Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-07-08

the NatlOHal Educat10ndl ASSOcldtioH
of the United States addressed that
body Tuesday evening was 1.-The Best
Education for the Masses" After re-
ferring to the marvellous development
of educational life during the past two
attention to the common schools and
their present needs. THE anxiety Of
phlarthropists and statesmen and
scholars today is not for the work Of
our colleges and universities" Their
deepest anxiety is for the ninety and
nine who are with us. rather than for
the one who goes higher to enjoy great
er advantages, and who is eminently
capable of bringing himself to the
fold" He expressed the sentiment that
the conscience as we'll as the intelli-
gence must be educated. We do not
admit the teaching of creed but there is
ample room for proper instruction in
morals. He thought I'VE may we'll ask
ourselves if the danger does not come
as well' (as from the immense influx
of foreigners) from the carelessly edu-
Gated masses of our own people as d
result of badly adapted courses of
study, of superficial instructions, and of
failure on the part of the teacher TO
grasp the vital influence which these
masses Of plain people exert upon our
social and national life" He would
have the rudiments thoroughly taught
and he would not have higher branches
forced into the lower grades, to crowl,
to mystify ard produce superficiality. .
he would not have the educational
pyramid stand on its apex but on its
base.
Some may think all these require
ments are practically met in our city
| schools, but we think his warning
! against crowding and mystifying the
mind is not altogether unnecessary if
applied to the city schools, certainly he
could not have meant to apply it to our
rural schools, although the latter afford
the most perplexing problem connected
with our common school system today.
| This latter problem is to be con-
sidered at this July meeting of the
National Association and attention is
specially directed to it by very able
article contributed by Prof. D. l..
kiehle to the Educational Review for
June. He sees a radical difference in
the conditions governing the rural and
| the town communities. In the former
there is less incentive to the social life,
while the social side with the culture
arising from it is the basis of town life.
Agricultural life tends to make people
live apart and labor alone. According
ly the school needs of the two COM
munitics differ in character. The peo-
pie of the rural communities accus-
toned to Independent effort do not APP
preciate the desirablity of delegatinS
i
tendent, and are FESTIVE under super
vision. Hence" according to this
authority, "a low grade of teachers,
frequent changes, short terms, and ir-
regular attendance"
If every school can have a good
| teacher the problem is solved, but he
sees great lack of inducement for good
| teachers to undertake the work in. the
rural schools. There is no demand for
continuous service, SO that the teacher
is following that occupation as an adj
junct to something more reliable. Evil
IDENTIFY the rural school of today, while
it turns out boys and girls who make
sensible mon and women is not adapted
obligations so well as is the city school.
Manifestly some way must be devised
| to secure the services Of better teachers
for longer terms of service. In this
State efforts are being made to that
end. The last Legislature offered in
ducements for towns to join in proVid-
ing superintendent. Many commu
mites are already awakening to the
necessity of consolidating schools in
order that better teachers and mora
schooling may be had. Superintendent
Stetson in his last report pointed out
ways in which great, waste may in
many cases be saved and economically
applied and he is circulating that
chapter of his report in the form of a
circular. Surely it is time this agita-
ton is begun and it should not cease
Let the watchword Of those who wish
to do some thing for popular education
be, improve the common schools.
Statistics Relative to the South.
The series of interesting articles