Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1900-03-28
Correspondence.
The Public School System.
BROOKLYN, March II, 1900.

BROOKLYN, March IL, 1SO.
To the Editor of The American:
"H.", OF North Penobscot, thinks that
| sufficient time has elapsed for people to
Judge IL the present school law Is success
or otherwise. Think so too. Time enough
has elapsed that people may see that they
are under unjust and arbitrary laws RS
regard both common and free high
schools. ! am not sure but l may err in
| some things ! write here as to points in
school law; IL so, l will be pleased for
| someone to correct me. shall be glad to
| learn that do not interpret the law cor
| rectiy.
| The common school law seems to be
more suited to the larger places, cities
and villages, while the outlying precincts
are lett out in the cold. lam one OF these.
| The committee takes the school from the
| esta blshed scboolhouse in my district at
| will. and without notice, or consulting
anyone in my end of the district (or pre-
cinct AS 1t is called now leaves us three
and one halt miles from any school. The
| committee claims 1t has a right to by law.
II it hasn't, l hope someone will kindly
inform me.
made application for conveyance for
my children, as section of the school
| laws seems to give me a right to do. The
committee granted me the privilege; that
seemed ali right, but let US go further.
| Section 3 reads that ''all public school
scholars shall be conveyed to the nearest
suitable SCHOOL,.
No ht urn hoY mn I'M
attend high school. A high school was
in session on the second floor Of the same
building in which was the common school.
My children could not attend the high
school, which | as a taxpayer helped to
support, but must attend the common
school down stairs, which the superin-
tendent informed me was not q suitable
school for pupils OF their age and advance
ment. But unless l conveyed them at
my own expense, because towns did not
provide conveyance for high school
scholars, they must attend the common
school or none at all.
Does the law provide that high schools
may keep In common with common
schools, and thus spoil the latter for dis
tant scholars subject to conveyance, by
grading and making common schools un-
interesting to larger pupils? So much
! for the new law IN my case; perhaps l am
! not alone.
/ As to the condition OF school property l
| think every one must admit that what is
/ everyone's business is no ones, and that
/ rule certainly holds good as regards
| schooihouses in this town, and WAS SO
reported by the committee at the annual
meeting.
/ Let us now take the law regarding high
schools. The town OF BROOKLYN at its
! annual meeting voted not to raise money
/ for hig schools. The law gives certain
j number OF voters power to issue Il war
rant-or to ooiise the assessors to-that a
! certain precinct may hold meeting to
| raise money the same as town. This
precinct OF course Is limited. and pretty
sure to carry majority at the meeting in
/ favor OF the school. The minority in said
/ precinct could protect themselves at the
annual town meeting, but are defeated in
/ precinct meeting, and are taxed to help
/ carry on a school IN which they may have
! no scholat- or direct Interest. such a
meeting viii take place, | understand, in
| BROOKLYN soon. IL IA vote be obtained, the
/ towns schoolhouse can be used, rs l read
! the Jaw, to Keep TINS private high school
/ In provided the common school does not
/ occupy 1t.
! the town OF Il -oUkiin III 1899 expended
I for educational purposes = 40 10 There
! are $50 scholars IN the town. The total
| amount of TAX assessed was - 49l So 10
| per 500; the hignest rate | have seen in
| any town report. 50 1t VIII be seen that
| BROOKLYN Is not mean IN raising money to
| maintsin her schools. From that amount
| of money allotted for schools, my chill
| dren got just eig hteen weeks schooling,
| and that, too, III a district that contained
| more than twice the number of pupils
| required by law to keep precinct from
| being abolished. That was the fourt b
| year our winter term OF school was taken
| from me, and yet am told | have no re-
| dress. Can any one see a way for me to
"kick" to advantage? IL so, | sincerely
| hope he will let me know.