localities and in others the
schools of from eight to % scholars, very
| few of whom are above the age of IA
years, mark the difference between the
| old time conditions and those of today
| But we who have these matters to deal
with at the present time must take these
| conditions as We find them and do our
Continued on page 5.)