Daily Kennebec journal., 1919-12-29
STATE HOUSE


ability to write a letter and to read
a newspaper and 24.9 per cent fail
ed. Carrying this percentage to our
whole population we have at least
100000 who would be classed as IL
literates.' The school still has some
thing to do. Only 60 per cent. Of the
children enter the elementary school
ever complete it: only 40 per cent Of
those who complete the elementary
school enter high school and only 5
per cent. complete the course. We
are not getting a sufficient quantity
through the mill and democracy may
star,e while we are grinding the
grist.
Characterization is another big
big task and the burden must fall
largely on the teacher. We have in
round numbers 100000 Of foreign
born and 10000. 900 Of foreign parent
age in this country. Many of these
have come at our invitation, with
honest intentions, and are good ma
terial for citizenship. but they must
know our language and the funda-
mentals Of our givernment.
mo, the school must not even halt.
1t must march on; the teacher must
be kept at her post and her new du-
ties and her added responsibilities de-
mend Of her a full preparation for
her work. Teaching is a skilled pro-
fession and it must be so regarded.
In Maine last year 1888 teachers took
up the work as beginners. About 200
OF them were trained, while the 9TH
ers have no skill in the art.
mo other profession permits It.
Lawyers must have training. Ply
sicians must have training. Nurses,
engineers and accountants must be
trained to the science. Only in teach
ing when we deal not alone with ma
ter1al things, but with plastic and
immortal soul do we permit of the
practice of the novice. But our
schools would break without the as
| slstance of these courageous young
people who have much enthusiasm as
youth affords but no technical skill.
"The time has come. when we must
| discriminate in the teachers pay, be-
tween the prepared and the unpre-
pared. Too long has a teacher been
teacher regardless of training and
ability. Until school officials recog :
| nize special preparation in a sub
stantial way there will be a small in
vestment for our young people to
| prepare as they should. Until train
| ing is encouraged we shall likewise
| have shifting profession. Last year
out of 1854 teachers 2014 have q nor-
| NAL school education and 629 are COL
lege graduates, mostly found in our
high schools. OF these 1854 teach
ers 42S1 are teaching for the first
time in their present positions. Sta
bility likewise is an essential of an
efficient system of schools.
II believe in preparedness. I do
not deceive myself in a belief that
| no matter how We abhor war that
war is at an end. So long as there
is in the hearts of men avarice,
greed. cupidity, revenge, selfisheess
| and deception just SO long will ma
tions embody the same traits of char
| acter and just as long as men and
| nations are unwilling to abide by the
golden rule SO long must pestilence,
famine and war stalk over the sum-
init of civilization. 1t seems neces-
| sary. therefore. to have preparedness
| in military science. Just now the
United States Congress has before
| it a program for an expenditure Of
| $9S9,57S,757 for the army and $542,-
| 031.s04 for the navy. making more
! than s1,500, 100000 for military pre-