The Portland daily press., 1897-12-31

nence of the speakers and the interest OF
the subject made it memorable meet
ing. The Governor was present and par
ticipated in the discussion. taking a po-
sition in defence of the intelligence OF
the people of Maine and their school sys-
tenn which was at variance with that OF
the preceding speakers and which was re-
ceived with applause
The discussion was opened by State Su-
perintendent Stetson, who spoke OF the
present condition of the rural schools.
Mr.. Stetson laid before his hearers some
figures which were calculated to dampen
the ardor of the optimists who claim
Maine to take the lead Of the country lin
matters educational. MIR. Stetson quoted
statistics to show that while in 1910,
Maine had the smallest percentage of
illiteraoy of any state in the Union, she
now stands IA in the list. Other New
England states suffer in the same show
ing, Vermont standing Gath and New
Hampshire the 26th. These statistics
include both native and foreign born
citizens, but it is estimated that there
has been an increase in illiteracy among
the native born. In 1910, Maine had
three illiterates to 500 of population.
Today the number is IS to 500. Mr.. Stet-
son also told his hearers that the state has
an investment of 81, 5oo,0oo in sails, coun-
ty buildings and grounds, and that the
administration of the criminal law costs
the state S25, SEQ annually. The state has
So, SEQ, 600 worth of school buildings and
grounds, and it costs 81, $50, 900 annually
to run them. The United States census
shows that there are Is states withSa
smaller percentage of iIliterates than
Maine. It also shows that while in 1910
we had one criminal in $500 of popula-
ton, today we have one in every 400.
Mr. Stetson paid high tribute to
Maino teachers. In giving his estimate
of the quality of the teaching force of
the state, he said it stood second to no
state in the Union, if to any country in
the world. Our best stand first, but
we've not enough Of them. We have too
many listed by the local superintendent
as in the GLASS of the Inefficient
One OF the methods proposed for the
Improvement Of the r1ral schools is the
uniting of towns into groups to be served
by one school superintendent. Te show
the possibilities of this plan and the sue
cess attained under it in Massachusetts,,
Mr. Geo. H. Martin, supervisor of the
schools. of Boston, was introduced to
speak on the topic: ''How can towns be
ind TO 10 FIR, re
ploying a superintendent" Mr.. Martin
spoke Of the conservatism of the New
England people which made them slow
to adopu new methods, Another obstacle
to the adoption of the system is the spirit
of false economy.
On the other hand, the New England
people, both native and foreign born, are
heartily in favor of good schools. Then
in favor of the plan is the fact that where
the superintendent have been employed
the results have been beneficial to a de-
gree potent to all. Get the people to
realize the needs of the schools as Mr.
Stetson has pointed them out. Make a
campaign of education on this line and
the work will be done.
DIR. G. C. Rounds of New York was in
PRODUCED by Superintendent Stetson as a
Maine born man, trained in Maine,
schools and long connected with Maine
school SYSTEM man who had since made
an international reputation. DR.. Rounds
was greeted with applause. His topic
was the rural school of the future. The
first thing to improve 1t the country school
must have full school year. England
200 days in a year to share in the i'm
perial grant. Canada also has solved the
problem of the full school year Then
| to bring about the model rural school, the
teachers should be required to know how
to teach as we'll as to havea suitable
educations themselves. In order to get
good teachers the normal school system
must be extended The rural school OF
| the future win teach what to read as
well as how to read; it will have it's
school. garden; its model school house and
it's qualified teacher.
Miss Mary S. Snow of Bangor, spoke
on what the city should do for the town.
Every city superintendent should make
himself felt in the towns contiguous to
his city as the merchant invites sthe
traders to make his store their head
quarters. From this intercourse should
come net work of professional sympathy
extending over the whole state. The
sample books which are sent to superin-
tendents and which are oftenti,nes sold to
second hand book stores might be put to
better use by being sent to rural district
where books are sorely needed. These
were the suggestions contained in al ad-
dress whose eloquenoe and wit made it
one of the best OF the session.
| Governor Powers then arose to tell the
teachers what, in his opinion, the country
has done for the city. The Governor said
that perhaps he did not take the same
view of the country schools as some of the
speakers, not being ready to admit that
their condition was as bad as had been
| painted He had faith in the men who