Daily Kennebec journal., 1900-01-13
The Country SchooIhouse Problem.

StlbblItuStS III w tiup touItN oi =
largely unfit for occupancy-thatm many
of them would not be suitable habita-
tions for cattle. let alone young and
growing children. We do not apprc-
herd that the schoolhouses in Waldo
would average either better or worse
than those in other counties of the
State, and yet the Republican Journal
refers to his criticisms as follows:
As to the condition of the country
schoolhouses we fear that our cores
pondent speaks only too truly, ana 1t Is
a disgrace to the communities in which
such buildings are found that ii should
be So The cost. of putting these
schoolhouses in repair would be trivial
in most cases, and new building
where needed would not appreciably
increase the tax. Are not the lives of
the children of some value? If the
statistics of those whose lives have
been sacrificed to warmed, lighted
and ventilated schoolhouses. or who
have been made invalds by unsanitary
surroundings. could be given in detail
the figures would be appalling.
There is certainly much force in this
criticism. and yet it is unquestionably
true that there has been vast change
for the better in the public attitude on
this question during the past decade.
The old rule was. first Of all. to locate
point in town. frequently adjoining
some bog, on land some one had con-
tributed for the purpose chiefly be
cause il was too poor to grow grass.
Here box stair structure was erect
ed with the single purpose of holding
sufficient number Of pine benches TO
afford seating capacity for the children
of school age in that vicinity. Cheer
ful and sanitary surroundings or good
the problem Of providing a school
house. This was not due to any lack
Of generous motive, but to a failure to
appreciate the very great Importance
Of these things Our State and local
boards of he alth have done much to
enlighten the public on these points.
but it must be remembered that they
are of comparatively recent growth.
IN the old days the good enough for
me.gcod- enough for r-my-children. ar
gument was usually the one that pre-
vailed in district councils. and the
fact must not be overlooked that tn"
larger part of the country schoolhouses
in actual use today We're built under
the old district system. Woe to the
man in those old days. who was auda-
cious enough to advocate something
better in the schoolhousc line than the
fathers had known. He was fortunate
indeed if his name were not made
Dennis IN the spot. The bitterness
that entered into those old district
fights seemed to have an exceptional
amount of vitality and venom. Ere
quently it did not stop short Of the
grave. We recall one good man-gone
to his reWard-who was accustomed. in
Illt pIu udNS. ~ bt IIlpIt vi ltSS VI 1t
force in his district, and who. when
the question of a new sChoOlhouse was
broached. insisted that it should be
outside of conventional lines. He ad-
vocated a location which was both
cheerful and dry, which would afford a
la"gc and partially shaded playyard.
and which was convenient to a fine
spring of cool, pure water. But his
audacity did not stop here. He in
sisted that the building should be high
posted we'll lighted. should have a
good. big hallway on either side, should
have a big. broad platform along its
entire front. and should be surmounted
by a handsome cupOla and weather
vane! 1t is rumored that some Of the
venerab BILE district fathers grew gray as
posals. 1t seemed as if the end of the
world We're near. They bore up under
the affliction. however, with some little
show of fortitude. until the visionary
fellow actually proposed register Ven
tilation for the side walls and in
dividual desks ana seats-from Bos-
ton,-with ink wells, etc, in place of
the time honored pine benches that
had hitherto done duty in the com
munity-and then the storm burst. 1t
was Il wild, boisterouS, frenZied sort
of gale: but it did not discourage our
reformer He fought it out on the pro-
posed line. although it took all summer
and considerable part of the winter
besides. The house was built exactly
as he proposed after many excited
meetings, and much turmoil of soul. 1t
remains to this day the best country
schoolhouse in its section Of the State.
There were number of people in the
district. however who never forgave
the reformer. and whose hostility. thus
aroused, was carried to the grave. At
the same time many of the good men
who then opposed him from a mis-
taken sense of duty, although they
We're indugcnt and afiectionate faith
ers. had provided for their stock at