Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1869-09-09

4 Teachers Institute j. To be held in
this city on sep. 2oih. and at Ca.tine
on sep 9Th.
They NAV be made instruments Of
great benefit
Ii j. 70 be hoped that they will lie
largely attended BY members OF Com
I mittecs, H. well A. bv teachers. Our
! public schools arc very far below the
/ standard they should have reached.
They work comparatively fecbly III
great cause.
The subject o. common schools Ia,
strong hold upon the public mind.
and vet the standard OF public in-truc-
ton among the mass of the people l.
very low.
In many things the world j.. and has
been moving on. but in relation to the
standard of education the popular mind
in many places has made but little if any
advance for more than Two centuries
In 1917. less than thirty Year, after the
landing at Plymouth. it was provided
by Law in Massachusetts, that i'll town
OF one hundred families Il school should
be maintained wherein bow could be
prepared for the University. There are
many towns, probably. in our own
county, where the standard in the popu-
lar view is far below this. The public
mind needs 10 be aroused in this re-
gard--The people should demand better
means Of education for their children
In the great race Of life education
gives immense odds Those who are
made 10 diet upon .'curranis and milk"
cannot expect to win the race, against
those who are made strong bv a more
generous fare
II is IN be hoped therefore that these
Institutes viii do good by arou-ing the
public attention TO the present low
standard of common schools. and Undue
ing the people to insist upon a large
advance in this respect.
Members OF school Committees need
also 10 be awakened 10 the duty OF
more energetic and eracting supervision
of our schools.
Ii Is always gratifying TO say pleasant
things To teachers and scholars. But
let members of Committees remember
the great responsibility OF their posi-
tons, and not allow themselves 10 cry
peace, peace, when there i no peace
Let no disorderly school, be tolerated.
Let no vicious modes OF instruction be
passirely submitted TO. Let no teachers
who have not taken pains 10 prepare
themselves for their important work.
be encouraged Upon the action and
iniuDnce OF members of town school
Committees. in u large measure, de- |
ponds the efficiency of public schools.
1t is not necessary that they shall be |
critically versed in the branches taught,
though this is desirable-but il is essen |
tial that they shall be critically observ-
ant OF the general aspect and condition
of schools. They should see whether
the teacher has proper control-Yhether
the scholars are steadily at work
whether the teacher is prompt and
earnest-How recitations are conducted
whether the members of the class are
entirely attentive to the recitatioa-on
the alert to detect errors and TO correct
them, or otherwise.
They should observe whether the sole
object of the teacher is to communicate
mere knowledge, which at lest must be
but ''pebble." or to deceiope those un-
der his charge-develope inteIlect-arouse
and quicken and strengthen mind; and
make it discriminating and capable of
character happily, and
implant sound principles. Form correct J