Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-07-21
Three Important Prob.
lens in Maine Schools


tenn Of the State, attention is called to
three which are of very general signi-
ficance, in the annual school report
which was recently presented to the
Governor and Council. These are
Training in Citizenship" 1.-The School
Library" and The Extension of In
dustrial Education"
Training in Citizenship.
The dependence Of democratic instl-
tutions upon an intelligent citizenship
is too obvious to call for comment.
General intelligence, however. or even
a liberal education does not necessarily
imply that the possessor will be GOOD
citizen. Citizenship is vocation,
business and as such requires on the
part of the citizen intelligent under
standing of the principles that underly
the management Of the body polite, a
sense of duty trained to active particip-
alton, a real interest in all that per-
tains to social welfare. The schools
are intimately concerned with prepara-
ton for citizenship. The high school
has a most remarkable opportunity. In
this state are about $4,000 young men
and women now in these schools who
in a short time are to become active in
community affairs. Three thousand
graduated from the secondary schools
this year In FIVE years at most a very
large part of them will be of voting age
ond must assume the responsibility of
citizenship.
Whether they go about it seriously,
intelligently and with unselfish interest
will depend in a large measure upon
the influence and teaching Of the
school. The state may reasonably ex-
pect that this body of young men and
! women for whom special advantages
have been provided will in return give
the state the benefit of education in
civic activities equal at least to that
which they bring to its industrial and
social life
In order that such a condition may
obtain, much greater emphas sis must be
given to instruction in citizenship in all
the schools. A study of the curricula
of the high schools of the state shows
that verv few schools require of all stu
dents course relating directly to the
, study of civics.
Practically all the schools offer courses
IN civil government and American his
tory. But these are so arranged as to
be elective for the greater part of the
student body or so placed that many
may not reach them because of leaving
school before the completion of the
course.
If the schools are to train the young
men and the women in the secondary
schools for citizenship it will be essen
tial to secure larger enrolment in the
courses offered. This may be done in
two ways, by requiring some course or
courses Of all students or by making
the courses Of such a nature that pu-
pills will! choose them voluntarily 1t
would seem as reasonable to require
civics as algebra or geometry or per-
haps English itself. At least, one
years work on this subject ought to
| nave the value Of equivalent time in
either Of the subjects mentioned An
alternative consists of making the
courses offered effective for the pur-
| pose designed. These courses as a rule
have dealt largely with the theory Of
| government and details Of mechanical
organization. They have not concerned
sufficiently the every day activities OF
the citizen in his community. "Prac-
! tical civics" is a name given to the
subject when it deals with the immedi-
ate local affairs from the point of view
Of disinterested social service and real
patriotism. When the course is pre-
sented in this form it invariably at
tracts and holds pupils
The School Library.
Among the immediate needs of the
secondary schools is that of adequate
library facilities. The school library
has two important functions. The first
is to provide supplementary material
without which the course in several
important subjects is incomplete. The
second is to provide general reading
| suited to the tastes and interests of
nigh school pupils. Both these objects
are vital IN high school education. 1t
appears from investigation of the H.
braries Of the high schools that outside
OF few high schools and a very small
number Of schools in towns where the
pubic library is cooperating in very
eHective manner the library equipment
Is very meager indeed The state de-
partment has not formulated require
ments for school libraries but has con-
stantly urged upon school officials the
Importance Of securing regular appro-
priations for this purpose. It's devel-
opement and upkeep are fully as essen
tial as the efficiency to the school as
that OF any other department. 1t
should be properly housed, carefully
managed and literally supported
AS an accessory to the permanent
school library the special travelling H.
braries for high schools authorized by
act OF the last legislature will be Of
great value. The state library in this
way places at the disposal Of schools a
large amount Of useful material at a
very small cost.
Extension Of Industrial Education,
Attention has already been called to
the very limited field now occupied by
practical arts courses as shown by the
enrolment Of students The act for in
dustrial education provides a liberal
subsidy for the maintenance of courses
In agriculture. household and mechanic
arts In secondary schools. The returns
Tor the year show that agriculture has
been taught in four high schools. Nina