Ellsworth American., 1907-02-13
: r. FLErcHER RErlREs.
...r Beloved Principal Of Castine
Normal school.

ArrK1N, MIMI, Feb. Q, 1907.
-. ,Ae Editor of The AHssrScan:
psalizing how widespread 10 the range
.orr paper, and how many readers rt
a,,s and abroad were one time students
= Csstine normal school, I enclose this
...;cIe from the Springfield (Mass.)
p.n,,bacan, Of interest to many.
:. reIates to one of the grandest men
.hat ever worked for the Improvement
.d ennopling Of the youths Of our land
,,.ot q. IT. Fletcher. For twelve years he
Is an inspiration to the students at Cas-
.;ne as his life now is to all who come
nnder its genial influence. We all trust
that he may be fully restored to health to
continue the educational work he so much
loves. Mhs' u Z DH'AarrhE'
The resignation OK Grenville T. Fletcher
,rom the Office Of agent in western Massa-
cbpsetts Of the state board Of education,
was a matter Of surprise and regret to his
neiuhbors and friends in Northampton,
"a we'll as to those farther away in his
vide territory Of the four western coun-
ties. Mr.. Fletcher has not been in the
host of health in the last few months, but
tsnt on with his work, and it was not
Known that he contemplated resignation.
He had resigned, in fact, some time before
the state board would accept his resigna-
.ion. He requires complete rest, and
s,eedy improvement il expected to follow
relief from the heavy responsibility and
constant activity which his duties as
agent of the state board imposed upon him.
Mr.. Fletcher has discharged these duties
with marked efficiency and success for
eighteen years, during which time he has
become one Of the best-known educators
in the state. His efforts have not been
confined to the four western counties, al
though they have been the field OF his re-
gulsr work. As agent he has been sub
ject to call to act in an advisory capacity
to the state board OF education, to inspect
normal schools in various parts OF the
state and to take a hand in the advance
ment OF legislation for the development
and improvement OF the school system of
the state.
Mr.. Fletcher has also been much in de-
mand as speaker on educational topics
throughout the state, usually at educa-
tional institutes, but not infrequently at
commencements and before organizations
of various kinds which have taken up dis
cussion Of educational matters. His visit
alton of the schools, correspondence and
conference with superintendents, COM
mittees and parents, talks to teachers and
public lectures have availed much to in
crease the efficiency Of the schools.
Mr.. Fletcher's great work has been the
promotion of school supervision under the
district superintendence plan. By his
earnest and persistent efforts all of the
eighty-five tow MS in western Massachu-
setts entitled to state aid for supervision
of schools have been grouped into unions
for that purpose, greatly to their advan-
tage. This has been an immense task,
and its accomplishment stands as a work
of corresponding size and Importance to
he long remembered to the credit OF Mr..
Fletcher's untiring efforts.
The development Of the district plan in
Massachusetts, has been closely watched
by educators outside Of Massachusetts,,
and similar policy has been adopted by
many other states. The wider movement
has doubtless received some aid from the
reports and comments of Mr.. Fletcher
which, with his views on other educa-
tional topics, have from time to time been
Incorporated in the annual reports Of the
United States commissioner of education.
Gov. Crane appointed commission in
1902 to investigate the operations OF state
aid to the public schools, and of this COM
mission Mr.. Fletcher was made a member.
His intimate knowledge OF conditions in
the small towns enabled him to give inn
portant service in framing some radical
changes for the improvement OF educa-
tional conditions therein. The commits
sion's report was adopted and became q
law. AS member OF the commission Mr..
Fletcher favored the distribution OF the
whole income of the school fund, instead
OF one half, to towns under a certain prop
erty valuation, thus enabling these towns
to adequately support their schools.
The result has been highly beneficial.
School terms have been heightened, better
buildings and equipment supplied, better
teachers employed, and special teachers OF
music and drawing provided. In favor
able localities high schools have been es-
tablished, and, with skilled supervision
over all grades by the district superintend-
ence plan, most of the country schools
compare well with those of equal grade in
the cities. There is no longer necessity
Tor parents to leave the country towns to
obtain the best common school education
for their children.
1t need hardly be said that no work in
the educational field is of more impor-
tance than this in which Mr.. Fletcher has
had such signal success, Of providing
practical working systeml for the early
education Of young people in their own
towns. The energetic prosecution Of this
work has made Mr.. Fletcher influential in
the educational policy of the state, and it
mas brought him into helpful and pleas
ant relations with tho reopIa in the