Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-09-01

given t1uO WIIIGItS. lic pdIPOSC wac
to provide secondary education.
Then came the free high schools.
This brought change. AS such
schools were established the need
for academies grew less, especially
In Massachusetts. There, explained
Mr.. Smith, 1t is a comparatively easy
matter for small towns, not able to
maintain a free high school to send
their pupils to another which has
such a school In Maine this might
not be, in many instances, so simple.
1t might nccessitate such students
remaining In the other place all the
time, involving board, as well as tut
/. ton. This would have to be borne,
of course, by the parent. In towns
where there are academies such
would not be the case. However. #
boy or girl were sent from a town
lacking either high school or an
academy, to attend an academy this
same problem Is present: there
would be many such cases.
When this constitutional provision
was before the constitutional con-
vention of Massachusetts in 1917.
there was much opposition. How
ever. 1t was carried through and
when submitted to the people adopt-
ed by a substantial majority. 1t has
been in operation there for several
years and, said Mr.. Smith, with sue
cess.
In some instances It has worked
hardships. This was to be expected.
IL mas been found. however. that
careful study would solve all the
olrhcnltles. StHong academies have
proved to be better off. The cutting
OH OF public funds has resulted in
more liberal donations from private
individuals. He believes the same
thing would result in Maine. Weaker
institutions have met the situation
IN dliterent ways, but along tho
same general lines.
They have turned the ecadar,,os
over to the municipalities for freo
hlgh schools. In some instances Tho
court has had to be asked ouestiono
as TO the proper course. in others
.he opinion of the attorney general
mas been sufficient.
In the matter of endowu.rts
which is one of/the matters which
MAINE has talked much about since
,his agitation came up, for acade-
mes Mr.. Smith explained how thev
had been met. 'Ne'
), Inc position has been taken that
.hese were given for the purpose of
pIoVidlng a better education. for the
youth or the community. At the
time they were made there were no
nlsn SCHOOLS. Today the high school
would no doubt, be endorsed bv tho
SNers' win this as the basis il has
peen SAID that turning over the
academy plant to the town for free
nieh school purposes would meet
me provisions of the gift. as well as
me requirements of the laws of the
State. - ''ie
This has not always been done IN
the same manner though the gen.
efal plan has been for the tr,,stens
TO lease the building and equipment
or such of it as was desired 10 tho
municipality. To lease, in the ewes
OF the law, constitutes ownership
during Its term. so that this has
been, wholly within the provisions of
the constitution Of the State In
some instances this lease has includ-
cd 1anitor service. heat, maintenance
and light. In others it has been a
part OF these, according to what the
endowment Of the institution has
made possible.
In return the town has conducted
the academy as n free high school
engaging the teaching staff. exactly
as 1t does In the other schools of the
community. The trustees have cared
Tor the structure as would anv own
er. but have had nothing to do with
engaging the teachers or managing
the school.
Only in one instance has there
been disposition shown by the
trustees to take a different course.
In this instance the trustees took
the position that. as they were turn
ing over the plant to the town. were
giving money for the support OF tho
free nigh school to the town. they
should have say in who its prin-
cipal should be. Mr.. Smith was call
ed to the town. He heard the case
and then told them ii could not be
so; that the principal must be Sc
lected by the school committee, II II
desired, listen to suggestions from
all citizens. but 1t must not be die
tated to in any way. The trustees
receded and that was the end OF the
matter.
This arrangement, said Mr.. Smith,
was all within the law, for while the
constitution expressly forbids giving
money to these schools II does not
prohibit the public schools accepting
money from private sources.
Not all OF the academies have taken
thiscour SC. Some of them. the
stronger ones. explained Mr.. Smith,
had elected to go on as they were
These had ceased to seek public aid
some time ago. or We're about ready
to. They realized that the work of
the academy of today was different
from what It was when they were first
established.
In some of these cases. and Mr..
Smith was of the opinion that similar
ones would present themselves in
Maine, IL the Maher amendment was
adopted. this had proved n hardship
for the towns. In these instances the
town would not have a sufficient num-
Der of students eligible to attend high
school to warrant establishing such a
school. Under the law the town could
not pay their tuition at the academies.
AT first this seemed an insurmount-
able obstacle. 1t proved not to be.
a This condition was met in this wav:
An endowment fund was raised among
this citizens and turned over to the
academy. In return the school pro-
vides free tuition to the children of
the town. This solved the problem
very nicely. This has been done in