The Republican journal., 1904-10-13
AN EDUCATIONAL MEETING.
Addresses by Prof. p. p. Claxton, Hon.
Henry Houck and Rev. VIM. Vaughan.

this city Saturday, October Sth Sometime
State Superintendent of Schools, issued a
notice to the teachers of Maine that series
of lectures by prominent educators would
be given in the cities and larger towns to
take the place of the fall institutes. Prof.
P. P. Claxton of the University of Tennes-
see and Superintendent of the Summer
Schools of the South, and DR.. Henry Houck,
| Deputy State Superintendent of Schools of
Pennsylvania, were assigned to Waldo
county and announced to speak in Belfast,
October Sth, on the general subject of edu-
cation. The morning session was held in
| the Universalist church The meeting was
called to order by the pastor, Rev. A. A.
Smith. Mr.. Smith made a few remarks in
his usual happy manner and introduced
| Prof. p. p. ClaXton as the first speaker of
| the morning.
| Prof. Claxton spoke'of the great progress
| in education during the last century, more
| particularly of the southern section of our
| own country, and said that where one dol
| lar was expended for educational purposes
| a few years ago, tens of dollars were given
| to-day, and given freely. Hedwelt at length
on the sacrifice people had always been
| willing to make for their children. When
the mother country imposed a tax on tea
and other commodities, people sacrificed
lives and property and fought long and
cruel war, not for their own gain but that
their children might have more of freedom,
of ease aud of comfort in the years to come.
And this is true not alone in our own coun-
ling to sacrifice all for their children. Schools
are being established and the education of
the masses has become fact. Some coun-
tries-notably Belgium-who never gave
much to the cause of education are now
| making rapid strides in the work.
| Society has become industrial There
was a time when the men who lived in lux
| uriOus ease and wasted the wealth of the
people were looked up to and honored for
the position they had come to occupy, re-
gardless of how or why. But new spirit
| has come into the world. We revere the
man who stands on his own merits, who
| has done something for the community, for
the State or for the nation. The laboring
man is coming into prominence all over the
world and occupies the place in society
which he has earned. Riches are honored
| in proportion as they are earned and class
| distinction is fast fading into obscurity.
| The country has become democratic At
! the beginning of the nineteenth century
| there was little government by the people.
| Tho idpa of Sa)f Government uaS first tried
as a doubtful experiment, while all the
world looked on expecting failure. At the
dawning of the twentieth century demOc-
racy has come and government of the peo-
| pie, by the people and for the people, is an
| established fact. Public opinion and COM
mon sentiment execute our laws. Educa-
tion is the ruling power and ignorance is
dangerous. We must educate the boy of
| to-day, for he is the citizen of the future.
We are beginning to learn the value of the
individual Prof. Claxton gave many in
teresting "reminiscences illustrative of the
points he desired to make. He is a speak
er of more than ordinary ability and those
! whose good fortune it was to hear him will
never forget his eloquent and inspiring
words.
Mrs +. S. Pitcher and Mrs. f. p. Frost
sang duet after which Mr.. Smith intro
duced Dr. Henry Houck. DR.. Houck dwelt
particularly upon the sunny side of life and
urged the necessity of making the children
happy in their school life. The harsh, sar-
castle word carries a sting perhaps never
forgotten. He made an eloquent appeal for
the dull children and those unfortunate
ones who need so much help and inspiration
in the schoolrOom, since the home can give
SO little.
Dr.. Houck's address was not long, but he
moved his audience to laughter and in the
next breath to tears and no person who
heard him failed to receive an impression
for good never to be forgotten. In closing
he paid an eloquent tribute to Prof. Clax-
ton and to State Superintendent Stetson for
his work in behalf of the schools of Maine.
Mrs E. 2. Frost sang solo in her usual
pleasing manner.
Superintendent Stetson spoke briefly of
! the object of the lectures, and of the bene-
tit he felt that teachers had derived from
them.
The closing prayer and benediction was
given by Rev. Harry Lutz of the Unitarian
church.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The afternoon session was held in the
High School room A. d. Hayes, presiding.
Solos were given by Misses Lizzie Cham
berlain and Helen NJ. Bird.
Mr.. Hayes then introduced Rev. VIM.
Vaughan, as the speaker of the afternoon,
who gave an address on the subject, "What
the community has right to expect of the
common schools
Mr.. Vaughan spoke entertainingly of the
origin of the public school system In the
early days people devoted time to the edu-
cation of the children in the home, and later
when means admitted gave their children
into the care of some person, fitted morally
and mentally for the care of the young.
Later on people united in the securing of
.teachers,and step by.step the public schools
were established and education made COM
pulsory. Mr.. Vaughan spoke of the bad
| condition of many of the school buildings
in Waldo County, and urged the necessity
| of teachers doing all in their power to make
the rooms as attractive as possible. Teach
ers should be impartial in the care and
teaching of the children, and this query
should be constantly before the mind,
"What can do to bring out the best in the