Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1898-01-26
Correspondence.
The Public Schools.
DhOOhLIN, JHTf. To, iooO'
To the Editor of The American:

BROOkL1N, Jan. III, 1880.
To the Editor of The American:
In recent issue OF THE AMERICAN l
noticed a piece written from BROOKLYN
over the signature of "X', in regard to
the present system OF public schools. 1t
seemed to me that the grievance OF TX"
was rather of personal nature in some
way, and invited reply.
Now do not intend this in any way as
a reply, yet the article seems to suggest a
further examination as to the wisdom of
the existing school law. | wish the read
ers to bear with me, and look up few
points as to where the much-vaunted
town system over the old district system
comes in. | think with N" that the
school board has too much power. While
am willing to let it do most OF the school
business, want to let the schools be kept
in the several school houses provided for
that purpose, such houses in this torn
having been moved and arranged (under
the existing law to meet the require
ments and convenience OF the public so
far as may be.
will state a case to make myself un-
derstood. No. 3 school district Il mean
old limits) has about forty pupils at pres
ent. l am informed by the school board
each district is entitled to two terms OF
district and one term OF high school, or
three terms OF district school, of from
eight to ten weeks duration. No. has
had a summer and fall term all right;
now the winter term must be omitted
that there may be money enough to keep
ttco schools in the "corner district. So
called, within whose old limits there are
sixteen pupils, for whose benefit big
new school-house has been erected, fur
nished In fine style, and provided with
furnace which, by a mans untiring ef-
forts and a ton of coal a week, will warm
sufficiently to keep school in the entry,
with the stairs for seats, on very cold
days.
The school board gives as a reason for
taking the school from this large district
and giving the money to the smaller, that
the town has built this fine house in this
place here but few pupils exist, there
fore as a school must be kept there and
that the outlying districts must make up
the number OF pupils to make ttro terms
OF school profitable here. There is a dis
trct school in progress in the "Reach dis
trict" at present, making in all three
schools within the distance OF mile. |
admit that the majority OF the pupils can
go to the new house as well, perhaps, as
to their own, but no better, and fifteen
children are left, the nearest two miles
and he farthest three and one half miles
from any school.
Now someone says most of those fifteen
their own district Perhaps not. know
the board does not know in all cases
whether they would or not. There may
be prov ision in the law to carry and re-
turn children to district school, but |
have never seen it in effect, and even then
three miles day is too much for small
children and girls to attend school in
winter.
think the school officers are honest in
the belief that in this case they are acting
for the best; they can have no selfish
ends in he matter. but they may err in
judgment, as we'll as we poor taxpayers
who are unfortunate in living in parts
remote, and who may be called to make a
like sacrifice as has No. 3.
There may be some law whereby towns
may regulate these matters in annual
meeting, and il such is the fact let us
so instruct our school officers that the
minority may have An equal chance with
the majority. "Y."