The Portland daily press., 1868-06-17
Letter from Lewiston.

LEWISTON, June 10, 1868.
TO the Editor Of the Press:
Saturday afternoon the County Education
al meeting was addressed by Rev Mr.. Hall,
pastor of the Congregational church. Au-
burn. He spoke of popular education in Ger
many. Having lived in Prussia three years
and having taught there he was prepared to
speak from observation.
Education is more highly honored in Prus-
sia than any where else in the world
Wealth is held in low esteem, and the man
with thoroughly trained mind will be gladly
received in circles from which the richest ban.
kers are excluded. This respect for education
is manifested not only by the nobility but by
the poorest people. e
Every child from four to sixteen years of
age, is compelled to attend school, If there
is a delinquent the police officer enters the
home and takes the child in hand. Thus the
parents are forced to think OF the school and
to know what is going on there. Hence the
Prussian schools are always full. Mr.. Hall
believed we should find it necessary 10 resort
to compulsory attendance in this country.
Prussian teachers are permanent With
them it is made profession by the require
ments of the government training schools and
by system Of graded certificates, which puts
the teachers upon their mettle and keeps from
the profession all those who have no ambition
or ability to excel. 1t is very seldom that a
Prussian teacher uses a textbook in giving
instruction. He is so full of the matter that
he is enbaled to go outside of and beyond
the Textbook in the hands of the children.
He thus becomes living teacher and gives
to knowledge a vivid reality, which makes it
much more easy of comprehension for the
scholar.
In Germany the children are never hurried.
They pass from one school to another only af-
ter the most severe examination. He had oft
en- conversed with German children; always
found them vastly more intelligent than chill
dren of the same age in this country. They
are taught a large variety of things Never
had he seen chemistry taught so well else
where as in Germany, and that too without
apparatus and to children. Objects are
brought before them, and the teacher is so
well instructed that he cannot fail of impart-
ing instruction. Children are taught the fun
damental principles of physiology, are thor
oughly instructed in drawing, and in other
Mr.. Hall lamented the general apathy with
regard to public education in this country
Spoke in particular of Connecticut, where he
had hitherto lived. We must not, he SAID, be
so sensitive about taxing the rich men. We
must put the screws on. The people must come
to believe we can have vastly better public
schools than now. We must have money
enough to secure permanent teachers; money
enough to pay for better supervision which
contributes SO largely to the efficiency of the
German schools.
MR.. JOHNSON AND SCHOOL SUPERVISION.
Mr.. Hall was followed by the State Superin-
tendent, who proceeded to speak of school SUI
pervision.
There should be, he said, State Education
al Association, County Institutes, holding two
weeks, and schools should be visited One
man cannot attend to these many important
duties.
Each political unit, the town, the county
and the State would be represented in the su-
pervision of the schools.
Mr.. johnson read from the school reports OF
other States, where county supervision has
been tried, showing how admirably il works.
He also read letters fiom school officers in diff
ferent parts of the State, giving their views of
county supervision, some urging the trial in
strong terms.
As yet he had met with only one objection
to county supervision difficulty of obtain
ing proper men for the work. But he was
satisfied suitable men could be found in each
county He had already got his eye upon sew
eral good ones.
| The hiring of teachers, he was satisfied