Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1868-12-03
For the American.
-IIt ktIIIVl IItH.
AIrGrsrA NnY. DC. 1SGS.

AUGUSTA. Nov. 26, 1865.
The second annual meeting of the Me.
Educational Association. organized in The
House Of Representatives at 1 l-2 o'clock,
Z. NJ, the 23d ms. DR.. Ballard of Bruns'
wick, the president being in the chair.
| Alter the opening of the evening session
Mayor Williams. of Augusta. welcomed
the Association to the Inequalities of tho
city. The President made an appropriate
reply. a letter was read from President
Harris of Bowdoin College, expressing
his deep interest in the cause of education
Supt. johnson read an extract from
Hon. Newton Bateman's Report, TO show
that New England must arouse TO edGea-
tional life, or be content to follow far il
the rear of the West.
Or. n. T. True spoke OF the Flnd lib
crafty of the West, of the energy and
brain power which she has drawn from
Maine. \. Z. Stone o. Portland, said tho
West has the advantage of y. f. We
are too conservative, our preiudices must
be overcome.
C. Rounds of Pennington eontra.ted
our educational systems with those. of
Prussia. He advocated change.
&. L. Fletcher of CattiGe. stated some
points of superiority in the Western
schools, assigning the reasons.
The West having revised and improved
our system we must advance to a high
standard.
Rev. V. V. Norcross. of Union, urged
the necessity of teaching morality and
religion in our schools.
j. 5. Sayward of Augusta spoke more
cncourasingly OF New England schools.
Tuesday morning was principally devot-
ed to an essay ON Reading by c. Il. Stet-
son of Lewiston. The paper presented
many excellent ideas for the Improvement
of our methods of teaching Reading, but
some suggestions offered were not practi-
cal. The reading was followed by "A brief
discussion ON which some valuable hints
were thrown out.
Mr. Tucker of Boston addressed shc
Association upon the subject of Geogra-
ply. lie advocated an improvement in
TIE method OF teaching this subject. lie
would not commence with mathematical
Geography. aud the statement OF bare
facts without illustrations, The child
should be taught to present a description
OF his town, to study maps aud draw them
TO investigate causes.
The subject of Reading was again dis
cussed ny Dr. True, Mr. Webb, Mr..
Rounds, Fletcher. Many practical sug-
gcstions were offered.
Q. III. Bowlcs of Boston gave some cx-
cellent instructions upon the subject of
Pcnmanship.
His presentation OF the sdbiect WAS prac-
teal and profitable.
Mr.. Stone delivered an address upon
History, in our Common Schools.
The study should be commenced carly.
to give to the child a taste for good readings
Important events should be thoroughly
studied, minor things rejected. Fault was
found with text books. The remarks were
anu INC Po1hto Hi@ht. N1ihitIc-
\ brief discussion fviiowe,i. rhe even
ing session was devoted to a discussion
connected with five points fore!bly stated
by Supt. johnson. He advocated;
lst. An abolition of the District system.
I'd, \ revival and Improvement of
County Institutes.
3D. the appointment OF County Super
vi.ors.
It'll. State uniformity OF text books.
9Th, Compulsory attendance of children
in sch ool
After an eloquent presentation OF these
points by the Supt., Mr.. Fletcher opened
the discussion by taking radical grounds
against the district system oil schools. itr
based his objections upon iht naut ri
union which gives strength. the doc" which
i: opens for the employment of poor teach
ers by poorer Agents. the glaring injustice
of the system as seen in the appointment
of money to large and small districts.
Mr.. French of Chcstcrvillc, thought that
the system i, abused and that by improve
ment it might be made to meet our wants.
Mr.. Weston of Harrington spoke of the
evil. ofthe system. but feared that il would
not be abolished this winter
Messrs. True. DINGHY and Dixie took
grounds more or less strenuous against
the :, stem. The discussion was earn est.
| ON Wednesday, uoruino. = ,,aoJ lcc,ur.
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