The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1922-03-16
A Statement TO the Citizens OF Scion
Concerning the Agricultural Course


they meet for our annual town meet
ings. There are instances without
number where they have let personal
feelings and prejudice Influence their
better judgment to the detriment Of
the towns best interests, and in the
long run to their own loss, for what
benefits a town in any way, is bound
to benefit either directly or Indirect
ly every citizen, in 1t.
As the friter understands 1t, had it
not been for the efforts OF few, the
pulp mill would have been on the
Scion side of the river
instead of the Embden side, and
our tax rate would have been reduced
in proportion, to say nothing of the
other benefits that 1t would have Civ
en- the town. The same is true of
the railroad station, If it had not been
for the influence of few, we would
have had the station at the village
instead of over a mile from the center
of business.
Another example of this came up at
the town meeting this year. when
through the influence of a few, it was
voted to discontinue the agricultural
course in our high school. The writ
ter cannot conceive of any sane ar
gument that any thinking man or wo-
man who has thoroughly investigated
the merits of the course can bring
against it, and it would seem that the
only reason for the vote against the
course, was through the ignorance of
what it offers and through misrepres
entation by the few who might have
some personal grievance and who do
not have the best interest of the town
at heart.
To illustrate, the teacher in agri-
culture gets salary of $1,000 per
year with an additional allowance of
5000 for travelling expenses. For
thirty-siX weeks or for the school year
one-half of his time is given to agri-
culture and one-half to academic
work, or in other words $692.28 of his
time is given to subjects other than
agriculture, the balance of his salary
also travelling expenses, or $1507.72 is
applied to the agricultural course,
and of which amount one-third or
$500 sc is paid by the state and like
amount is paid by the Federal Gov
erment, making the total cost to the
town to have first class college man
with our boys for twelve months in
the year, $1194.S4 not nearly to help
look out for their interests through
the school terms, but to work with
them and lend his Influence for the
entire year. Is 1t not worth while
to have a good clean young
man with our boys through their va
cation time to guide and direct them,
especially if it can be done with no
expense to the town. We have had it
said by citizens of other towns, that
since we have had this course and this
influence, that our boys were the best
behaved and most gentlemanly lot Of
high school students that visited their
towns for ball games, basket ball, etc.
Is not this worth something to you
as parents.
AS | have said before, the cost of
salary for the teacher for the last year
is $1194S4. Now if the course is
dropped and a teacher of the same
quality is hired for the thirty-six
weeks of school year, it will cost the
town at least $500. making a loss to
the town if the standard of our schools
are to be maintained of $305.16 per
year by dropping the course.
Regarding the books and supplies,
they can hardly be reckoned as against
the course, as while the boys are
studying agriculture they are not us
ing books for any other course, and
if they do not take the work, they will
of course have to take some other
subject and will have to have the nee
essary books.
Concerning the benefits of the
course to the community, Embden
has the pulp mill. the railroad station
is mile from the village, the Scion
Lumber Company have cut down their
business to a fraction of what it used
to be.
One has only to take a drive over
any of our country roads to find any
amount of abandoned farms, and many
which might as well be abandoned as
to be farmed as they are at the pres
ent time.
Now is not anything that will tend
to give our boys an interest in agri-
culture and improved methods of
farming worth our careful considera-
ton and support, or shall we turn
down new methods and let our farms
grow up to woods and have our child
rem be obliged to leave town in order
to keep up with the times and have a
fair show with those in other places.
The town of Embden pays us near
ly 100000 per year for tuition and
the most of the boys from there are
taking the course. Now with North
Arson on the other side with an agri-
cultural course and a school equal in
other respects to ours, we Will PROB
ably lose a number of our scholars
from there, and thus lose another
source of revenue.
In short, If the action taken at town
meeting is carried out. we stand to
lose in the money we will receive from
the state, also in tuition from other
town. besides losing by not doing our
duty toward our boys by giving them
the best we can and stimulating their
interests in the principal business or
our town and up-to-date methods, to
any nothing of going on record as a