Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-08-29
STATE HOUSE.
Malaga Island to Have
A Schoo|house.
Governor and Council Hold
Regular Monthly Meeting.
Five Candidates Take Examination
For Teachers Certificates.
STATE HOUSE CALENDAR.
Next Meeting Of Governor and Council
Friday, Sept. IS, at 10 A. M.

Hon. Payson Smith of Auburn, State
superintendent OF the public schools
of Maine, was at his desk in the edu-
cational department yesterday and
was busy with the duties of his Of
fee. Supt. Smith has recently re-
turned from a visit to Malaga Island.
where he went in the interests of a
State school which has recently been
started there under the law which
authorizes the establishment and con-
duct of such schools in unorganizetl
plantations. 1t was not Mr.. Smiths
first visit to the island, he having been
there during the latter part of August.
1907, In connection with a trip which
he made among the coast settlements
and the unorganZcd plantations soon
after his appointment to the Office of
state superintendent. At that time
he found that while the conditions ex-
listing on the island were dcplora BILE
much that had been written regarding
the community that was misleading,
and also found that the thing which
was most needed on the island was u
school
As the result of Supt Smiths visit to
the island the school was established
and Capt. George Fl. Lane appointed
agent and under his personal super
vision the school mas been conducted.
The school has heretofore been held in
room Of one of the largest houses on
the island. which is however a modest
structure having but two rooms
down stairs and an open loft overhead,
and the owner of the house was kind
enough to give up one of his rooms for
school purposes. The state law gov
erning schools of this class makes no
provision for the school building but
only for the maintenance of the school,
but by the personal efforts of Capt.
and Mrs. Lane a fund of $500 has been
raised for the erection of a school
building and the work of construction
has already commenced The cost of
the building completed will be about
$500 The number of people in the
Malaga colony is, about 40 and the
number of children of school age is
II.
Supt. Smiths chief aim for the bet
the education of the children, so that
they may be able to do some kind of
work that they will be able to turn to
punt ne lttiS tIi'tt tIttiI 'huNdtoi
should include not only instruction in
common school branches but also in
struction in person hygiene. domestic
science and useful Improvement 1t is
his desire that the girls should be
taught sewing. cooking and all of the
essentials of good housekeeping. and
that the boys should be given instruc-
ton In the use of tools 50 that they
may be able to construct better
dwellings for the inhabitants of the
island, the majority of those at pres
ent being mere sheds or Shacks. The
children on the island are not dull or
feeble minded. and if given the OPP
portunty of securing fair education
they will become sclf-suppOrting. use
fui citizens. and through them the con-
ditions on the island will be greatly
improved ir every way.
The August meeting of the Governor
and Council was held Friday, COM
mencing at 10 o'clock in the forenoon.
all of the councillors being present
with the exception of Hon. Thomas G.
Libby of Vinalhaven. All of the
nominations by the Governor We're ap-
proved and the meeting was devoted
to routine business
The Council approved the appoint
ment by state Commissioner OF
Highways Sargent of the following in
spcctors to supervise the construction
of State roads under the provisions
OF Chapter 112 of the Public Laws of
1907. at salary of $3.50 per day
while employed and actual expenses