The Republican journal., 1920-07-22
North Waldo Pomona.

| North Waldo Pomona grange was en-
tertained by Morning Light grange, Mon
roe, Wednesday. June Both. A heavy
shower occurring at the hour of starting
prevented many from attending, but a
peasant meeting resulted with E. T.
Clifford, member of the State Grange
executive committee, the guest of honor
The meeting was called to order by
worthy Overseer, E. I. Gilbert, and
Fast Master O. B. Dow was requested to
preside. Other vacancies were filled by
the following members: MI and Mrs. C.
Z. Clements, assistant stewards, and
Maude Dow, Pomona.
Only three oranges in this jurisdiction
responded to the roll-call: Northern
Light and Sunrise, Winterport, and the
entertaining grange.
| After brief business session came the
comforting of the degree of Pomona and
INN ediately after, dinner was announce
ed, when all marched to the hall below
where bountiful repast awaited them.
lhe meeting was re-assembled after
an enjoyable social hour and the choir
rendered selection. New business was
resumed and the lecturer read commu-
nication from Mrs. F. M. Thompson,
chairman of the Home economics COM
mlttee of the State grange, requesting
that committee be appointed TO assist
| the lecturer in preparing a program re-
lating to Home economics for one meet
ing during the year. The committee ap-
pointed was Nancy Gilbert, Eda Glenn
ents and Alberta Nickerson.
| Resolutions similar to those adopted
by hnox Pomona Grange in May relat-
ing to the grange school bill water power
OF Maine and protest against re- en-
actment of daylight saving law were
read by Abbie Jewett and adopted. Com
mlttee on the same, G. H. York, A. T.
Nlckerson and Abbie Jewett. C. G.
Clements extended fraternal words of
welcome and Clara D. York briefly re-
sponded in behalf of the visiting mem
bers.
A vocal duet by E. 7. Gilbert and W.
F. Evans received merited applause.
The following question was read: Gre
solved, That the teachers of the State of
Maine are not adequately paid" D. M.
hlmball opened the discussion on the af-
tlrmative, followed by o. B. Dow on the
negative. Others participating in the
discussion were c. c. Clements, Nancy
+. Gilbert, Harold Batchelder, E. T. Gill
bert, Clara D York and Nettie Billings.
Nearly all favored the affirmative. A
vocal solo by Lizzie York was followed
with reading by May j. Curtis.
Mr.. Clifford was introduced at this
| time and spoke upon 'Some of the prob
lens that are facing the rural school"
He mentioned first the scarcity of pupils
and the difficulties liz Transportation,
Then, passing on to the problem of
teachers, he said that the matter of SAL
airy and social conditions surrounding
the rural teacher were a hindrance in
securing the best teachers. In 1916 the
teachers in elementary schools received
an average of $3.50 per year. There
were also 2147 one-teacher schools in
which the average salary was S457. 81.
In 1919 there were 80 schools closed
for lack of teachers and 143, 900 teachers
left the profession.
Mr.. Clifford stated that in the same
year 1888 teachers had no training for
their vocation and therefore the children
were at the mercy of their experiments,
and in many of the rural schools the
moral and physical conditions are sadly
neglected. He further claimed that some
of the present methods lead almost to
mental paralysis, and that the lack of
money and equipment nearly precludos
tho adoption of modern methods.
Trained teachers, he declares, will
solve many of the problems of the rural
school and it is necessary to procure the
best possible, in teachers and equipment,
as only about five per cent of the chill
dren of our State graduate from high
school.
A few statistics were present ed that
are of general interest. In 1916 our State
was eighth in percent of attendance.
18th in average attendance, 18th in num-
Der of school days and Both in per capita
tax for schools. "a 90 per cent Of the
men called in the late war for examina-
ton failed to pass the test of writing a
letter and reading a newspaper. Mr..
Clifford has been in close touch with the
rural schools in an official capacity for
more than 80 years and knows whereof
he speaks. His remarks were closely
followed and he received the usual
courtesies from the members.
Five-minute talk-What is reason
able distance to require a child TO walk
to school? C. c. Clements.
>Paper-Are hot lunches practical in
rural schools? Nancy P Gilbert.
A reading by Nettie Billings concluded
the literary exercises, and after the