Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1906-02-20

Mr.. FIELDS FAvoRs THIRTY WEEKS AND
ONE TERN OF HIGH SCHOOL AT WEST
PARIS.
WEST PARIS Fab. u. 1909.

WEST PARIS, Feb. II, 1908.
Having last spring expressed mysel
quite freely in regard to school matters
and having advanced opinions which
now seem to me to be erroneous, wisl
through the columns Of the Democrat h
state my views Of the school question al
the present time. Not being egOiistica
enough to think that this will cause
many voters in town to change theil
views necessarily, still wish to express
them in order to account for my seeming
inconsistency in my action at the town
meeting last spring and this, il am
permitted to attend, and also hope that
this expression of my views may at least
cause others to examine into this matter
more deeply and possibly arrive at the
same conclusions.
Last spring I stated that I thought
twenty or twenty-five weeks of schooling
was sufficient for school year. / have
modified my views so that l thoroughly
believe that although twenty or twenty
two weeks year may be sufficient for
farmers children, yet for children in our
villages thirty weeks is none too much,
as then they find quite enough time to
idle around the stores, post Office, rail-
road station or in the streets.
Now this lack in our villages, In two
of them at least, has been supplemented
by terms Of private school, yet this is an
unsatisfactory arrangement, because
there are in every village poor people
who can perhaps i'll afford to pay the
tuition, at the same time wishing to have
their scholars enjoy the same privileges
that the children of Weather parents
have, and which In the matter of school
ing should be theirs.
am convinced that the town should
support at least 80 weeks of school in
our villages-perhaps others may think
in our rural districts as we'll; this of
course is a matter for the town to decide
at the annual town meeting, and which
ever way it decides will be perfectly
satisfactory to me.
wish also to express desire on the
part of the people in this section of the
town to have at least one term Of high
school held at West Paris this year.
Now as a matter of justice and equity
we think this should be done, as there
are quite large number of high school
scholars in and around West Paris who
would be accommodated by a term of
high school here, and if $500 is raised
for high school in town, We think $500
or $500 could be profitably expended
here at West Paris, and should be done.
We only ask to have what is fair and just,
and all fairminded citizens must allow
that this should be granted US. 1t is
quite saving to parents who wish their
children to attend high school to have
the chance to board them at home, be-
sides being much more convenient. So
We hope the voters of the good town of
Paris will accord us that right.
Before closing We wish to speak a
word of praise for our very efficient
school board, and particularly School
Alton C. Wheeler, who |
as we understand refuses to serve the
town in that capacity any longer.
He has served the town faithfully for |
several years as superintendent, and it is
. pleasant duty to commend, and we
gladly do it. 1t seems to be quite fad |
with some to find fault with the select |
men and school officers, but We think |
this is a bad mistake. If we would
show our appreciation of their faithful
efforts and zeal to serve the best in
terests of the town it would give them a
greater incentive to do their best by
which we would profit. Faultfinding
will not do it, and we should censure
when we have a proved wrong intent,
and only then.
E.E. FIELD.