The Portland daily press., 1870-11-23
lf'epored fer The Press
tsainc Educational Associu,i5yt.


order and gave brief address. He spoke of
the nobility of the work in which the teachers
are engaged. 1t is necessary for the teachers
to compare notes, discuss methods, combine
their forces and unity their efforts that they
may the more speedily accomplish their pur-
poses. More teachers and better teaching is
the demand of the times. Let us do every
thing In our power to answer this demand.
Much of truth and benefit may be evolved from
their annual meetings, discussions, &c.
Mr.. Hanson made the following suggestions:
That committee be raised to secure an appro-
priation from the Legislature to defray the ex
penses of the Association; that committee
be appointed to consider the practicabilty of
changing the time of the meeting of the Asso-
citation, and of securing the cooperation Of
the differen ut school committees and college
faculties in the work of the Association.
J. T. Fletcher, Principal Of the Normal
School at Castine, then read paper ON "How
shall We increase The length and efficiency of
have done much good work, but the welfare of
the country demands that such improvements
be made as will make their schools a more
efficient power than they have been or are.
New power and energy have been given to our
school system by the recent legislation of the
STATE. The present system of supervisors and
institutes should be made permanent The
people demand such an education as will de-
velope the mental and material resources of
the State. We must have more money, but
people of the necessity of it. We ought to
make better use of what we have, by reducing
the number of districts, uniting, classifying
and enlargipg our schools. In this way we
can secure more schooling We have too long
vacations. We ought to abolish the districts
and make the town unit. The value to be
derived from such course is demonstrated by
the union graded schools in village districts.
Much interest has been awakened in this direc-
ton, and much good has been done. Many
owls hava hpnn corrQcfpd and v,lo
adopted. School committees should raise the
standard of qualification in the examination of
teachers; they should make more thorough in
spection of the schools; and should criticise
and advise teachers to bring them together in
town institutes. Female teachers of good
qualification should be employed during the
entire year. The services of good teachers
should be retained. We lose much by constant
changes. Graded certificates will tend to raise
the standard of requirements among teachers.
But the great work is with teachers them
selves; they must prepare for the work; must
have ability and tact. A teacher ought never
cease studying, and especially should they
study mental science and human physiology.
They should consider the child's nature and
his relation to society. Teachers ought to
know what to teach and why they teach it.
Their study should be to prepare their pupils
for the demands of the age in which they live.
The teacher should be man of ideas, one who
has power and influence; his work should pos
sess unity and variety; he should feel and ex-
press those principles of education which will
make the next generation wiser and better
than the present. One reason why the teach
er's work has not been remuneratiye, is be-
cause it has not been good. Improve the quail.
ity and better compensation will follow. No
work is more honorable or glorious; society and
humanity need it, Public education is no ex-
pertinent. France sees the need of it. Prus.
STA boasts Of her schools, but our schools are
better in theory for they have the prestige of
liberty. In some respects Prussia's schools are
better than ours, and it is our privilege and
duty to excel them. Mr.. Fletcher closed with
an eloquent appeal to the teachers of the State.
A. 2. Stone, Principal Portland High School,
opened the discussion Of the subject. He
thought the power of GENERALIZATION must be
exercised before our schools can be brought to
the desired position. All the schools of the
town should be of equal length. There is no
reason why the pupils. in a village district
should have more schooling than the other pu-
pills of the town. The district system should
be abolished. A more thorough examination
of teach ers should be had.
Prot. Allen, of Pennsylvania, thought there
was much less opposition to the law giving
committees the power of empl Dying teachers
than was generally thought. In his travels in
Maine he had met but few who were opposed
to the law; and those were invariably "sore
heads"
Superintendent johnson presented the fol-
lowing points: We must have better teaching;
we must have more money; and we must edu-
cate the public mind. 1t is not practicable to
| raise more money by the present system of tax
ation-one dollar to every personals it would
be to hard for the poor towns. We ought to
have school mill-tax, or tax of one mill on
every dollar. This would give 1926, 900 for
teachers salaries. Mr.. johnson will advocate
| such law before the Legislature the coming
session.
