Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-06-13

great system enrolling over hundred
and thirty thousand children through
an average school year of more than
thirty-three weeks. Above this COM
mon schoofsystem We find more than
fourteen thousand young men and wo-
men attending secondary schools at
state and community expense. pro-
portionate record exceeded by only
two states of tie Union.
To instruct this great army of public
school pupils there are employed more
than 1000 teachers, public servants of
the highest and best type. To support
this system of public education a gem
erous people through the State and its
communities gave last year more than
two and a quarter millions of dollars
Nor Is this all, for through public sup
port and private benefeence there have
been made available higher opportuni-
ties in six splendid State normal and
training schools and four colleges that
are the peers of any Of a land justly re-
nowned for the excellence of such in
stitutions. In these normal schools with
their 700 students and in these colleges
with their EGO earnest men and women
we may indeed find the capsheaf of an
educational system that merits and that
receives the support of loyal and pa-
triotic State.
The public school system combined
with these other great eivlizing agencies.
the home aId the church, have given us
today a citizenship that is the peer OF
any in respect to Independence, resource
fulness. elearness of vision and sanity
of thought.
To this end, ! take it, our forefathers
founded our schools and to this purpos
we commit them again in our own day
and generation. Our people tax them
selves for the support of education moi
for the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT of the Individual
nor for the promotion of individual sue
cess These things are incidental The
fundamental object of it all of the cosi.
of the devotion, of the sacrifices, IS TO
insure to the future the kind of citizen
ship that viii bear the test of any crisi
that may arise in popular form OF
government or what is often more ditii-
cult will discharge with credit those
daily responsibilities that make up the
total of our civic existence.
But. my friends hoy however aa. great he TIE
good record, no one of as should be, or
will be satisfied to leave things exactly
as they are. The progress that brought
us to this daE is but challenge 10 lead
us to still greater achievement for the
future.
Proud as we, are today, Of what Our
schools gre and of what they have done
we shall not be satisfied until they oc-
cupy in every respect the place they
ought to hold in the service of our peo-
pie / am profoundly impressed with
the fact that the Maine school system
will not be all that we want II to BE-
until il gives to every boy the kind OF
a chance that he needs to have. Our
State today is a great, industrial conf
monwealth We are people OF the
farms of the shops. of the mills, OF the
factories. OF the highways of the set
The great majority of our bows and girls
are to be workers in the home or In I'm
dustrial pursuits. We would not have 1t
otherwise for in this is happiness, con-
toni and progress. | regard il as mat
ter of supreme Importance that into the
education of the rising generation shall
go those elements which will aid these
multitudes who are to enter industrial
pursuits so 10 develop their talents and
their powers that they will be able TO
fill with success to themselves and with
which they viii be called.
| believe that in these new educational
and encouraged by the State and by
communities the Maine school system
viii, more even than before, give t.
every child his own chance, and shall
work with his hands in favor of those
who are to fill the professions.
| can voice no wish for this school
stronger than this-that the teacher.
who 80 out from it into the service Of
children may acquire here the ardent
ambition to lead every child into that
knowledge of his own powers and tai
ents, a supreme confidence in them aud
an ambition to employ them in the ser
vice of the world.
few DAYS since a nation paused to
pay its annual tribute TO the noble souls,
who by their great sacrifice preserved to
us iottNti ltttS ltlOal tHith. We
paused amid the cares of the present to
look into the past that we might renew
our fidelity to the principles that We're
laid down by our fathers to guide us IN
the upbuilding of the Republic. SO
should the men of every generation do,
to the end that the wealth of experience
accumulated through years of endeavor,
struggle even of warfare. may remain
to help US in the discharge of the du-
ties Of our present day citizenship. We
should be indeed unworthy of the rich
heritage that has come to us il we did
not so.
Equally fitting is ii however, while We
pay allegiance TO the past and acknowl |
edge our obligation TO il, that we re-
ture Citizenship i'm a nation like our is |
no mean thing, and every man who is |
worthy of its possession must think not |