Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-11-01
MAINE TEACHERS
Continued from Pare One)

MAINE TEACHERS
Continued from Page One)
ening with an address by former
Governor Brumbaugh Of Pennsyl-
vania. who spoke on Lessons of
the War for Educators"
The Rural Life Problem.
State Supt.r of Schools A. o.
Thomas. speaking before the Rural
Life Department, Friday morning,
said in part:
One of our greatest national con-
Germs is the rural life problem and
the rural schools is a vital part of
this. To make the rural in every
way as good as the city school will
Nbe most difficult task but it must
be done. 1t is our problem to con-
serve standard people on the farms
of our country. BY standard, people
l mean standard in education, in in
telligence and in culture, but unless
| something very definite is done very
soon instead of keeping pace with
other parts of our civilization rural
life will wane. There is no reason
why the country ought not to be the
most desirable place in which to live
and the safest place to bring up our
children. The old traditions have it
that the best blood and Drawn and
brains of the past have been pro-
duced by the farm, $50 of all of the
names of who's Who in America"
represent country bred persons.
The free life. the independence of
recreation and pleasurable pursuits
are lying everywhere but mostly dor
mant. Labor saving machinery and
devices for both country men and
country women, the shortening of
hours by introducing machinery.
modern methods of agriculture. the
grading up of stock, and the building
of comfortable and commodious
farmsteads all look attractive to the
person who sees opportunity, but no
matter how great the opportunity Is
nor how alluring the prospect the
country man cannot content himself
to bring up his family without prop
er educational facilities. The little
old country school growing smaller
year by year, the shifting of it's in
adequately paid teachers with each
term and the hardships attendant
upon finding suitable conveniences
for an .out of town teacher make it
all up hill business.
The place to begin to improve the
country school is with the teacher.
But few teachers are determined to
make country teaching a profession.
They are willing to begin there and
get little experience but they hope
to be rescued at the end of the first
season either by some enterprising
superintendent who has a more ad-
vantageous position to offer or by an
opportunity for matrimony. The
country teacher should receive the
best pay of the profession for it is
the big job. 100000 of the a.
100000 children in the United States
are country children. More people
are engaged in agriculture and live
upon the farm than in any other one
line of work. The farm is the basic
institution as it produces food for the
multitude. The country teacher also
needs the best training. besides a
general course of academic instruc-
ton and pedagogy the country teach
er needs to specialize. a specializa-
ton in rural life movements, and
specialization in rural sociology and
economics, specialization in agricul-
tural enterprises, specialization in
social service, specialization in all
grades Of instruction.
The State of Maine has ATTEMPTED
to solve this great problem by estab-
fishing q distinct rural profession and
the demonstration is more than sue
cessful. During the last summer 90
teachers were selected and given a
six weeks course at the expense of
the State at the end of the year they
will receive a bonus of % per cent OF
their salaries. One of these teach
ers is receiving a salary Of over
$1,000. The money spent is the best
money that has been paid out FOR
education. The results are marvel
Gus. The enthusiasm and intelligent
procedure of these teachers is being
felt. Other teachers are cooperating
with them and superintendent are
finding much assistance. Young
teachers are looking forward to work
of this character and are getting
ready to enter our normal schools
for the purpose of becoming rural
teachers. How fine it will be when
young people of the best personality
and highest type of mentality def
nitely plan and prepare for rural
education. 1 have already visited
some twelve or fifteen Of these teach
ers and am amazed at the trans
formation. Within the last ten days
I have witnessed some of the finest
instruction and school management
I have seen in years.
This liz an important movement in
the State of Maine. Other states are
watching with intense interest the
demonstration. Maine Is rural
state, the largest group of her citi-
zens are dependent upon the farm.
We have here the very best Of agri-
cultural opportunities. Farming in
Maine can be made intensely profit
able and pleasant. With the estab-
fishing of market roads and good
schools the people will be loathe to
leave the farm, improvements will
take place. broad acres will come I'M
der cultivation, better methods will
fbe adopted and additional wealth will
no accumulated No effort fs too