Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-05-08

mend the public service rendered by
the numerous private institutions of
learning within the State, we believe
puonc FUNDS devoted to education
should be expended in support of
thA public schools to the excl,1s;on
OF private institutions of learning
except such as are the sole instr1,7
mentalities of furnishing high &cboo1
education within the localities thev
serve and which are wholly under
ire supervision of the commissioner
ol educatlon; and as to those we
recommend such legislation as NAV
pe necessary to restrict the aid
when they receive to such as is
iah ana equitables and measured nv
'Helf actual requirements.
The Republican candidates ra,a
elected by an ver-wheImine r,aior
ity and the Republican Iepislat,,,.o
IN accordance with the pledge of i,s
party platform by majorities of III
y In the House and 20 to Z in
me senate submitted to the peonIe
LOT adoption the constitutional
amendment to be voted unon in
september of this present year.
This amendment does not affect
In any way the continuance of the
present system of aid to hospitaIs
lnfirmaries. or institutions for deaf
dumb, blind. The amendment speci,
neatly provides in Section . that
hothlng herein contained shall be
construed to prevent the state or
any political division thereof from
paying to such institutions not more
IMAM the ordinary and reasonable
compensation for care of support
! actually rendered or furnished bv
such institutions to such persons as
may De in whole or in part unable
10 support or care for themselves.
Cnuef existing law grants of aid
Tor such institutions are expressly
limited to compensation at reason
able rates fixed by legislative enact
ment for care actually furnished 70
persons whose own resources or the
resources of whose responsible rela-
tlves are insufficient to pay for the
same. The amendment. therefore
clearly does not affect the continu-
ahce OF the existing system of grants
insofar as these institutions are con-
cerned.
Neither does the amendment IN
any way prevent the grant by the
Legislature of awards for meritori-
Gus exhibits in agricultural work or
other lines. The agricultural soci-
cues OF the state at present nav ont
money IN awards under conditions
stipulated by the Legislature and
the Commissioners of Agriculture
later relmburses them from state
fundsffor actual sums so disbursed.
Inc only change necessary under the
amendment might be for the Com
~
advance the awards to the prize WIN
ners instead of long after the event
This would hardly be construed as
hampering the work of the societies
who have often been considerably
delayed in the receipt of their funds
The various Fair Associations have
nothing to fear insofar as the very
neriterious work they are carrying
on is concerned.
At the present time there is no
prohibition in our statutes or con-
stitution upon sectarian instruction
in our public schools Such instruc-
ton is actually being given in con-
junction with our public school sys-
tenn in certain parts of the State and
extensions of this may at any time
be carried out. The proposed amend
ment will forever prevent any ar
rangements of this character and
also forever prohibit the granting of
public funds to sectarian schools of
any sort This was the chief pur-
pose of the amendment and in my
judgment is it's chief effect.
Aside from dozen sectarian
academies the effect of the amend
ment will be very slight.
1t is. not generally realized that
most of the academies in the State
of Maine today are practically under
public control through the medium
of a joint committee composed of
certain local trustees and the mem
bers of the local school committee
with the local superintendent of
schools as an official of the joint
board and also through the control
exercised by the State Commissioner
of Education over the curriculum by
reason of the granting of state funds.
THE changes in administration
that would be necessary in order to
move from the existing system of
detailed supervision by the local
school committee and superintendent
of schools and the State commission
er of education, to the system of
public control provided for in the
constitutional amendment here pro-
posed, would in my judgment be
negligible in extent and would be
calculated to serve the interests
both of the communities and the
State.
Certain academies now are prac-