Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-09-03

Thursday night given IN Hlghland
Avenue Methodist church for the sp@-
cial benefit of prospective college stu
dents from Gardiner spoke in high APP
prevail of all that has been accomplish
ed through legislation to improve the
educational system of the State, Civ
ing a history of what has been done
along this line in Maine, and COM
mended the city highly upon it's liber-
atty toward the public schools.
Mr. Clason's address was given as
the feature of a program arranged by
the Methodist Sunday school for those
of it's members who intend to enter
college this fall. Mr.. Clason is one of
the most ardent advocates of advanced
education in Gardiner. His audience
was large and included % or more
boys and girls who within q few weeks
will be college students Resides the adj
dress the progl am included literary and
musical numbers which were much en-
joyed, including readings by Miss Flor
ence cobb and Miss Grace Lewis ana
piano solos by Miss Gladys Dolloff.
Mr.. Clasons subject was Our
Schools" He briefly sketched the
laws passed by the Colonial Legisla-
ture for the establishment of public
schools. showed that the law passed in
1647 established the principles that
are the foundation of the public school
system of the present time These laws
established:
First-That the safety of the State
demanded that the youth should be
educated.
Second-That the parent can be
compelled by proper legislation to edu-
cate his children without aid from the
State.
Third-That the State has a right
to furnish aid for the education of the
youth and raise the money by genera!
tax upon all property and no property
holder can cvadc the tax on account
of having no children to educate.
Fourth-That the State has a right
to provide for higher education and
may support schools at public expense
for fitting pupils for colleges.
The above law of 1647 remained with
but few changes until 1888, after the
war of the Revolution. when more
stringent legislation was enacted. II
was not, however. until 1900 that law
was passed, allowing district to raise
money for taxation for the erection or
school buildings. Upon the admission
of Maine into the Union in 1920 she
inherited the laws of her mother state,
Massachusetts, but materially added to
them by Article 8 in her Constiti-
ton which provides that the state OF
Maine shall from time to time as TIC
circumstances of the people may au-
thorize aid all academies, colleges and
scmnarcs of learning within the
State.
Mr. Clason then gave history OF
the school laws that have been enact
ed since 1920 and spoke of the school
laws as they now exist. lie talked
favolably in regard to the laws Of
district superintendent of the new law
providing for superintendent of High
schools. whose duty il is to visit all
the High schools of our State, state
certification OF our teachers and super
intendents the large amount of money
furnished by the state to the several
towns. especially the additions mace
to the common school fund dSfiiSh
school fund by the last Legislature
etc.
In speaking about subjects purely
local he said the city has generally
been very liberal in appropriatlng IF
money for them. Gardiner has popuEi-
ton of about $500 and a valuation Of
some less than $3,500.O00 yet this year
she appropriated $1,000 for her COM
mon schools, and $500 for her High
school. 1t shows how the people feel
in this community towards the proper
education of our youth. Today We
have some 25 students attending col
lege from Gardiner and several at
tending our different Normal schools.
That is a record we are all proud Of
MI Clason urged all students to get
the best education possible Those
that intend to be teachers" he said.
must avail themselves of our Normal
schools and colleges. Those who wish
to follow a professional career must,
to attain the success. lay the founda
ton of their professional life by a
broad liberal, education" He also told
them that where there was a will there
was way and every person with good
physical health can avail himself or
herself of our higher educational in
stitutionS.
BELLS OF ST. MARK.