Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-07-10
Cooperate in Practical
High School Education.
FiichhuTg, Mass Plan Outlined
Al Casiine Convention.
Meetings for the Large School and
Small School Superintendent.

Castine, Me, July s.-(special) The
large attendance at the meetings held,
. today is encouraging. Superintend-
ents and principals took part in dis
eussions in manner that showed a
live interest.
This afternoons meetings We're in
two sections. one for High school men.
at which Prin W +. Sargent of He
bron was the chief speaker, and the
other for superintendents. A meet
ing of the teachers of agriculture in
secondary schools was also held.
A most important discussion was
that which occurred, today in the
superintendent section. State super
intendent Payson Smith presented
proposition that the superintendents
take concerted action looking TO the
betterment of rural schools.
Taking as his topic. "A Systematic
Campaign for Improving the Status
of Country Schools Superintendent
Smith spoke in part as follows.
IF Maine is 10 hold the progress
she has already made In the develop
ment of her agricultural interests and
is TO improve on her record, as we all
believe she can, il is imperative that
the country school be made gust as
good a school IN its place as any 9TH
er in it's own field.
If Maine has good rural schools
sheseans hold her rural population and
attract more. IL she permits her coun-
try schools to become inefficient new
citizens will not come To our conn
try sections and the best of our pres
emit rural residents will leave the
country.
sWsith Names present large asri-
>caI,urali area and with the possiDil-
tiles of future development the rural
school problem. everywhere OF great
inheritance. becomes with us especial
ly sos
-,rlfefe is ample evidence that many
of the peopis of rural Maine are keen
" alive To the Importance of improV-
ing their schools. This evidence Is
shown not only in the Inquiries they
are making. but especially in the adj
: yaucas that have recently been made
in very many towns in the better
paid teachers improved buildings.
fonger school year, and more sys-
- .-Ishe people are looking to those
whom they have placed in charge OF
tffeir schools to move as rapidly as is
consistent with permanent progress To
hiring the country school system to the
level of efficiency that will insure TO
country children equality of eduea-
tiatai onportunities as compared with
others
of schools can
greatly Quicken rural school improve
srnent. For example, | note that Maine
superintendents report that there are
4ssechool buildings of the state mat
are i'm poor condition. The majority,
though not all, of these are situated
in village aad country. With the pres
ent liberal provisions of the state Tor
the support of schools there appears
to be no reason Why every community
should not make available Tor us
I. children suitable school buildings ny
this r d., not mean costly ones 40
mean buildings that are clean anu
sanitary with plenty of playground,
with proper heating, lighting, ana
Ventilation No town should be con-
tent with giving its children less than
that. ~ 57,,s,
: 1.-THE reason why II Is oIleh Vim
cult to secure favorable action ON mat :
tiers of this kind is that they are no,
Z sxblaineds definitely enough 10 the
citlzciis.
p would suggest therefore, THAT
every superintendent of schools in
Maine prepare special report OF his
(, citizens On the conditions of their
y school buildings. This report should
it.mt2e school by school, every need
!. ed Improvement. whether enlargea
grounds, paint, shingles, windows
flooring or whatever else, great care
being taken t, secure the advance ac-
cnrate estimates of the cost TINS
report should be in the hands OF cru
I zeps before the annual town meetings.
in ample season for reflection, WIZ
program of this kind the numper OF
poor school buildings in Maine shouao