Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-12-16
Opening SESSIONS.
CONTINUED from page ~

best best for the Improvement of our schools
r,N.er all the circumstances with which
&.sy are now surrounded.
{. I ne relations between rural eommuni-
Ih s and their schools are extremely
lanty and must be amended before the
nest results can be expected. Compara-
| taSssH few of the parents ever see the
sSCHool In session and have but a faint
tssea of Its work. This Is most unfortu-
nate and the influence of this apparent
detrimental to the best interests OF the
school. 1t shows its effect in the dreary
ana uninviting appearance OF many rural
school houses. whose surroundings are
baasvn of any attempt in the way Of
anfa utifying the grounds or buildings and
Wnose interiors are devoid of any APP
2roacn towas1 decoration or adornment.
patrons, these things ought not 80 to be.
Inc scheci house should be the center of
aftractsen in every rural community.
Araned it should cluster the dearest and
ana by their loving care it should be
made SO attractive that the children
would be lsss to love and prize 1t next to
their owsa homes
Trees and flowers should adorn its
grousss.s and these the children should be
ta9aSnt to protect and to cultivate. Not
interest in the schools by frequent visits.
but the mutual relattans between the
parents and the schools should be SO in
| innate and cordial that all embarrass-
elders as the community are present dur
ihK their exercises would wholly pass
away and feeling of confidence be
tablished in its place.
In addition to this there should I've. al
frequent intervals evenings devoted to
| exercises in which parents and pupils
could unite and =, which all would ae
What an Influence for seoa was ex-
erted upon the old tins school by the
spelling schoo, and the lyceum.
lished IN connection with the rural school
of today. and no agency is more CON
renient for it's Introduction than the
grange. The fact that children are ad-
mitted to the grange at the age of Il and
are at once encouraged to take part in
its literary exercises. together with the
youngest pupils n ~ Schools Whe are given deeS
places upon the programme, is doing
much to establish this feeling of intimacy
and mutual sympathy between the elders
OF the community and the pupils in our
rural schools. This is step in the right
direction and one that should be eN
! by sound discretion.
In the present system OF education In
our rural schools the, principle of aes-
very little. if any. attention Is paid to the
announcement OF polite department. The
condition OF the school house, its out
as to tend to stifie ali growth of the love
for the pure and the beautiful. while the
uncouth manners allowed on the part of
| too many of the pupils exert an influence
contrary to the cultivation of ladylike
and gentleinanly decorum.
| We do not want our children to become
dudes; but, with the great Improvement
in culture In the average farm home.
brought about largely through the in
fiuence of the grange, the time has come
wheh, IN our rural schools, some atten--
ton should be paid to the cultivation of
refined manners and to the encourage
ment of the perception of the beautiful
in nature and in art
ties come to take that degree Of interest
in their schools that it is their duty to
| take, then will they awaken to a lively
appreciation of the fact that among the
principal things now lacking and which
must be supplied before the schools can
do their best work are better, appointed
larger and more tastefully adorned
grounds; the requirement of a stricter
examna ton and a higher rank in the
certiiication of teachers and the employ
ment of school superintendent who are
not only qualified for their work. hut who
shall be required to devote to 1t sufficient
| time to do that work thoroughly and
well.
The proper supplying of these needs
will necessitate am increase in the sal
| aries or teachers and superintendent, for
F.! IN school work as in all other work, We
get just about the quality OF service We
| pay for.
This increase of salaries need not re-
quire an increase i'll the amount OF
money devoted to the support OF common
schools; for the Report of the. State
cess of publication fully proves that the
amount now available for that purpose is
amply sufficient, if judiciously expended
| The great waste of our school fund is
not in the direction of excessive salaries
paid to teachers and superintendent. but
in the many details Of expenditure where
/ business principles seem to be wholly
The burning question of the hour in
| educational circles is the question of how
to improve the condition of the rural
| schools.
The brightest minds throughout the
: | nation are now being focused upon this
/ most important matter. In the grand on
| these nurseries of American citizens the
| grange through its subordinate organ
i izations. can exert mighty influence
i Patrons. let US not make the mistake OF
i Hooking away out to the far horizon Tor
objects upon which to expend our ener-
/ giles. when the most important work oil
all hes right at our doors.
Legislation.
i The influence of the grange in matters
1 of legislation. both national and state,
! has been potent for good and may be
I even more SO in the future if wisely d.
rected. In our own State something mas
been accomplished in this direction ana
J il partial failure has been met with. it is
\ due to the fact that upon some OF the
4 measures promulgated it has so far
proved impossible to secure that concert
l Of action which alone can command sue
cess. At the risk of being. charged with
n repetition of what has been said IN
former addresses. | must emphasize the
point that onlyas the result OF organized
persistent effort in support OF just meas
ures of reform can We hope for success
| Desultory. intermittent action on me
lpart of the oranges, or an incipiert eifof'
in favor of some measure which shall re-
| ceive but Il faint. half-hearted support
will never accomplish anything OF I'M
portance In the way of legislative reform:
in order to have the influence to when
our numbers and our principles entitle
us We must show a solid front suf1clent
TO command respect. ...;.,.o
1t ii not the part of wisdom TO dlsslpa,te
our strength upon many points at the
same time. but rather to agree upon one
or at the most a very few measures OF
| practical value and upon these to con-
Icentrate all our power and influence.
Failure to obtain complete or even
partial success at the first trial SHOULD
not cause disbursement or reiaxation
of effort: but. having decided upon. some z
measure that has in it the clements OF
Justice fairness and good government, d
repuIse in our first advance should onls
oa,,se ne to close up the ranks ana press