Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-02-20
The Schools OF Maine.

does that from the Office of the state
superintendent of schools, and the an
nual report of Superintendent W. W.
Stetson. which has just been given 70
the public, is unusually rich in good
things. Its statements of work accom-
pliShed show substantial progress
that is inspiring to read about, ana
which refutes completely the wall or
those pessimists who see only gloom
| and rctrogressiOn where our rural
communities. and especially our rural
schools are concerned. Our Main"
schools are not standing still or going
| backward They are marching on
ward and doing better work than ever
before. They have better teachers and
better facilities for work, and Infinitely
more attractive surroundings. In the
good old times the young people too
often hated their schools, and we can
not much blame them. Many of the
great men ana women who then got
their start in life Were educated in
spite of the old schools rather than
with their aid. But the change in a
few decades has been nothing short Of
marvellous The whole system of edu-
cation has been rcvolutiOniZcd. And
we are not spe aking of the colleges or
the city schools. but of the schools in
the hearts of the little villages and
nesting among the bleak and lonely
hiIs If Maine. To be sure, the little
Old red school houses are not 50 crowd
ed as in the old times. for country
families are not Of the old time proper
tions ANA the older pupils now 80 to
the \ prmal schools. the business col
lcgcs, the academies and the higher in
stitutions Of learning, ana most of
those picturesque Old red school
school houses are now replaced with
white painted structures with Cupol3
ana flag pole outside ana comfartabl"
seats inside. But there are tens Of
thousands of youngsters who trudge to
school over the country roads. through
the drifts Of winter ana the dust Of
summer. carrying their dinner pals
with them. and the great advantages
they enjoy over the good old time"
are numerous ana If vital Importance.
our rural schools enable Maine to max
good its proud boast that its best crop
is men.
If anything il needed to prove the
constant material progress Of the
Maine schools. let us quote from Mr..
Scissors report where h SHOWS that
in tn last three years half a million
dollars have been expended in the cree
ton Of common school structures in
Maine. very evenly distributed al over
the State Hundreds Of school build
ings have been repaired and made
more convenient and more attractive
inside ana outside. Books Of reference
charts. globes. and pictures are now
not a few boast pianos or organs
And for a great share Of this progress
the thanks Of Maine are due to Mr.
StetsOn. Recognized as Il leader in the
educational world. he is not only fer
tile in good ideas, but h. possesses The
tircless energy necessary to carry them
into successful execution. The School
League for the Improvement Of school
surroundings is a child Of his brain
ard its influence for good is already
something stupendous. 1t has alrt ldy
over 1000 members in Maine. ana with
the intelligent cooperation of teac hers.
superintendent, school officials, the
Grange and Women's clubs it is going
forward in 4 grand work that means
much for the future Of our rural
movement. in fact. other states being
ready to make use Of such a good idea,
just as they are eager to adopt tn,
teachers trained in Maine. and tn,
sturdy young men reared among our
hills and educated in our schools ana
colleges for the work of life.
1t would b. difficult to measure the
work which Mr.. Stctson has done for
the common schools Of Maine. We sin
cerely hope he. Will be able to carry out
the many plans for their advancement
which he has entered upon or has in
mind. He deserves the support Of ev-