Captain Kangaroo was invited to Maine in 1988 by John McKernan.

AUGUSTA (AP) – “Small children need big friends” was his message when Bob Keeshan, known to millions as Captain Kangaroo, was invited to Maine by Gov. John McKernan in 1988 to take part in the state’s distinguished lecture series.

Keeshan’s death Friday prompted reminiscences of the famous television figure’s visit and led gubernatorial staffer Rose Smith, who worked for McKernan and has stayed on with his two successors, to unearth a copy of the speech Keeshan prepared for the occasion.

“I am particularly happy to salute that partnership between education and business, the Maine Aspirations Compact,” Keeshan wrote.

“In addition to emphasis on improving academic performance and expanding educational, career and vocational choices, the compact places great emphasis on raising the personal expectations of Maine’s young people.

“The reinforcing of self-worth is, I believe, the cornerstone for any program to improve the development of this state’s human resources. I congratulate you on this compact; it is the kind of partnership that will assure the future of Maine.”

More than 15 years later, Maine continues to seek ways to bolster the aspirations of its youth.

In his State of the State address last week, Gov. John Baldacci said the state would have a new goal in education.

“We will raise Maine’s high school-to-college rate from 55 percent to 70 percent by the end of the decade,” he said.

Baldacci also outlined a pilot Early College program that would allow some high school seniors to take two free classes at a community college and offer partial scholarships to 100 students.

Additionally, Baldacci said he wants to extend Maine’s laptops-for-students program, beginning with next year’s ninth graders.

McKernan invited Keeshan to Maine after attending a lecture on child care Keeshan presented to the National Governor’s Association.

The children’s television pioneer urged that children be enabled to fully experience childhood.

“Childhood should be a time of happiness, of experimentation, of exploration, a time of curiosity,” he wrote. “It should be a time when children experience love, learn to trust and learn to love.”

Keeshan continued: “Childhood is that playground where a young person discovers his/her potential, to learn to feel good about themselves, to develop high self-esteem. It is this preface in life which determines how the succeeding chapters will be written.”

In the governor’s office late Friday, Smith offered a copy of the Keeshan speech but kept the original.

“He always talked about good parenting. That’s what I remember when he was here,” she said.

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