Mr.. Fletcher said there was much opposition
to the law tran. ferring the employing power,
but it can be easily convinced by plain state
ment of the facts and necessities of the case,
A. 2. Marble, of Worcester, Mass, j. s..
Darrell, of Lewiston, and DR.. True, of Bethel
also participated in the discussion.
The Association then adjourned till evening.
EVENING SESSION.
County Supervisor Luce, of Waldo county,
| opened the discussion upon the subject of grad
ed certificates. Our teachers are working in the
qualifications in the various branches they are
expected to teach. This work is partially due
| to the methods of examination which have
been proved by committees. Committees have
endeavored to ascertain the qualifications for
particular schools. Schools differ greatly, and
the result is that no standard of qualifications
is attained. In Waldo county, some teachers
who were examined and rejected in one town
were accepted in another town; and they fail
ed in their teaching Examinations as COM
monty conducted are farce We must have
2 radical change. Teachers must be compelled,
If necessary, to prepare themselves for their
work. Examinations should disclose the de-
fects of teachers; and teachers should be led
from such an examination to strengthen them
selves where weak. Teachers should seek for
larger knowledge. To attain the desired end
we must have graded certificates Certificates
should be eof three grades-town county and
State. They may be sub-graded. The town
certificates should be good for one year 1.-The
county for two years and tie State for three
years.
DIR. True advocated the preparation of tesch-
ers upon special points, upon which they know
they are to be examined. G. G. Rounds,
OF Fromington, thought course of study and
examination should be agreed upon. Mr.
fash. of Lewiston, also spoke upon the subject.
Hon. Joseph White, Secretary of the Massa-
chusetts Board of Education, then delived
lecture. His subject was "The State.'' We
do not send children to school to learn arith-
metic, geography, grammar, &c., simply. ANY
system of education which omits the pupils
duties as citizen is lamentably deficient. The
study of politics. in its highest sense, should
be introduced into every school. Fix in the
pupils the great Fundamental principles of
possible directions
W hat is the State ? 1t is not a rowing band
of savages: neither is it a corporation. tits a
commonwealth men banded together for the
commonWealth, exercising power for the good
of all. What is the power of State ? 1t is
not sovereign. as Calhoun taught, but the mu-
tual will of the people-organized society.
Government makes laws and puts them in
force. 1t has the right TO defend its own life,
TO administer justice, and to aid the develop
ment OF social Improvement.
Mr.. White advocated the teaching in orr
schools of the science of government in its
broadcast, truest sense. 1t is of great impor-
lance that pupils be made acquainted with
the working of the different departments of
government
AT the conclusion of this address, the Presi-
dent announced the following committees:
IN Non'nGtsons. = Stone of Portland,
Rounds Of Pennington, Arey OF Bucksport
fash of Lewiston and BOothby of Bath,
On Teachers and Teachers Places-Cbase of
Portland Rounds of Pennington Fletcher of
Castine, Darrell of Lewiston, Lambert of Angus.
ia.
On Journal of Educdtion.-Ste of Lew
iston, Woodbury. of Pennington, Wentworth
of Portland.
On Resolutions. Fletcher of Castne, Swas-
ey Paris, Belcher o.
The Association then adjourned till Tuesday
at o'clock A. M.
TUESDAY MORNING.
G. B. Stetson, of Lewiston, delivered an ex-
ceedingly Interesting lecture on "The Maya
zine and the Public School," Avoid dry drill
and words without meaning. Exhaust larger
field of reading than that found in our reading
books. Bring the newspaper into school; have
the scholars read the advertisements even. to
acquaint them with the most matter of fact
reading. Bring some good magazine into
school and have the scholars read from this
Inere should be a magazine peculiarly adapt-
ed to our wants, in every school,
MIR. fash, OF Lewiston, said that reading is
the basis of all education. Our pupils read the