Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-01-07

Continued Tram Page one)
the privilege Of nlling poor houses, in
sane asylums. jails and penitentiaries :"
IL. NO man. nor group of men. has the
right to endorse. regulate or license an
evil, even by legislation"
The report OF the educational commit.
tee. OF which Mrs. Mary c. Richardson
is the chairman, was then read as fol-
lows:
Each of the educational committee Is
carrying on in her own club or communi-
ty the line of educational work in which
she Is most interested. For example,
Mrs. Chilcott is interested in military
training being required in all our High
schools, and also in the teaching of the
Bible in the schools. Mrs Marsh of Dex-
ter Is interested in club extension work
In the rural schools or communities and
in forming a parent-teacher association
in her own town. Most Of US are doing
something in our own towns to help to-
ward making the moving picture move
ment the clean. wholesome, educational
force for children that it ought to be-:
and in general we have met with a fine
spirit OF cooperation on the part of the
managers. The banner in this work goes
to Miss Hale OF Pressure Isle. who will
speak later on her work. Fuller reports
of these other lines of work will be given
later.
AS committee We have dedicated our
year to the betterment of the rural
6chools The talk given by our State su-
perintendent Of schools at Pressure Isle
last fall was adopted as our constitution
and bylaws. One sentence from that add
dress we have tried to make our key SEN
tence: 'If you ask me-" he says. what
is most needed just now to assist the
country schools in Maine ! should say it
is = practical and rational program of
betterment based on the needs that exist
and looking toward the accomplishments
that are possible"
Some of the needs that exist are more
comfortable and sanitary buildings; bet
ter paid teachers may be employed VINO
have been trained for the work more
supervision and more books and appara-
tus. We do not say all OF the law rurai
schools need all Of these essentials. but
MANY df those we have visited need some
one Of them.
Realizing that whatever Improvement
is made must come from wlthln,
adopted the following plan of work We
have prepared a circular to re sent 10
rural school teachers suggesting ways
in which they themselves may WORK
to better the school urging them 10
try to arouse the interest OF the COM
munity: and stating the different ways
in which parents and other citizens may
he of service-as parent-teacher ascot
atoms school improvement leagues. o"
simple entertainments. Several types of
nragran1s are to be included to assist
m nlannlns the latter. We shall also in
c,ude a list of books with publishers and
prices. and copy Of Mr.. Smiths pro-
gram of betterment for rural schools.
In order that We may send these di-
rectlv to the teachers We have asked
the s,rperintendents in six counties to
send us the names OF the rural school
teachers in their towns. Not all re-
ports are vet in. but in Hancock county
alone we have over $50 names of such
teachers and hope within a month to
have these circulars in their hands.
AS we are sending these directly to
the teachers and not to the clubs, this
is our only opportunity to suggest to you
what individual clubs may do to help our
work and to tell you how much we need
your help
l. Our committee is an information
bureau for rural school teachrs: urge
teachers in your community to send us
a post card for our circular and CORE
siond with any member OF our committee
if they wish Information or help; if We
do not know we will look it up.
3 Get the public library to send a
travelling library to the rural school,
Or send magazines Or books to those
where YOU know they are needed and
wanted
8. Extend your club work TO the rural
school or community. 1t will depend on
the individual club how this may be best
accomplished. hut one way is to get rural
members with the understanding that the
club will come to them instead of their
having to come to the club. Then you
have foot-hold for carrying on any
work the club may wish without violat-
ing the principle that the interest must
come from within. You have an agent
or representative in the rural commu-
nifty.
&eOHttHOSE tHdL our cOHIn1ttee IS a DuD.
licity agency and an information bureau
and that while We shall not attempt to
communicate with all Of you, We should
be very glad to hear from any one of you
who II especially interested in our work
and will gladly correspond with you for
the PURPOSE of receiving or giving in
formation or advice.
After these suggestions had been
made the business Of the meeting was
transacted, tho FIRST to come up being
that Of electing q nominating COM
mittee for 1e15-16. The following were
elected: Mrs. Stanley Plummer, Dex-
ter; Mrs. r. H. Noble, Bangor; Mrs.
E. c. Carl. Augusta; Mrs. NJ. v.
Howe, Presque Isle; Mrs. E. ".
Heath, Waterville.
As members Of the resolution COM
mittee the president then appointed:
Mrs. Henry Hunton, Oakland; Mrs.
Morrill,. Lewiston; Mrs. Grace Wilbur,
Old Town.
Delegates to the New England Con-
ference to be held Feb. 4. 1915, at Bur
unetcn, VT. were then elected as fol-