Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-10-31

WILL 0uSQUdlt AdGlllIy lilo the SDClR4
and economic fabric of society. A
system Of education adequate to the
task of providing a sovereignty
must be within the reach of all of
the children Of all of the people
Il Is up TO American education 10
dam up the stream of mob spirit and
BolsheviMr which is sweeping with
subrnerge the peaceful garden of
American freedom. The children of
today must save America of tnmur-
row. The lessons taught IN our
schools must direct the Thought Of
future citizens. II the children are
impressed with clear regard of law
and order and organized society, 4
they are taught 70 think and TO ac.
as members Of society instead of in
civiGuals wholly irresponsible 10
others they viii imparT a strength 10
American institutions not otherwise
oDrainabis. L rests. therefore with
our teachers to accept the burden of
teaching the future ages IN the art Of
self-governmenI. We are today IN 4
state Of moral collapse; we are like
an athlete VINO mas put every ounce
of energy INTO an effort to win and
then within the shadow Of the goa
he lies n 4 state Of physical exnaus-
ton. EOW soon we shall be restored
to state Of moral equilibrium can
not be determined. unrest, distrust
class distinction. race riots. mob rule
!. ". W, iHm. acracniEIn, anc boIgne
visn are bringing confusion not only
10 Us but to the world. Amid all Of
this our schools must be kept steady
Discipline becomes an essential. and
the boys anG girls Of America must
be taught that while this Is the land
Of freedom Il IS not 4 land Of law
les6ness ana violence, and that the
Soviet is Just Is dangerous II the
school as IN the government. Re-
Gently the students of Z nigh school
undertook 10 wrest authority from le
cally constituted officials because
they sought To uphold definite whole
some standards in fnterschuIastIc
games. In such Instances II becomes
The duty Of the school board to stand
squarely behind the teachers as il
becomes the duty Of the citizens TO
uphold the arms of the law In no
instance should the Soviet be toera1 -
ed in the school with lis tendency
towards boisbevisrn IN later eXpari-
enceS. ORA wing their subsistence
from the public schools must now
ing into the lives of our young a
wholesome regard for organized gov
cr1mert n the home. in the school.
on the straet. and in the state. The
mpb spirit of violence just now so
rampant throughout the land must
not be transmitted 70 the on-com
lnc citizen. The stream OF self gov
erumert must not ne polluted by
misguided IdeaIists and false doc
trInes or the right Of Irresponsible
bodies 70 take the laws into their
own hands.
The State superintendent pointed
out the fact tfal We Lave III Amer
ica no national standards or ideals of
education. that some g. hureaus.
boards and committees a Washing
ton ere changed with school act!vj-
ties. and this conflict OF authority is
detrimental 10 the progress of the
schools. There is not only q lack of
coordlnate educational forces, but
there is lack OF definite. consistent
! irreducabie standards which pertain
throughout the nation. Our schools
are not adequately financed, and the
most important work of the nation is
being done by the Young people who
have no special training for the
skilled work they attempt 10 do, and
this condition must prevail until
sufficient inducement can he offered
for those VINO Wish 70 enter the pro-
fessiDn 10 secure expert mining on
a par with other learned professions.
He urged the teachers Of the state
who are IN the service and those
who are coming IN TO seek every
possible avenue for self and profess
siona Improvement and guaranteed
thar the public will be ready 10 come
ID the RESCUE OF the profession in
this great educational Crisis as fast
as teachers will bring Up their pro-
fessional standards.
State superintendent Thomas ex-
pressed has appreciation Of the att
tude Of the press in regard to teach
ers' wages and conditions under
which teachers labor. He believed
that vote OF thanks is due from the
profession 70 the press Of the coun-
try for lis interest in the welfare Of
the school apG for its courage TO
speak out in meeting" on very
delicate subject.
In mentioning the New Glorles Of
Old Glory" the State superintendent
spoke of infranchisernent of women.
Of constitutional prohibition. Of the
elimination Of Intolerance and big
otrv II religious belief and the car
l-ying or the torch of liberty 10 the
other nations OF the world.