Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-09-21
IN CONFERENCE.
School Superintendent
Hold Session.
Factory Inspector Morrison on
Child Labor Law.
Other Timely Topics Of Interest
Are Ably Discussed.

places throughout the State, was II, III
in the Senate chamber Of the Stale
House Friday, with about % present.
The conference. which was presided
over by State Superintendent Of Schools
Payson Smith, was very Well attended.
The topics discussed covered the
whole range of the questions which
assail the town ana district school
superintendent in the performance Of
Two duties.
The conference Olened at 10 A. NJ.
State Factory Inspector Morrison was
present at the conference. and delivered
an address on The Child Labor Law
and the Compulsory Education Law"
The joint workings Of these two laws
We're fully explained and illustrated by
Mr. Morrison. who spoke substantially
as in the address delivered at The sup
erintendents' conference in Portland.
which has been fully reported.
Following the address, there was Il
general discussion Of the topic. The
superintendent present asked Il num-
Der of questions, which We're cheerfullv
answered The superintendent told
their Individual experiences in dealing
with cases arising under the law. The
question and its discussion proved in
teresting and profitable.
BY the time the topic was concluded.
the hour of noon had arrived. and the
conference was adjourned until after
noon.
The afternoon session was called to
order at , o'clock. with all the super
intendents present who were on hand
in the morning, ana several additions.
The first topic which State Supern-
tendent Smith announced was The
Truancy Law and the Methods for Its
Enforcement
There was a general discussion of this
subject, and much new light was shed
on what is to school authoritie. vexa-
tious question. state Superintendent
smith explained to those present the
workings of the law in detail, the rights
of the experimenting school commit
tees and superintendent. as well IS
those Of parents and pupils.
The rcXt topic concerned the town
high schools and academies, and their
approval by the state superintendent
under tie act passed by the last Legis-
lalure
The State superintendent was inclin
ed so to cOnStrue the law that town
high school should have certificate
Of approval to prevent child drawing
school money from the town for attend
ance elsewhere. a course Of study APP
proved by the state superintendent OF
schools makes the school submitting
the course an approved school. but the
certificate NAV be withdrawn at any
time. if the school shall fail to meet
the require mentS. 1t was questioned as
to how far the new law applied to the
prescribing of cntra nee requirements
and course Of study. Il think it would
he a great deal better if we could have
more uniformity in courses Of study,
sand Superintendent Smith, but he did
not believe that the towns ana cities
should lie deprived Of the right If speri-
fying their own courses Of study ]ie
did not think that any Legislative plan
for compelling uniformity would be
successful. The law forces the state
GlIrerintcn1rnt to rule that high
school having one standard course shall
lie standard high school.
Almittance to the academy and the
high school cannot be regulated by the
state. This is provided for by the local
authorities.
The topic Of conveyance was next
taken up. The state superintendent sad
that in cas-" a parent refused - allow
his children to be conveyed to another
school. when the local school had been
discontinued. the case was subject to
the operate Of the truancy law.
Superintendent LaRue of Augusta
asked the question how far a child
should be required to walk to meet the
CONVEYANCE on which the children shall
he carried to school. The superintendent
believed that concessions should be
made IN favor of small children, but ne
though. that the average child was not
injured Ey walking a mile and q half to
school.
In thc course Of the discussion. Sup
erintendent G.. f. Ball Of the Bingham
district. spoke of the difficulties met III
poor towns and unorganized places
from ''squatters." who come in and set
IL with the deliberate purpose Of Sc
curing TRANSFORMATION Of their children
The state Superintendent said that this
ditIicuIy was general throughout the
I.ss tbickly settled portions Of tho
state
The next topic was that Of salaries
The state superintendent believed that
the state appropriation would be larger
at tho next session. and that loca
school authorities would increase sal
arins during the coming year. chiefly by
| tbc method OF lengthening the Schoa
ye,r The state superintendent was OF
| the orinion that it would be a dfficut
| thing I, cot the State Legislature &c
establish 4 minimum rate of salary a.
| ANYTHING like a decent figure. Severa
Of the superintendent present told q
|diftrulties experienced in securinf
TEACHERS The State superintendent sale
| that while the cities We're not having
serious difficulty. the country towns
| were having lot Of trouble i'll gettins
teachers.
| The state superintendent was Of tbs
oninion that the principals of high
| schools should study their pupils ant
| should lead those of thcir pupils VIII
have showed special aptitude foi
teaching to attend the normal schools
Eve have somes good normal schools il
| Maine" said the superintendent. Thu
noirt was raised that the normal schoo
graduate does not return to her holgs
town to teach. but goes to MassacHu
sntts .r elsewhere. superintendent
iJ.aI;ua said he would urge a young gh