The independent-reporter., 1909-12-09
CONDITIONS ~ orR stnooi :.
,can,lnassi irom Pa. ot,


asaiiahi. Ia thnss nosi aalsp0isH a.
ths subject and in tie t0ok lssHfz
Rhere not uuly dors lie Issue lutaiK.
questions faf lo4 technical ipg uHsf
4 ~ but tie uliimai. dsr'Wnf 81
hHss un hearing upon either '.s#F ~
individual advancement h"re u
skoSnogan. Il Indeed aue hero eIae
nm further encouraged - hfirf ~
Ills subject Of the conservation nf
II, health of SkoN heRan school chi
dren as q really I've ahd profitable ls#
sue hocauae have faith fha' the Hsa
pie who read and think all s"e - Il
hal the apparent heTiiseuco nj these
vital matiers viii not continue buf
that their realization of actual con
ditiona will lead 10 remedial action
The town meeting form ui govern
ment to be successful neressitates a
+ lively interest in town affairs -
+ days In the year as we'll as private
md public discussion of the more
/ important issues for months before
town meeting day.
was once informed al a national
convention that a public officer must
be ready at all times 10 be criticized
regarding his performance OF public
duties. | accept this as part OF the
compensation and perquisites OF hold
] ing public office, and as a citizen | in
turn claim my right to speak o. pub
/ lie officers In a similar way without
any intent to make il a personal mat
ter. Take the case under discussion.
the Skowhegan school board-it has
three members and the unfortunate
condition exists that the two mem
bers who are well qualified to serve
by reason of collegiate and profess
SIGNAL training and especially of be-
ing fathers of school children are the
less active in the most important
task entrusted TO them. The third
member of the board must be credit
ed on the other hand with a full ac
ceptance of the responsibility of his
office and an active performance OF
its duties So it happens that IN the
opinion of many the activity of The
board thus centralized in one mem
ber is rot directed by the maximum
of knowledge possible in view of its
personnel. 1t is of course more pleas
ant to follow the easy path of op
timistc assent to present conditions
but civic duty may demand The criti-
cal consideration of the facts and If
that leads to criticism of the school
board, why should we hesitate? Do
we acknowledge any obligation to a
public servant however strong may
e tie promptings of good nature and
friendly relations, that is comparable
in any respec' or degree to our obli-
on to the school children of
Skowhegan?
1t las been rcported that the
schools OF SkowheSan are now on a
business basis and that good bust
ne-s arrangement resulted last year
IN balance to the credit of the
town. Business method in town af-
fairs are commendable, though in
view of the feeling among those most
interested in the schools that too
little is appropriated, the thought
occurs to some whether the money
was not appropriated to be expend-
ed. Again. however desirable a saw
ing in fuel, what about the hygienic
conditions of the school rooms and
the time lost to individual scholars
by reason of sore throats and to
whole schools by reason of diphtheria
quarantine? In these days of an en-
lightened public, the connection is
recognized between foul air and de-
pressed vitality, sensitive throats, and
diseased ears, which in turn afford
all too favorable condition for infec-
ton Therefore were the school ac-
counts fully itemized would the bal
aDce be on the right side?
The remedy for all this must sug-
gest itself to everyone: An aroused
interest on the part of fathers and
mothers in the schools where our
children spend so large part of their
time when body and mind and soul
are most sensitive to their environ
ment; something more than an easy
going and good natured participation
by the fathers in the town meetings
where money is appropriated for the
schools and officials chosen to ad-
minister them; a lively realization on
the part of the school board that they
were elected for service and that the
greater the qualifications for such
service the greater the responsibility
not to delegate the work to other
members of the board; and above all
a demand on the part of the public
for something more than a business
administration of our schools, an ad-
ministraton that will concern itself
more with the health of the scholars
and teachers than with the cost OF
supplies, more with education than
with economy, and that will allow
more initiative to the teachers in the
important matters of school room
ventilation than authority to the jani-
tors.
Very respectfully,