Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-12-08

senior classes Of her high schools, and
we believe that the manner in which
her schools are conducted comcares
more than favorably with the average
throughout the United States.
Maine Faces Difficult Situation
I'VE are facing a peculiar and diff
cult situation here in Maine. We have
$1,000 square miles of territory, with
the population relatively sparse and
scattered. There are 100000 acres
of farm land in the State, and yet we
are dotted with abandoned farms, due
. in many cases to the lack of good
schools. In our country schools there
are $4,000 children, the larger propor-
ton of whom live far away from the
school building. In our cities there are
| $4,000 in schools
| 1 nave been on many trips recently
inspecting the rural schools of our
state, and in several cases 1 found
conditions that demanded immediate
Observation-Disclosures school build
j ings and improper toilet facilities. This
condition is being overcome rapidly
; AMI we are speedily supplanting the
| unattraetive school with one rebuilt in
Clean sanitary and wholesome man.
/ ner.
| Il invite criticism Of The work of the
department of education, and / do not
I care whether 1t be critical or Favorable
| to my own viewpoint. The man or the
| institution that cannot brook construc-
! tive criticism is unworthy to stand.
hnJA l..
ure OF school system IN a community
IS squarely up to the people Of that
community They will get what they
demand and stand back of. It is not
the superintendent Of schools in
community, nor the teachers that make
the school system-it Is the superin-
tendent. the teachers and, most of all.
the people themselves,
AFTER all, necessary measure Of
our schools Is the money srent to main
tain them, and here in Maine we must
measure them by the $4,000, 900 given
us to use. And this brings us to
question Of relatively. The people of
TINS State spent last year $4,000 GOO
ior cigarettes alone, 100000 for ci-
cars and $2,OO0,000 for tobacco pro-
ducts of other kinds. $500. 900 weri
Tor movies and $500. 900 for perfumes.
cosmetics. etc. 1 do not criticize anv
OF these things. but ! use them to show
you again that the theory Of relativi-
~ should be In our minds when we
consider the educational problems Of
this. State.
Praises cony High Record
lat <-1x
ampies. Here in our own CRY we
nave a high school of over 600 stu
aents. 1t is handicapped for build
ings' and appliances but with all this
II mas made an enviable record. This
year 1t turned out State champion
snip football team, in all forms of
athletlcs it has starred, last year a
championship debating team with it's
intellectual stars. In 1921 Cony High
graduated "a students, 16 of them
entered college, went to Bates.
TO BoWdoin and 9 to Maine. These
students carried a different studies
ana were assigned an equal number
OF grades at the end of the semester.
There were six grades below passing.
, ~ St1HSnto SaI hCu on uuUOT
grades out Of ~ which is approx
mately 40 per cent an unusually high
average. In fact, it compares with
an average of 20 per cent as made
by the 649 students from Maine high
schools entering Maine college last
| year. Your high school of about 600
| students is presided over by 20
teachers, an average of 80 pupils to
the teacher besides special teachers.
The average throughout the country
| runs II to 25. The teachers of Cony
High are carrying a heavy load. They
are all college graduates but one and
she has the richest background of
any in experience. Six Of these teach
| ers have special training beyond the
college in Columbia, the greatest
| teachers college In the world, and
three have had special work in Har-
ward. Many of the others are from
our own colleges.
There are those who believe that