The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1914-04-30
ADDRESS OF DIR. ROBERT J. Alley


The meeting of the Home and School Asso.
citation in Memorial Hall last Friday evening
was well attended, many not members of the
association going to hear the excellent address
of DR.. Robert ]. Alley, President of the Uni
versity of Maine, who spoke on the relations
of the Home and the School. Before his ad-
dress the usual business meeting was held. S.
A. Parker presiding. Mrs. James C. Durham
read the records of the last meeting. Hon.
Robert F. Dunton made brief speech, in
which he spoke of the need of a commercial
course in the Belfast schools that would thor
oughly prepare pupils for business career.
Supt. W. B. Woodbury. spoke, saying that it
was impossible for any of the building commit
tee for the proposed new school building pres
ent to give summary of the situation to date,
but the plans we're on exhibition and all would
be given an opportunity to inspect them later.
He then introduced DR.. Alley, whose speech
was received with the closest attention and
interest. DR.. Alley spoke of the present and
increasing need of education due to the
growing complexity of modern life and
civilization. Education, he said, is life
process He spoke Of the passing of the
old, false idea, that education enabled
one to speak in such large terms that they
could not be understood, and said that the
present aim of education was to make great
things simple This point he illustrated tell
ingly with DR.. Jordan's "Story of Stone"
1.-THE man who could tell US wonderful things,
if he only had the words, generally has mis-
taken idea of what he lacks" and "the English
language is capable of expressing all the ideas
that most of US have" were two Of DR.. Alleys
telling sentences. He expressed his confident
belief that at a not far distant day the "Col-
lege Preparatory Course. SO called, would no
LONGER exist in our schools. but that any and
all courses, properly pursued, would constitute
sufficient preparation for college. This
is important, that the doors of opportunity
may be closed to none. The old idea of higher
education existing for the sole benefit Of those
wishing to enter the three"learned professions"
is responsible for the present system. which will
soon be outgrown. It is no longer necessary
to continue all or any of the fitting school stud
les in college unless the student desires to do
so. DR.. Alley spoke at length as to the func-
ton of the schoo., saying that it was not in
tended to take the place of the home, of the
church, or of society, as many people seem to
think. That the home is the place to teach
ethics and to discipline the children before
they are sent into the schools. Then, too, al
though all the civic virtues may be taught
from the text book, the example of the COM
munity in which the future citizen lives will
be the potent factor in influencing his moral
standing. His statement that if the police
men in most towns knew half as much the
boys did of what was going on that they would
either resign or "get busy" brought laughter
and applause. DIR. Alley spoke of the critics
of our present school system as mainly speak
ing about that with which they had no &C
ouaintance, and said that the glamor around
"the good old times" would rapidly fade. could
those who frequently expressed the desire for
the school of long ago be transported to one;
and he gave several instances where distance
lent enchantment. He also told of several
com parisons between the school work OF years
ago and that of today, which were most COM
plimentary to the present methods. The need
of knowledge and cooperation between
home and school was touched upon, and the
good that could be accomplished by the many
Home and School associations springing up all
over the country. DR.. Alley closed with an elo-
auent tribute to the teacher; telling in detail
of James WhitcombRiley' appreciation of the
teachers who had had such an influence on his
life. Dr. Alleys address was much appreciated
and enjoy ed by all present. Misses Marguerite
Owen rendered very pleasing piano solo, and
Misses Lillian Dexter and Edna Curtis gave an
enjoyable piano duet which added to the pleas
ure of the evening.