Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-10-29
They Are Cordially Welcomed by Mayor Morey-.
Address by State Supt. Smith, Memorial Ser
vice--Evening Address by Rev. F. Dewitt Tall
mage, New York--BuSy Day for All Friday.

permnatrs all our civic and social en-
terprises so completely that it is not
too much TO say that their success de-
ponds upon the manner in which the
stewardship represented here is dis
charged
Of the entire population of our State
nearly one fifth is engaged in the work
of preparing for life through the cdu-
cational institutions supported by the
state ana its municipalities.
1t is gratifying that we can see indi-
cations that this enterprise has the
abundant confidence of the public
which supports it and that it is APP
rarentjy in 4 prosperous condition. 1t
is ret necessary to appeal solely to
personal opinion to prove such public
interest and such prosperity Ii is
shown conc!usiVcly in the facts report,
ed by the school officers of the state.
For example: | note from the returns
of superinteHdents OF schools that last
year the average length of the school
year in Maine was increased by a total
of two full weeks. ana that the people
Of the Safe appropriated two hundred
of elementary schools than in the year
preceding. Such facts are conclusive
evidence that the people OF Maine are
uot unnindfuI of the needs of their
schools.
NJ purpose today, however, is not
to "llumcratc the achievements that
nave made for educational progress but
rather to call your attention briefly to
SOM" of the n"Xt steps which it APP
pears t. me We must lie prepared to
take
May | say i'll passing. moreover, that
tho suggestions | am to make are not
to he regarded as criticism of what has
already been done. There is a tenden-
rY 10 regard any suggestion for the i'm
proNcment of school conditions a. an
1lnf" VOrable criticism of conditions
that exist. Such an Interpretation is
not always correct. The schools of tho
present day are on the whole better
than any that bay" preceded th",r.
Their growth and progress to the pres
ont point of excellence are themselves
the best arguments for their future
perirnc' and the needs Of the people
indicate.
The Physical Welfare Of the Child.
Among the movements which are
bound to have greater recognition i'll
the immediate futur" is that which
deals with the ohild's physical welfara.
The conservation of power is q slogan
which has been applied to natural re
sources Of many and varied Kinds. 1t
-, l,, ,,l,t oil
nonts supplied by Nature for tho ser
vice and protection of mankind. it may
well he applied also to man himself
1t is not necessary that we should
look to the example OF what other
states and countries ar" doing IN the
better protection of childhood cncour-
aging as that example is. We shall
find ample Justification for such action
in our own needs. Let m" call your
attention for moment to tn" REQUIRE
ment the state makes Of its children in
the matter of school attendance. As
you Well know the law insists that ali
children between tn" ages OF seven and
fifteen attend school all the tim" that
schools are in session. 1t permits no
option to tn" children or to the parents
and provides serious penalty for its
violation.
The normal right--oven obligation
of the state to protect itself against
the enemies of illitcracy and ignorance
through such compulsory education can
hardly be OPEN to question. The as
sumption Of this obligation. however
incurs another which is to see that tn"
child finds in the schools in as small
a degree as human ingenuity can con-
trive. any condition which shall jeopar-
die his health or physical welfare. In
other words, there is a very distinct OBJ
legation urOn the State to see that
children shall attend school under pro-
per physical conditions.
4 child is entitled to protection from
2nv condition that might cause or ag-
gravato physical defects. he IS entitled
to have a school in which conditions OF
lighting, heating ventilation and san
itation have been given proper conslo-
Grafton. and he is entitled to reasonable
,,"otection from the dangers OF cohta
gion.
wear ago the superintendent o
Maine reported that out of three tiio's
and eight hundred and thirty-iou'
sctoo! buildings in the State ilVe nun
bred and fiftv-seven were in poor con
Gi.ion. Last wear the same officers re-
norted that four hundred and ninety
six school buildings were unfit. Whii'
this is progress-it is PROCESS at rat
that would require ten years TO ferof
TO the people of Maine that their schoo
houses were in fit condition. and II Is
probably not unfair to say that such
report represents conditions at then
best. A period of ten years is TOT
great for the children of Maine to wal