Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-04-03
EDUCATIONAL REVIVAL.
Superintendent StetsOn Talks Of the
New School Laws.
Thinks the One Referring 10 Unorganizcd
Plantations the Most Important.

What was the most important OF
the laws relating to your department
that was passed at the last session oi
the Legislatur was the question
asked State Superintendent of School
W. w. Stetson, one day recently
Il hardly know; there was quite a
little legislation in the way of educa :
tion," replied the genial superintendent
thoughtfully. However | will tell you
one thing. There was but one law
asked for by this department. All the
rest We're introduced by individuals
other than myself That one act
which | asked for was passed. and |
believe it is one of the most important
10 the future welfare OF the State.
The law to which | refer Is chapter
50. and is entitled. An act to provide
for the schooling of children in unor-
ganiZed townships 1t provides
that the children in these unor-
ganized places shall have at least 20
weeks schooling out of each year. 1t
is unnecessary TO go into the details of
the act, but | will say that / am re-
CURED to have an enumeration made
of the children in these places, between
TO provide, through an agent. if / do
not have the time to personally oversee
the work. for either the establishment
of schools or the placing of the
scholars in the schools Of the adjoining
towns. There are certain provisions
that the people have to make. but il
amounts 10 but little. and the money
for these schools is provided by the
payment of the regular amount per
scholar. and as much OF the interest on
the reserve land fund of the township
from the state treasury. Also by
drawing from the sum of $500, which
was the annual appropriation provided
by the Legislature.
How many of these unorganized
places are there in the State?" asked
the Journal.
II should say there weF in the State
of Maine. over 60 of the% communities
in the wilderness townships"
Why do they not raise a fund 70
establish schools of their own"
These townships have no organiza-
ton for raising funds or for maintain
ing schools. and as a rule. the people
grow negligent about such matters.
There are cases where the people have
maintained schools by private sub
scription and under the direction of
the people of the township
What class of people do you. as a
rule. find in these lakewood township
communities"
Some of the people are ignorant and
few Of the communities are made up
of vicious population. A large ma
jority of them. though, are DESTROYS of
having schools and anxious to have
their children educated As is usual in
such communities. the children are
rugged alert and capable Under fair
" competent teachers they show ex-
ceptional ability and great aptness as
students"
DO you know one great argument in
favor of the passage of the law?
asked the superintendent. We'll, !
will tell you. 1t was passed because
of the feeling that ignorant and vicious
people are the most expensive class the
State has to deal with. and you are as
well aware as anyone that the unedu-
Gated are apt to be vicious. Statistics
have shown that the descendants of a
certain person of the State of New
York have cost the state about mill
ion and a third of money for their ap-
prehension and care. The State of
Maine may have equally parallel cases
if it was looked up. and it can i'll afford
it.
An effort will be made to have the
provisions of the law made known to
the people living in these unorganiZed
towns and induce them to establish
schools. ore of the provisions of the
law is that the people of the township
in which a school is to be established,
must pay into the State treasury an
amount equal to % cents per capita of
the township. In carrying out this
work it will. of course, be necessary
for me to appoint local agents. but
shall personally call upon the schools
as much as my time will allow. | be-
lieve that the law is of peculiar i'm
portance. and will result in the great
good, not only to the communities, but
to the State at large.
1T is a matter of encouragement to
note the increasing intelligent interest
in the common schools on the part of
the majority of our people. There is 4
more general call for competent SUI
perintendents, trained teachers, more
suitable grounds and buildings. and a
more regular attendance on the part
of the children. All of these things
mean marked educational improve