Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-10-26
Teachers Convention
Continued From Page One)


right to protest against our boys and
girls being maligned as sometimes
is done in certain sections OF the
State.
The schools of today with their
athletics, their manual training
courses, and their health crusades
are doing more than ever to make our
young people sound in body and
mind. If there are any lapses they
as a rule can be traced to the lack of
parental authority and influence. Ger
tainly our teachers are not to be
blamed for the shortcomings of par
ents. II our teachers told all they
knew about parents, often times they
could show the real reasons why the
young people do not do as well as
they should. ] 90 not doubt but that
every teacher in the State is DESTROYS
of having the children under his or
her care, grow up to become citizens
oil the highest type.
In these days, in certain quarters.
there is too much disrespect for law,
and / regret to say that this is more
evident in the homes of the we'll to-
do than in the homes of those less
fortunately situated. Here again
the responsibility for the childs
training rests largely upon the-par-
ents, and in some homes children are
growing up to look upon law en-
forcement as a matter of little mo-
ment, considered lightly, and often
laughed at. This is especially so in
reference to the prohibitory law. The
parents that / refer to. themselves
being lacking in respect for law, must
expect that their point of view will
be reflected in their children. 1t is
difficult to over state the importance
of this question; its influence is far
reaching.
AS an illustration OF the manner in
which respect for law is regarded by
those in positions of authority, | re-
call to you that at the recent confer
once of forty Governors they all be-
lieved in law enforcement, while but
four of them opposed our prohibition
laws. Every Governor appreciates the
danger of opening the door to the
violation of law. The Memorial ad-
dressed to President Coolidge, and
unanimously adopted by the Govern
ors states: observance of law is the
Fundamental basis of American citi-
Zenship, and enforcement of law IS
No citizen can escape individual re-
sponsibility in this matter, and every
one of us should not only observe the
law, but should do everything in our
power to help officials enforce 1t. 1t
was an inspiration to meet the Gov
errors of our sister states and to find
them all in accord on this great prin-
ciple.
i,, odIreCc
to the Governors expressed in the
strongest language the duty and re-
sponsbilities of the individual citi-
zen, and in the seven points which
he presented special emphasis was
laid upon law enforcement and law
observance, as well as upon the need
of teaching temperance to the rising
generation.
If proper structure is to be erect
ed in the hearts and minds of our
young people the corner stone thereof
is respect for and observance of law,
for only on SUCH basis can char
acter and good citizenship be sue
eessfully constructed. | urge upon
the teachers of the State the need of
emphasizing upon every occasion
these two vital principles. Only by
these principles will they be brought
home to the minds of the rising gen.
GRAFTON. | doubt if the teachers of
Maine fully realize how much exam
Pile" means. l distinctly recall that
in my school days looked up to my
teachers and expected them to be al
most perfect. Teachers should have
this in mind in all their relations
with their scholars for these young
folks are in the most impressionable
period of their lives and are quick to
detect any deviation from the highest
Standards
Recently there was held in San
Francisco a World Conference on
Education at which SO nations were
represented. This was without doubt
the greatest educational conference
ever held, and it affords Maine poo
pie much satisfaction to know that
our Commissioner of Education took
a prominent part in it and was
chosen President of the World
Federation of Educational sAssocia-