Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-01-01
GOVERNOR TELLS CoNY STUDENTS OF
IMPORTANCE OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDIES

1Bvbu VII ] u1vO6 VI
Il am sure that If had been
brought up in Augusta and had at
tended Cony High school I would
not now be a bachelor" said Cover
nor Percival P. Baxter, Monday
morning at the first assembly of the
winter term in an address to the
students of Cony High school. A
ripple of self-conscious giggies from
the feminine hearers and of open
laughter from the boys of the school
followed this jocose remark of the
Chief Executive OF the State OF
Maine.
Governor Baxter spoke OF his res
idence in Augusta, and said that he
had intended for some time to come
to Cony High school and get ac-
quainted with the scholars tlere He
referred to Augusta as one OF the
most attractive cities in the State,
and said that the students had rea-
son to be proud of their city. The
governor spoke OF the opening Of
the school year and expressed the
hope that every student would be-
gin the year with a seriousness of
purpose. and would make Il special
effort to maintain a high standard
throughout the term.
He also spoke OF his travels
around the State visiting the schools
and recalled several am sing Incl
dents which had occurred to him.
He told Of having visited schools
in foreign countries. especially in
China and Japan. where the stu
dents labored under difficulties. due
to the lack OF equipment and to the
frail and unsatisfactory buildings
which the school children were
obliged to occupy.
Especial emphasis was laid by the
Governor upon loyalty to the State
OF Maine, and upon the fact that
the rising generation will soon be
responsible for the conduct Of pub
lie affairs. He expressed a special
interest in the courses on Civics.
which teach the boys and girls
about their government, and said
that when he was in school there
were no courses in civics and he was
obliged to learn about the State and
Its institutions after leaving the high
school.
The governor said: Public speak
ing and debating are courses that
should be taken by every young man
and young woman in the high
schools of Maine. A boy or a girl
may acquire great deal of knowl-
edge and may store his mind full
OF useful information, but if they
are unable to express themselves
properly, their usefulness as citi-
Zens Is hampered. / believe every
person in this audience should be
able to walk upon this platform and
address this student body without
being self-conscious or tim:d. and
you all soon would acquire this ia
cility il you schooled yourselves to
it and made up your minds that you
would see it through"
The Governor asked all those pres
ent who would like to come up on
the platform and make a speech to
raise their right hand, but not q
single hand was raised. He then
said that showed the need of empba-
sizing the public speaking and de-
batting coureSe.
THE courses in English are es-
pecially important because nothing
detraCtS more from Il persons pres
cnce and charm than the use of in
correct English. and nothing adds
more to them than the proper use of
language" said the Governor. II
often talk with attractive young men
and women and have been delighted
with them until ! was shocked TO
hear them use incorrect English. No
matter how pleasing in appearance Il
person may be nothing can make up
for grammatical errors in a persons
speech.
II sometimes think that young
people overlook the importance of
their English courses. but when they
go out into the world they soon will
realize that to have neglected this
branch of their work would have
been a serious mistake
II deplore the use OF slang and
exaggeratiou of expression. The
English language is so filed with
adequate and beautiful words to con-
vcy thought that it is not necessary,
and it is bad form to try to add to
the language by the use OF slang