2o6 AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



continuation schools of Eiirope. We find evidence in the hun- 

 dreds of thousands in our country who at personal expense un- 

 dertake the so-called correspondence courses. For the present 

 the continuation courses in Maine are likely to be largely in 

 connection with evening schools. 



SHORT COURSES RECOMMENDED. 



The short evening school course making a direct appeal to 

 some specific need of the student is capable of immediate devel- 

 opment. For example, an evening course of a few weeks in 

 the reading of blue prints would be valuable in any community 

 where there are a number of machine shops, a short course in 

 the principles of salesmanship would be distinctly valuable in 

 at least a dozen of our cities, the domestic science equipment 

 ought not to be idle when by means of short evening courses it 

 could be employed for the advantage of those whose interest is 

 in the betterment of household and domestic service. The man- 

 ual training equipment could similarly go to assist young men 

 just entering certain occupations. Short courses in bookkeep- 

 ing and stenography would increase the interest and earning 

 capacity of those already engaged in such work. These are but 

 examples of the ways in which short courses may be made 

 valuable. You have only to visit an evening school where such 

 courses are offered to realize how direct an appeal is made as 

 soon as the student can connect his evening study with the 

 next day's task. 



CONTINUATION DAY SCHOOLS WILL COME LATER. 



Doubtless the continuation day school will soon be possible in 

 Maine. Its coming will depend in part upon the cooperation of 

 employers of labor. In some European countries the employe 

 is entitled by law to attend a continuation school for a certain 

 specified time. Thus the nation aims to protect its industrial 

 efficiency. A few continuation day schools in America are 

 already successful in large communities where employers real- 

 ize the advantage of such means of increasing the capacity of 

 their workmen. 



