Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1850-09-19
too often, like the seed of the sower in the par
able, is fated to be received in stony places, or
to perish by the way-side.
Convention of School Committees and
Teachers.


tending School Committees of the several towns
in Lincoln County, met at the Academy in
Warren, September 9th, 1850; and organized,
by making choice of Hon. Joseph T. Huston,
of Bath, as Chairman, and I. w. Chadbourne,
of Edgecomb, as Clerk.
Cushman of Newcastle, Lewis of White
field and Curtis of Bowdoinham were appoint
ed Committee to examine the credentials OF
members; and subsequently reported, that the
following persons were entitled to seats IN the
Convention. Hugh Curtis, Bowdoinham; A.
D. Wheeler and James Fitzpatrick, Topsham /;
L. w. Chadbourne, Edgecomb S. F. Dyke
and ]. L. Huston, Bath; l.. p. French, Wis
casset; Nathaniel Ford, Alma; d. Cushman,
Newcastle !; A. Lewis and ]. c. Choate,
Whitefeld; E, A. Hilton, Bremen: w. Rice
and ]. Robinson, Gushing; w. A. Jones,
Damariscotta; l.. Weeks, jefferson; G. W.
Gilchrist, St. George; D. Small, Thomaston !;
J. Irish, P. B. Sayward and S. NJ. Cushman,
Union; n. Chapman, A. II. Granger and |. J..
Burton, Warren; ]. Newhall, Washington {;
J. kalloch, S. Thomaston; w. E. Tolman,
Rockland: w. II. Sliders, Waldoboro; Am
asa Bryant I'd, and E. W. Dunbar, Nobleboro.
A majority of the towns in the County being
represented in the Convention, Rev. Mr..
Wheeler congratulated the Convention on so
suspicious an event, and then addressed the
Throne of Grace.
Reports of Standing Committees were called
for, and statements were made by the several
Chairmen. On motion of Rev. Mr.. Dyke,
Voted, that permanent records of the pro-
ceedings of the Convention be kept by the
Clerk and signed officially BY him and the
Chairman and, that the Clerk, prior TO the
next Convention, place these records in the
hands of the Members of the Board of Educa-
ton for the county; whose duty it shall be to
present the same to the next Convention. Not-
ed, that the Clerks. be directed. so far as prac-
tieable, to procure the records of former Con-
ventions; and make a record of the same.
Notice being given, that the Institute had
CItSCi al COLlluIllCC u CullltI Will SUCH COLL
mittee as the convention might appoint, on the
subject Of joint resolutions, the convention
joined to said Committee, Messrs. Dyke, of
Bath, Hilton, of Bremen, and Newhall, of
Washington.
The convention assigned half past two of
the clock p NJ, as the time to elect Member
of the Board of Education
Adjourned till two of the clock P NJ.
Afternoon. Met agreeable to adjournment
The committee on grading schools made the
following report.
''The committee to whom was referred the
subject Of grading schools, after having the
subject in consideration, beg leave to submit
the following Report.
To any one who is at all conversant with our
present system of school operations, and espcc-
tally 10 those, who have had the care and over
sight of our public schools, and have taken an
active interest in their improvement, the sub
ject Of grading these schools, or classifying the
scholars, is one of paramount Importance.
When we look into our winter schools, and
find the child of 1 years just learning his A, B,
I, and every intermediate class up to the ripper
scholar, who is studying Algebra, Surveying,
or some Of the higher branches of English
studies, and think, that the teacher must so d.
vide his time, and devote his energies, that each
may receive his proper attention, we may well
enquire, If this difficulty can not, in some meas
ure, at least, be obviated Here we find
teacher, who is qualified to instruct in the
higher branches of English studies, devoting
from one to two hours per day, in teaching
children from TO 10 years of age, those ele-
mentary principles, which could be taught,
quite as well at least by females of far less ac-
quirements, at about one-third the expense
Thus about one-fourth his time is almost
thrown away upon these small scholars.
In some schools this proportion is still great
er. Owing to this great diversity of age, we
find so great number of classes, and variety
of studies, that the scholars can hardly be said
to be instructed in any thing; and the more
advanced scholar who would pursue the higher
branches of English studies, is either entirely
deprived that privilege, or does it under many
and manifest disadvantages. His improve
ment is slow and he is induced either to aban-
don them, or to incur the expense of about S25
per term, in attending some high school or
Academy, in order to pursue those studies.
which he ought to be able to pursue as well
at home But the objection to this pernicious
budding together of scholars 'of all ages. and
pursuing every variety of studies, is not con
fined to the disadvantages under which the more
scholars labor. In order that these
may suitably improve their time, and not be
hndered in their studies, these small children
must be kept confined, as in the stocks, for six
hours per day, to the manifest injury of their
physical powers-and as a natural consequence
the mental faculties suffer in like manner, and
10 an alarming degree. The young child,
whose powers are Just expanding, and who is
ever ready TO catch what is evil, and quite as
ready to practice upon, to reject it, is often
times thrown into bad society, and imbibes
many perncious principles and habits, ere his
moral powers have acquired sufficient strength
to oppose or reject them. These objections do
not exist in all our winter schools; bnt in re-
gard TO many the half has not been limited at.
But the best mode Of classifying schools is
not so apparent as that they should be CLASH
fed In many towns in the county, the popu-