Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-09-15
Tn. Citizen and the School.

The series OF educational iaiiie' A
being held in Maine suggest lie"
thoughts which the Journal wishes u
urge upon its readers The value OF
the school depends upon the service "
renders the children who attend IT,
Th4. extent and quality of this service
depends upon several items. IL ''ie
grounds and buildings are unattrac'i>e
and unsuitable then the children VIII
he depressed. If not degraded by their
surroundings. If the course OF stuuS
10 limited 10 textbooks the children
will become warped and stupeneu'
the teacher is mechanical ana does io'
have an inspiring personality the cilii-
DION will leave school at the earliest
possible date and will derive put niue
benefit from their work while IN atteh-
da nce ,1pon its exercises. If, on the
,tb.r hand the grounds are ample and
the school building and school-rooni
warrant the title of school nome
and if the course IF study uses books
as a means and not as an end. and all
forms Of nature is the text most USED,
and if the child has an opportunity to
learn how to see, what to accumulate
and is led to draw conclusions from
phenomena observed and facts learned,
then In. school will have under it's
care children who are alert and am
bilious They will become erect and
vigorous physically, attentive and
strong Intellectually, sensitive and
safe morally and apprcciativc and as
pirfng cmotionally.
In a word with the former condi-
tions they will be debased and rendered
incapable for any responsible or
worthy work. In the latter case they
will commence to grow into citizens
who believe the best things live worth
lily, serve nobly. help to right the wrong
and increase the right in the world.
This last type of schools means a citi-
Zemship that will be content with
nothing but the best in the home, the
school, the church. the State. They will
provide themselves with good roads,
sane anusementS, opportunities for i'm
grace that the highest and wisest
thought can be devised. 1t means
elimination of distressing poyarty in
| telligent use Of money and a wholesome
| estimate Of life in all its relations. 1t
will obliterate the slum. make impossi-
bic the financial tyrant and give to all
Il fair chance to enjoy his rights and
render his fun proportion Of service to
| others.
The duty Of each citizen to the pub
lie school is to do such investigating
and reading as will acquaint him with
the kind Of school provided for his
children and the kind of school they
are entitled to enjoy. No school
can do its best work unless
the average citizen is in intelli-
gent sympathy with its activities
Each citizen must know what its physi-
cal surroundings are and what they
taught and how it should be taught
He should be a student OF the school in
al of its work. look upon 1t as an agent
Of his own creation, and hence fairly
dependent upon him for right admins
tratiOn. He should be interested in it.
defend it. change tiff neccssary-be
true to it always because in it his most
precious possession is found and to it
he owes more than he can pay if it
saves or makes more useful his chill
drcn.
The series of educational rallies to be
Wee ks VIII give our people a splendid
opportunity to get i'm touch with the
best thought and best effort among
thos" prominent in the educational
world. The meeting to b. neld in Au-
Eusta City hall, next Monday evening
will be addressed by Governor Aycock
Of North Carolina and Chief Justice
| Winston of the supreme court If the
Same state. two of the educational
leaders of the new South. and should
be largely attended by our citizens
These speakers and otheEs equally
prominent will be heard in many
Maine cities and towns this month.
and large and enthusiastic audiences
should greet them.
The Militia at Manassas.
One of the New York papers, the