Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-10-30
l. mAe TEACHERS.
EontihGed from Page One.)

that can be expected. In very many
more, however, the work starts under
heavy handicap because Of insufficient
or inadequate equipment. Here again
the State is justified in requiring that
certain minimum standards be met
with attention to these three points
the common school should be prepared
tn meet the reasonable demands that
are made of it.
"Comirs to the secondary school
education Of the State we reach point
where the Maine school system like
that Of other states can be of greatest
service through more direct prep
aration for the various occupations.
Maine has about go secondary schools
varying IN size and in efficiency. They
enroll upwards of 1900 students. A
small minority of these will enter col
lexe. at least 10000 Of them will not
enter college. They will go directly
into the various occupations. Yet THIS
majority Of students follows line OF
secondary school work that is prac-
ticAlly confined by college entrance re-
quirements.
Yearly If not quite all of the
schools follow the line of least resist
anco and arrange their courses along
the classical and literary lines. This Is
true Of English as we'll as college
courses. Beside the 10000 who are In
school but are not directly served.
there are other thousands, not to be
estimated, who do not enter High
zoos and academies at all because
,i1ey believe the courses will not have
sufficient value in the occupations they
have chosen to justify the expenditure
Of time and money.
The two leading industries of this State
are agriculture and manufacturing. Ihey
employ probably more than so per cent.
Of our working population. Does not the
statement Of this fact indicate the rela-
ton OF our secondary school system to the
new educational demands? Upon the co M
mon school sy stem al a foundation there
should rest a higher educational system
that si,all, com bfha cultugal. courses with
those .df practical value: # Would be as
unfortunate to construct courses, lea wing
out cultural studies as it is to construct
cur present cultural courses emitting
practical values. Beth are essential to a
well rounded scheme OF education
I'm general way the secondary school
SyBte1n OF N1d1ne lncluucS Three CliSsc5 VI
schools. There are in one class the small
country High schools. They are the re-
cruiting ground OF higher education in
the smaller rural towns. They are val
mable and important part of the system
Situntcd, rs these schools are. in this
county their courses should bear closely
upor, farming. Courses adapted to this
class of schools are under preparation
and will he available for use for suc
schools as may be prepared to adopt them
for the opening of the next year.
"A second class Of secondary schools in
cludSs some of the academies and larger
village High schools. They afford SUI
perior secondary education. but this is OF
the usual classical and literary kind. II
thos.. should be encouraged courses unit
reference to business and commercial
pursuits rs well to the trades. The ,icf
agricultural counties Of the State SHOULD
have In their larger villages High schoo
and aca1emies courses agriculture
courses of a somewhat highly organized
kind. Such courses are likewise under
Preparation. but their introduction viii
involve the employment of special legisla
tive encouragement. Sucn encouragement
1t is hoped. may be forthcoming in par
from the national government through the
enactment Of the Davis bill or u similar
measure.
I'm third class of secondary
schools are the large city High school:
and the richly endowed academies. II
our commercial centers where Portland
and Bangor High schools should have
courses that will directly serve the
boys and girls who will enter directly
the business. commercial and indus
trial life of the communities. The larg
er manufacturing centers might wei
include in their schools these courses
that will especially promote manua
skill. With the single session in vogue
in many of these schools, it would moi
be difficult to arrange afternoon
courses in mechanics. leaving the pres
ent work nearly intact. thus preserving
the cultural branches and securing
those Of practical application.
Yet no one believes that the inter
est in these newer practical demands
signify decline Of interest In intellec-
tual training Of such courses az, have
indicated should be introftfeSdS with
our secondary Schools and the colleges
would increase. their enrolment in tn.
same rate thatvfhe secondary schools
would with theirs.
The now educational demands are &c
be met in, our state by strengthening
the functutions which is the common
school and by building upon this foun-
dalton q secondary school system
whose work shall not be less beautiful
because 1t is much more useful. since
aftel all, the essential test of beautify-
ing is that ii shall have the power tc
serve
At the afternoon session the committee
on resolutions was appointed and it was
votct, that hereafter the nomination OF
candidates for office be done from the
floor of the convention rather than by a
committee. During the afternoon W. E.
Winchester of Bostor lectured on "Edu-
cation for Vocation arguing that he
does not believe in teaching industrial
branches separately but rather that these
branches shall be taught in common with
other lines of study. Adams Puifer OF
Needham, Mass. was also a speaker at
the afternoon session. his subject being
Educational Method in thef Training OF