Daily Kennebec journal., 1921-10-28

/ iit anu nave pluNNeQ a trip OF III
| spection to the Northern portion OF
the State, and having just returned
! from this trip, want to tell you OF
| one of the most interesting expert
ences of my life.
Il am familiar with the school sys-
tenn of Maine and understand it's de-
tails and its aims. but l wanted to
80 right to the heart of the boy and
girl question, and SO DR.. Thomas and
!, with the members OF my staff. took
a weeks journey through the school
district of Northern Maine Begin
ming at Bangor we visited schools of
all sizes and conditions along the
way to Aroostook County. There we
saw poor little buildings of one story.
weather beaten and worn, some so
small that two of them could be
placed upon this platform leaving
ample space between them. In build
ings of this sort the windows were
loose and rafting, and old wood
burning stoves with crooked stove
pipes tied to the ceiling by wire were
the only means of furnishing heat.
These buildings had creaky floors,
The walls were painless, and light
and ventilation were poor. In these
places we found the teachers, kindly
and cheerful, struggling bravely on
without complaint to teach from IS
to so children in from five to seven
grades. My heart went out to these
devoted women interested in their
work and hopeful for the future. The
children were often times scantily
clothed and were none too we'll fed,
hut they were children just the same,
with all the latent possibilities of
childhood, and they seemed as happy
and contented as those housed in
finer buildings and dressed in finer
clothes. Those little ones made a
special appeal to us and l determined
anew to cooperate with DR.. Thomas
in his efforts to better conditions in
the schools of Maine.
"a few miles beyond such poor lit
tie schools as | have described, which
fortunately are becoming fewer each
year, we would often come upon more
modern buildings, placed on good
foundations, with good light, air, and
sanitary arrangements. In those
buildings there were good black
boards and comfortable desks for the
little ones. and there the world looked
brighter and the teachers had reason
to be more encouraged by the sup
port which the local authorities had
given them. We came to schools of
really modern construction, model
buildings, built on plans approved
by the Department of Education, with
everything about them simple, dura-
bic. clean and wholesome, for school
architecture in recent years has un-
dergone great changes. In these
schools provision had been made for
warming the luncheons of the chill
dren who came from far away. 1t
must be Il great satisfaction for a
teacher to carry on her work in such
surroundings as these. for she knows
that every effort on her part will be
rewarded by a ready response of
healthy children.
1T mattercd not whether the school
vas poor or prosperous. large or
small. we received the same cordial
reception and were much impressed
by the spirit of loyalty that was
manifested. Standing in the cold
winds outside the school buildings,
often times in dcsolate surroundings,
the teachers. or the teaching sisters.
with the children grouped around
them. stood ready to meet us. Little
children Of from five to seven years
Of age joined heartily with the older
ones in singing America" and the
Star Spangled Banner" and in re-
citing the salute to the flag. The
scholars in the French speaking Sec
tions of the State were not to be out
done in any respect by those of the
other parts of the county. and they
manifested splendid spirit of loyal
" and patriotism. Little children
who had just begur to study Eng
lish, and who could not understand
what | said to them. sung "Aperica"
in perfect English.
1T was distinct privilege to meet
and see these supeTntendents.
teachers and children. and to speak a
few words of encouragement to them.
! urged them all to work and study
hard. In many of the towns we were
also received by large delegations of
men and women, and in addressing
them | impressed upon them the need
Of giving sliberal support to the
schools, of providing better buildings.
and of backing up the superintend-
ents and teachers Loyalty and lib
orally. There are communities in
Maine where the parents need to be
taught the value of schooling for
their children. and to those parents
made a special appeal DR.. Thomas
and the gentlemen of my staff and
myself shook hands with thousands
of those young people. and we will
always remember our journey to the
North
The future Of the boys and girls
Is the future of this country. and
that future largely depends upon the
work that you superintendent and
teachers are doing day by day in the
schools of Maine. We look to you
for results. We will aid you in ac-
complishing them, and I know you
/ will not fail US"
Maine History in Schools