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

tically independent of State aid In
any form, and others with generous
endowment could readily achieve
that independent position in which
there is real field for them to serve
our youth within and without the
State. Others may become Junior
colleges as our educational system
expands.
1.-THE existing system of special
subsidy to certain secondary schools,
called academies, throughout our
State is grossly inequitable and is
carried out without any special re-
gard to the educational needs of the
locality or to the ability of the sew
eral communities to support proper
secondary schools for themselves.
mo agreement for these grants
can be based upon ancient custom
since they are of very recent growth
practically since 1900. Preceding
administrations have struggled vain
ly to base the grants upon educa-
tional need but an unfortunate sys-
tenn of log-roling has rapidly re-
stored the entirely inequitable ap-
portionment of these funds.
"Four-fifths of the boys and girls
in the State of Maine today secure
their secondary education in free
high schools with equitable appor-
tionment~of State aid. 1t is suggest
ed that the academy system is de-
signed to serve the need of the
country towns and that special aid
is warranted upon this score on the
ground of assistance to rural edu-
cation. This is assuredly not the
case with the two seminaries located
in the city of Portland, where two
excellent free high schools are also
maintained. Nor in the case of Wa
terville with it's institute and free
high school, nor Houlton, nor Var
mouth, which similarly duplicate
secondary facilities at State expense.
why should the citizens of Lew
iston or Auburn be taxed to MAIN
tain two seminaries in Portland
both of them for girls alone?
Augusta is striving earnestly to
provide better high school facilities
but must meanwhile tax it's citizens
to assist an institute at WatervilIe
in addition to an excellent high
school which is receiving the usual
State aid.
Most of the academies are per-
forming the function of high
school for various communities and
now have a large measure of public
control and could readily adapt
themselves to the provisions of this
amendment in the five-year period
that elapses before its provisions.
take effect.
''The State Department of Educa-
ton has shown various ways in
which this may be done in full har-
mony with both the letter and spirit
of the law. Those responsible for
the administration of these educa-
tional trusts can in practically all
cases cooperate with the public au-
thorities in serving the cause of the
education of our youth in their sew
eral communities under the changed
conditions brought about in recent
years by the great increase in ed
ucational costs and the consequent
necessity of constantly, increasing
state aid. With increasing public
grants there should and must go an
increasing measure of public con-
troll.
The citizens of poor country
towns supporting struggling high
schools should not be taxed to make
disproportionate grants to second
AIRY schools in other towns that are
equally or more aflluent but happen
to call their school an academy"