The Portland daily press., 1867-10-16

& LEWISTON Oct 18th, 1867.
TO NE Editor Of the Press:
On the morrow which will be the 10th, the
first State Convention of Young Mems Chris
ton Associations of Maine will assemble III
this city. The Associations of Lewiston ana
Auburn, each of which is active and prosper
Gus, have made ample arrangement for large
and successful convention. At 10 A. NJ, the
convention win open in the FIRST bapnst
Church, and after hearing reports, it is pro-
posed that the following topics be discussed:
BY what tmethols may the Association best
= 2SRelaion OF the Association to the Church and
Ministry-its subsidiary, auxiliary and supplement-
character.
A. The Inspiration of Effort and Achievement. -
90 o. Organization of New Associations. lt
G. The Monthly Social Meeting. -t t
/ Z 'rhe EiiectuaI Co operation of Ladies'
i g. The Instrumentalities of Libraries, Tracts,
Sabbath Schools Street Work, Open Air Preaching,
Bible Glasses, Singing, &c. ne. 70 .'''' '' "
The convention will close with a farewell re-
union at Pine st., Church. Thursday evening
at balf-past seven O'clock. IIlg-i 3#aa as
Senator Wilson of Massachusetts, Judge
Smith of Boston, and Gov Chamberlain have
indicated that they will be present. y5 I
Both the Lewiston and Auburn Y. M. q.
Associations have reading rooms which are
well supplied with current publications
newspapers and magazines-and every even
ing they are open to all The Auburn Assoc
citation also purchased, last week, about 800
volumes, costing about 5000, which, added to
the private collection gives that Association
a library of 1000 volumes. 1t is a superior col
lectio of books Last weeks purchase was
made in Boston by f. l.. Dingley, of the
Journal, and Willard Small, sdoqnt of Auburn.
No man in the State, perhaps no man in the
whole country, has wider or more thorough
knowledge of books than Mr.. Small By visit
ing the antique, second hand book store and
by-places OF Boston, these gentlemen succeed
ed in making their purchase at one half of the
publication prices. Though of course, many
Of the books are shop worn or have been used,
yet they are all in good condition. +" 'oj
Auburn has long been in sad need off pub
lie library. Lewiston has a very good one in
the Manufacturers and Mechanics. al a..
III The annual report of the Experimenting
School Committee for the school year ending
August, 1866, prepared for the committee by
Hon. Nelson Dingley, Jr,, of the Journal, has
just been issued. 1t is an unusually good re-
port, full of information about the schools and
manifesting decidedly progressive spirit. The
school census Of last May showed 1893 scholars
in Lewiston, an increase of about 600 over the
preceding year Only 81 scholars over 10
years attended school last term while about
600 did not attend at all last year. The aver
age attendance Last year was less than fifty
per cent of the whole number of scholars in
the city. The mills take many boys and girls
who ought to be in school, but whose parents
place little value upon education, else are sad
ly pressed for the mere pittance these children
can earn.
For current expenses this year $4,000 have
been appropriated nearly double last years
amount. Few towns in the State, if any, do
+ well, relatively and yet this makes but a
trifleA over 50 for the annual tuition of each
scholar in the city, or less than so for those
who actually attend. The tuition in the pri-
waite schools ofthis State for the same grade of
scholars, is five or six times that sum, while
in Boston it is $3.50 to 5000 per year, In the
Lewiston schools there are now 45 teach
ers, all ladies but two. The pay of the female
teachers is considerably less than that of
| many girls who work in the mills
oiThe High and Grammar schools now have
ample accommodations for several years, but
| the lower grades are nover1lowing.q The city is
advised hereafter to build its primary school
houses in clusters, else large enough for six or
eight teachers under one roof. This would al
low of classification and give each teacher only
scholars of the same age and requirements
Then by making the instruction, in great part,
al tba rrru 10
whole school could be taught at once. This
would give each scholar several hours of in
structioh each day, instead of the present ten
or fifteen minutes. 1t is only when receiving
direct Instruction that these little ones learn
anything, theycannot study by themselves
The committee also urge special culture of the
Imagination, matter which has been wholly
overlooked in our common schools. Seyera
experimental primaries have been started for
the pur pose of testing the new methods which
are proposed. .ss...I b, d.. -.
| As a whole the American system of common
schools is a sad failure; but the failure is the
most conspicuous in the primary department.
Every scholar now attending the common
schools in Maine, from to 10 years of age,
loses more than one hall his time, simply for the
want of studies adapted TO his understanding
and for the want of proper methods of instrue-
ton. 1t is the almost universal opinion that
children can learn but little, while the truth is
that the mind is never more eager for knowl-
edge nor more retentive than in childhood. il
only the knowledge is of the right kind and
comes in the right form. Nothing, indeed,
could well be more unphilosdphical and out
rageous than the primary instruction OF our
common schools the last twenty years
The Lewiston school year is now divided in
to two terms, with eleven brief suspensions for
hoidays--for Fair, Thanksgiving, Christmas,
New Year, Washingtons Birth Day. Fast, May
Day, Fourth of July, sc. As many scholars
are sure to be absent upon these occasions, it
has been thought best to give them all res
pite, "a, ,. .f,..+;, r.,...'...,,..y d..
Lewiston certainly deserves great praise for
the interest she manifests in behalf of public
education an Intelligent interest which not
only builds good schoolhouses, but, not content
with the traditional routine, seeks for new and
more rational methods Of instruction. There
are numerous towns in the State, especially
such as Auburn and Augusta, whose public
schools are disgrace to any civilized eommu-
nifty, that would do well to pattern after Lewis
ton. .
The best rock maple wood is selling in this
market at SO and $8 1-2per cord. Money con-
tinues tight, yet business is active, except per-
haps with the dry goods and clothing dealers.
A great dealis being done upon both sides of