Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-11-22


be difficult to find many men in the State op.
posed to the law of last winter, in regard to
the district agents. He spoke favoraby in
regard to graded certificates.
Mr.. Darrell of Lewiston, spoke of the prac-
teal difficulties of the certificate system. Bet
ter examine the teachers rather than the GER
| titicates.
State Superintendent Johnson thought that
| the answer to the question, how shall we inn
prove our schools and make them longer, was
| embraced in a nutshell. First, by better
teaching; second, raising more money e; third,
educating the public mind The money should
not be raised by the present method of taxa
ton, viz: 81 to every person, as it would be
| too hard for the poor towns; but by school
| mill tax, or a tax of one mill on the dollar,
which would secure the sum of S225,000 to
| be paid to teachers.
Mr.. Fletcher remarked that he had con-
versed with many persons who were opposed
| to the law taking the employment of teach
can easily be convinced by plain statement
of facts in the case.
After few remarks on the same subject by
DR.. N. r. True, of Bethel, the Association
| adjourned to evening.
EVENING.
N. A. Luce, County Supervisor of Waldo,
opened the discussion on the topic of Graded
! Certificates. He said it is evident to those
who have given attention to the subject that
| our teachers have been lacking in the qualif-
| cations in the various branches they have un-
dertaken to teach. This lack has undoubted-
| ly resulted somewhat from the methods pur-
sued in examining and certifcating teachers,
which have chiefly been to ascertain the quail
fcations ofteachers for the indiv idual schools.
| Schools greatly differ, and as result no gen.
eral standard is attained. Teachers that are
| rejected in one town are accepted in another.
| Examinations have come to be a farce. A
| change must come. and the largest possible
| influence must be brought to bear upon the
| teachers to incite them to work The exam
| nation should point out the defects of teachers
| and encourage them to seek for larger knowl-
| edge To attain this graded certificates are
proposed. He would have the certificates of
| three grades-Town, County and STATE. Each
| of these may be sub graded. Certificates of
| towns to be good for one year, county for two
years, and State for three years.
DR.. True gave an instance of the good re-
suits in his county from calling the attention
| of teachers to special subjects.
Mr.. fash of Lewiston gave matter of ex-
perience in relation to examination of teach
| ers, and favored the system of graded certif-
| Gates.
Mr. Rounds of Pennington thought that we
ought to agree upon course of study as a
foundation for these certificates.
| The topic was laid upon the table.
A lecture was then delivered on "The Re-
| lation of the State to Public Education by
| Hon. Joseph White, Secretary of the Massa-
chusetts Board of Education. His lecture
| was devoted chiefly to ascertaining what the
| State is, or what constitutes government.
We send children to school, not simply that
| they may learn to cast up accounts or to OBJ
| tain an understanding of geography. Any
system of education which omits the pupils
duties as a citizen, is radically wrong. The
study of politics, in its highest sense, should
| be introduced into our schools. All our chill
| dren should know something Of these things,
| so useful in life, and be taught that the gov
eminent does not come like the sunlight.
| Fix in them the great principles of govern
ment, and let it be expanded in all its various
forms These all lie deep, and enduring.
What is the State? 1t does not include a
rowing band of savages, not a corporation,
| as the East India company. 1t is a common
| realth-men banded together for the common
| veal, exercising power for the good of all.
What is the power of State? Notsovereign,
| as taught by Calhoun, doctrine that gave
| rise to the rebellion, but the mutual will of
| the people, organized society. Government
makes and regulates laws and puts them in
| force. 1t has right to defend itself, to ad-
minister justice, and to aid the development
of social improvement. These facts he
brought out clearly by arguments and illus
| trations. He urged that these things should
be taught in common schools. Pupils should
be taught the objects Of the various depart
ments of the government, names of officers
and the like.
The President announced the following
committees:
On Observation-Disclosures Stone of Port
land, Rounds of Pennington, Arey of Bucks
port, Task of Lewiston, Boothby of Bath.
| Teachers and Teachers Places-Messrs.
| Chase, Rounds, Fletcher, Barrel, Lambert.
| On Journal of Education tetson, Wood
bury, Wentworth.
On Northumberland, Swasey, Belch-
err.
On time of meeting-Johnson, Wentworth,
| Barrel.
| Adjourned