Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-06-24
Roy L. W'ardwell
The Teachers State"

In the course Of we'll deserved
tribute TO the eminent Maine educa-
tor who Is 10 become commissioner
OF education in this state, the Spring
field Republican calls Maine the
state Of schoolmasters." Undoubted-
ly tina, designation applies more ac
curately than the Pine Tree state"
does IN these later days. For gem
GRAFTON or more, teachers have been
one OF the leading exports OF Maine.
Every state knows them. but Mas
sachusetts has been wise enough to
gather in the larger part Of them in
their passage westward. AS pr!n
cipals. superintendent. specialists
and grade teachers YOU will find them
In almost ever c!ty and village.
Commissioner Smith will not De
lonesome. for Deputy Commissioner
Small also halls from Maine along
with many others IN high places
even here in Boston where local con-
ditions offer the outsider Jess cor
dial welcome than ne gets in the sub
urbs and elsewhere. Ii seems to be
the natural thing for a Massachu-
setts town, when il wants princi-
pal. or for combination Of our
towns. when they want superin-
tendent TO turn TO Maine. or 20 I
man who came from Maine. And ne
in turn promptly finds room on his
star for frightening lis, of teach
ers who had their training and early
experience In Maine. The lure Of
the higher salaries here does the
business. but it is hardly the pros
pect OF riches that draws young men
and women into the teaching pro
fession a. the start.
II would be an interesting study TO
hnd why Maine is so productive in
good teachers. To be sure, il has
ave good normal schools and four
colleges. OF which three are rich in
old-fa shioned traditions; but is it
the all round training that the am
bilious young people Of Maine get,
or is II an Intangible something in
the atmosphere that consecrates
them 20 a life work that finds its
chief reward in the consciousness of
a duty 10 the community well per-
formed? Maine may we'll be proud
OF its perennial crop Of teachers, on
which Massachusetts draws so free
ly. The splendid output is not the
least distinction Of state that lives
well up 10 its motto of i show the
way"-Boston Herald.
In talking with a Massachusetts, gen.
tleman four years ago he said to the
writer:
Il pass my summers in Maine.
think il equals Switzerland in grand
eur. is three times as large as Belgium,
and the standard Of living obtainable
st moderate expenditure surpasses that
OF any part OF the world. Butt should
not care to live in your state all the
year round, because Of my children and
your schools. You know that our
Massachusetts school system is su-
perior to that Of any part Of the coun-
try"
Our reply may have been somewhat
severe; IL was certainly emphatic
enough 10 set him to thinking (for he
was a highly intelligent gentleman
misled by the oft-repeated claims of
those who pat themselves on the
back):
We know your school system from
A TO z. for It is made up Of superin-
tendents. principals, teachers and spe-
cial educators from Maine. We have
supplied the Bay State and scores Of
others with their school systems. and
there are better in the State than have
ever been hired out Of 1t. II you could
secure our State superintendent of
schools and give him a free hand for
Ave years you could then come to us
and discuss the proposition Of your
schools equaling those Of Maine"
Now they HAVE secured Payson