Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-03-23
MR.. FARRlNGToN's ADDRESS.
Able Prescntment of School Question
By City Clerk.

Able Presentment of School Question
by City Clerk.
Mr.. ToastmaSter. Members of the
Board of Trade and Gentlemen:
l fee! that l may owe an apology for
having selected as my subject one that
savors of a pedagogical convention. bu:
have aSSumed-and l have no doubt
rightfully--that the citizens of Augusta
are always ready to listen to any re-
marks bearing on any of the phases Of
municipal life. However, it is n fact
much to be regretted that as 4 general
rule the business men Of cities are not
lcrively Interested in schools. AS Il
natter of course many attend the ar
aual graduation exercises and have ..
feeling OF pardonabIe pride when tho
officiating members of the school board
congratulate teacher and pupil on the
nigh standard of work. But beyond
his annual dress parade few business
men ever give the matter any serious
bought. 1t needs only Il moments re-
lection 20 show any intelligent person
hat the relation between the school
md the business interests of the city
s most intimate. No argument is
necessary to convince one that one of
he best permanent investments that q.
'ity can make is in the direction of her
public schools.
The higher the standard of the
'chools, the better the teachers, the
more complete the equipment. the moro
progressive and up-to-date the meth
'lS and general plan of work-in Just
hat degree the generation of boys and
iris growing up into young manhood
md young WOmanhOOd will develop
higher standards of thought and of
life.
1 l do not wish to be understood rs
aging that the schools in the city OF
augusta are not good schools, for
hink we have good reason to consrat-
late ourselves on the excellence of tho
york done in the schools Of the city.
nd that. too, in spite of the lack of
ny common basis of work. But l am
'Onvinced that the character and
tandard of the very best could be
realty improved if the plan WHICH I
hall mention later should be adopted.
Augusta might well be called city
f school systems. but she could hardly
called a city with Il school system.
rs everyone knows, we have four sep
rate districts. the Village district on
he west side of the kennebec, the Will
ANS district on the East side. he sub
'rban or common schools on bo II sides.
nd the COny High school. Each of
hese districts has it's own governing
:chool board, and each is. m all its
workings. separate and distinct from
very other There is absolutely no
49,
arious parts of the body educational
Without saying more it must be ap-
aren't to any fair minded observer Of
onditionS that such Il state of affairs
not conducive to the best mental de-
clopment Of the pupils throughout the
ity.
The city owes the very best that it
an give in the way of educational ia
ilties. 1t is the birthright of every
10Y and girl in this city of ours that
he and she shall have the benefits of
he most approved methods and plan
If education. The pupil in the rural
'choOl should be able to get the same
iuality of training as the pupil in the
schools of the city proper. but this is
impossible under the system. or rather
ack of system, prevailing in Augusta
It the present time.
AS general proposition it must be
admitted that where many are seeking
o reach Il common end the best way
o attain that end is by united efforts
ilong Il common line of work. One
would scout the idea of training men
or the United States army or navy
inder different methods of instruction
simply for the reason that they would
lot. could not be SO efficient when
brought together into a common work.
ing force.
Augusta stands practically alone
among her sister cities of equal size
in the New England states in this par
ticular. that she has no common work
ing plan, no common basis-absolutely
nothing al common in her educat ional
system and her four districts are as
completely divided as if they We're in
separate municipalities.
In Massa chusetts ninety-nine and
fve-tentEs Der cent. Of the boys and
girls in the schools receive the benefits
of trained supervision. The laws of
that state compel towns having a GER
tain assessed valuation to unite for the
purpose of employing trained superin-
tendents, and all over the state the
state the schools of any one locality
are doing their work on common
basis. I know of no stronger indorse-
ment than this example of our sister
state of Massachusetts in this drec-
ton.
Just what Augusta needs is to put
her schools on the same footing, if she
wishes to make possible the greatest
degree Of efficiency. There is already
in existance a law by which the city
council can elect single controlling
school board and that board when
elected would have the right to employ
superintendent, but before anything