Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-11-18
EDUCATION week
AT C0NY HIGH
PUPILS REPORT

SRoland Cony head of the history
department at Cony High school was
the speaker Monday morning at the
regular assembly at the school. This
assembly was given over to the OBJ
servance of Constitution Day, the
first of series of seven days which
are being observed throughout the
country as American Education
Week.
Students Report
The members of the Senior short
hand class each took down the speech
and later submitted an abstract Of it.
From these the abstract of Greta
! Hanks was chosen as having the
most merit. The report ofsthe speech
as given by Miss Hanks follows:
AT the Monday morning assem-
bly, Mr.. Roland Cony, head of the
History Department at Cony High
school. spoke of the value of the
United States Constitution from the
historical viewpoint. as part of the
Education Week Campaign.
Mr.. Cony stated that the greatest
achievement of the American people
was the welding of the thirteen sep
arate states into one nation, having
common laws and rights. To US, this
world seems q simple thing. But
asks Mr.. Cony. lis union, or the at
tempt to gain union, an easy thing?
II so, why is it that the South Amer
lean countries are not united?"
He then took the students back to
the year of ISL, when America had
government established under the
articles of the confederation. Be
cause this arrangement did not
bring about the desired results, a
group of men met in 1856 at Anna
polls to discover a means OF better
ing trade relations. Due to the
small attendance nothing was &C
complished at this meeting, and IT
was not until May 30. 1877, that any
definite steps were taken toward the
framing of our constitution. WASH
ington, who was appointed CHAR
man, Madison, and Hamilton. were
among the we'll known men OF MS
tory who took part in this second
meeting which was held at Phila-
delphia. The first plan of govern
ment was patterned too closely after
that OF England's. and hence was re-
iected. From Nirgtnfa's plan was
derived our House of Representa-
tives, while from the plan submitted
by New Jersey came the Senate. Inc
meeting adjourned on September H.
the constitution being finally adopt
ed by the states in 1872.
After calling attention to the
fact that certain forces are even now
irving to undermine this document
which should be held sacred by all.
Mr.. Cony asked why we should
change our constitution. He pointed
drox by men
who had but one desire-the serving
of their fellow men. that while the
constitution has nineteen amend
ments, only nine have been made
since its adoption. and that 1t has,
served as a model for other coun-
tries. Quoting Gladstone. 1T is the
most wonderful work ever struck OF
at a given time by the brain and
purpose of man." In closing he stat
ed that the constitution of the Unit
ed States, the shortest and the best
in he world, holds out a beacon OF
hope for those poor souls who are
bound by arbitrary government, ana
that. without exaggeration, the
United States has the most success
ful government on the face of the
earth.
To Continue Program
Because of the fact that assemblies
are held but twice a week the pro-
gram for Tuesday, Wednesday and
Thursday win be taken ur in the
English classes ard that for Friday
at Assembly. Tuesday is Patriotism
pay and the necessity of guarding
against the spreading Of the doctrine
of the red flag, of belpins immigrants
and aliens to become American citi-