The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1897-12-24

10000 Legislation must take into &C
alton. Tolland County, the poorest in
Connecticut, has the heaviest tax rate in
the State for education, viz, SO mills,
as compared with 3.5 mills in Fairfield
County, the second in point of wealth in
| Connecticut. Suffolk in Massachusetts
ton, while Berkshire has 4 Is and Barn
stable AZ, and Suffolk has more than
80 per cent of the wealth of Massachu-
setts. Similar conditions prevail in other
New England States and in cities where
district divisions exist. The poorer sec
ton and gets less for it. At the same
time education is regarded not as a local
matter, but as the interest of the whole
| Commonwealth. How to work out this
problem properly is one of the most i'm
portant questions of public education.
No solution should be thought of which
is unjust. A right solution requires the
best civic spirit and wisdom.
| New conditions have also come into
New England life within the last half
century. In 1910 there were only 426
railroad mileage In New England. In
| 1896 there were 7341 AZ of mileage, be-
sides electric mileage which now equals
in Massachusetts half the steam mileage.
New England is better steam railroaded
than any equal area on the globe, not ex-
az tina pnnnlnna NJ
Europe, making no account of eIectrics.
In New England, living in towns with
steam or electric roads, or both, in Or
along their borders, Maine has &c per
cent of her population, New Hampshire
80, Vermont 70, Massachusetts SO, Rhode
Island 81, Connecticut 95; total for New
England, 81,
The multiplication OF facilities of travel
and ntercommunicatiop, the prevalence
of urban conditions over much of New
England, are important elements in the
better adjustment of education. They
make equal advantages practicable to an
extent hitherto impossible.
To take up this question the New Eng
land Education League has been started.
1t hopes to approach the subject in an
irenic and constructive spirit. It will
, welcome the cooperation of all teachers,
parents and citizens in the effort to &C.
cure, on an equitable basis, the end
above named, approximate equality of
educational opportunity for all New Eng
land youth.
FnttnNpTngr f1 nraff fna
| of the league to date:
MAINE.
Nathaniel Butler, president Colby Univer.
slty, Waterville.
A. W Harris, president University of Maine,
Orono.
Hon w. w. stetson, State superintendent OF
schools, Augusta.
j. W. Howe,president Cobb Divinity school,
lewiston.
L. L.aPaine president Bangor Theological
Seminary, Bangor.
W. G. Corthen, principal State Normal
School, Gorham.
G. c. Chase, president Bates College. Lewis
ton.
w. B. Mitchell, professor Bowdoin college,
Brunswick.
A. f. Richardson, principal Normal school,
Castine.
NEW HAMPSHIRE.
VIC. McAllester, D. d. Manchester.
Rev FL. H. Manser, East jeffrey.
r. D. G ant d. D.. Concord.
Rev A. McCord, Keene.
Charles s. Murkland, president New Hamp-
shire College of Agriculture and Mechanic
Arts, Durham.
Albert somes, principal high school, Man
chester.
Hon G. e. Bales, Wilton.
Rev f. L. Knapp. Milford.
Hon Fred Going. State SUPERINTENDENT of
public instruction, Concord.
"a. F. Amen. principal Phillips Exeter Acad-
envy. Exeter.
r. NJ. Brown, sub master high school. Ports
mouth.
L.. Hastings, principal high school, Nash.
ua.
VERMONT.
Rev L. d. Temple. Brattleboro.
Hon NJ. s.. Stone, State superintendent of
education, Montpelier.
MASSACHUSETTS.
Hon s. A. Green. Boston.
NE. Wood, . D., Boston.
Hon r. A. Hill, secretary State Board of Ed |
ucation, Boston
Hon J. w. Dickinaon. Newtonville.
w. a. Mowry, Phi. b.. Hyde Park.
Rev E. p. Farnham, Salem.
C.P. f. Bancroft, principal Andover Acad- |
envy, Andover.
#. B. Sanborn, Concord.
II. M. Ballet, superintendent ..of schools,
Springfield.
F. W. Atkinson, principal high school,
Springfield. /
P.s. Moxom, d. d Springfield.