Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-12-05
NOT SERIOUSLY.
Educators Appear TO Be
Somewhat Amused
AL Efforts Of Uniform School
Law Association
To Secure Passage Of Act Fixing
Date Of Opening Schools.

The New England Uniform School
Law Association, with headquarters
ut York Beach, announces that 1t will
make an effort at the extra session of
the Legislature in February to have
a law passed. making Sept. 20 the
opening date for Maine schools. Petit
lions are already being circulated, adj
dressed to the Legislature, asking for
the passage of such an act upon the
ground that it will be for the best in
terest of the State and for those who
spend their summer vacation in Maine
that the school laws be amended, 50
as 40 make on or about Sept. 20. in
each year, the opening time for the
fail term of school Another petition
is being circulated. asking those who
believe in the movement to subscribe
Il fund to further its interests and aid
in the passage of the law
The State educational department
does not look with particular favor
upon this movement and State Super
intendent of Schools Payson Smith,
in an interview with d Journal report
er, Monday afternoon, said that he
did not believe the movement would
be taken seriously by those who locked
upon the situation from the viewpoint
of the welfare of humanity. Said
Supt. Smith:
Relative to the New England Uni
form School Law Association, which
you mention, ] would say that so far
as | can learn from the advance lit
erature the object of this movement
is to secure the postponement of the
opening of the public schools in order
that the summer resort season may
be extended. OF course, under our
present law the experimenting school
committee of each town decides when
the schools of that town shall open
for the fall term. 1t will be necessary
to effect a change in the law, ii the
opening of schools is everywhere
throughout the state to be deferred
to Sept 20. Personally, | am of the
opinion that our present law, allowing
as ii does each town TO consider its
own situation and needs in relation
TO term arrangement is entirely salts
factory. II should be borne in mind
that conditions in Maine and through
out New England are varied and That
in many towns the school term must
be opened fairly early if it is not TO
extend into the usually inclement late
fall. In the cities and larger villages
this may not make great difference.
but in the smaller towns and rural
sections il would be a hardship.
Moreover it appears to me that the
object desired that of retaining our
summer visitors involves chiefly
change in the term opening of the
large cities of other states. 1t does not
seem to me at all likely that other
states would rearrange their school
terms for the advantage of the COM
paratively small number who are able
r. take extended summer vacations
The rights of the majority of children
who will necessarily be at home in the
cities at that time are likely 10 be
given chief consideration. From my
/ observation | should say that to
| change Labor day would be more eff
fectivc in prolonging the summer re-
sort season than to change the date
Of opcning schools. That holiday now
generally marks the close of the sum-
ner season. / think our friends must
realize that movement TO set for