Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-01-18
Maine Educational Board.
FIRST DAY.

lslilNc tHd(titttHi' ~
session at the State House yesterday.
A preliminary meeting for consultation was
held at four p. NJ, at the Office of State SUI
perintendent of Schools. AT this meeting all
the County Supervisors were present with the
exception of Messrs. Bigelow, Mayberry,
Webb and Abbott, who made their appear
ancc during the evening.
Erening Session. The meeting was called
to order by the State Superintendent of
Schools, who explained the object of the
board, and introduced the President, DIR. N.
T. True of Bethel who addressed the meet
ing. He said that the higher conditions of
education had been but poorly considered. In
the history of education this defect was appar-
ent. People of different beliefs, occupations
and professions had taken one sided view of
education. But the greatest enemy is down.
right ignorance. Local prejudice has its eff
feet; Indifference will paralyze; and educa-
ton sometimes suffers by being made politi-
cal machine. He glanced at the progress of
education in other countries. He would not
speak of educational movements in other
States of our Union, but would proceed to
speak of the practical work of the school room
in our own State.
There should be economy of time and intel
lect in teaching. Too much time is wasted
in useless study, and obstacles are thrown in
the way of children We should add to the
ease with which the child can acquire knowl
edge; any object which produces confusion is
an absolute injury. 1t is folly to keep the
mind confused with the difficult problems of
arithmetic. Progressive simplicity would
express fully his idea of what the text book
and the teacher should be- 1t will be point
gained when the teacher can appeal to the
perceptive faculties of the child. A large
proportion of our knowledge is derived from
what we see TIE emperic stumbles his way
through the world blindfold.
Every school house should be made pleas
ant and attractive home, and the little chill
dren allowed to bring their toys and playthings
into the play yard. Gods teaching is by
short and simple lessons. Shall we not take
a hint, and without triviality present facts in
science in simple language? By constant ex-
periments, the child can become familiar with
natural objects.
One of the most important problems to be
solved is method in imparting Instruction
the distinction and generalization of facts.
When a child learns one fact, he can be led
easily to another. Let all our instructions fol-
low nature, and memory will retain them all.
But method may be carried to an extreme,
and the good teacher will be careful to guard
against it.
Theoretical and practical education next
discussed, and four fundamental principles
advanced: LIST, Concentrated attention. I'd,
The cultivation of the memory in connection
with ideas. Sd, The power of abstraction, TO
be cultivated late in life. 4th, Mental disci-
pline, or a combination of all the powers OF
the memory.
He urged the more general introduction Of
natural science into our schools. The child
rem are pleading for this. They learn from
natural objects at home, but this avenue cot
instruction is closed when the school days
,mmence. These words could be appropri-
ately written over too many school house
doors" Nothing but books and other disa-
greeable things allowed in this school ROOM
The mistake is in the idea that all knowledge
must come from text books. The laws of ma
ture should be made familiar and attractive.
When shall we see these changes? When
knowledge takes the place of mere repetitions
when principles shall be taught as well as
rules.
After recommending the study of natural
history, DIR. True proceeded to speak of the
Importance of good text books and the man.
ner in which the English language is tortured
in those now in use, although great change
had recently been made. Many had been
driven to the conclusion that text books
should be banished from our schools. He
then alluded to the new arm of our education
al service, the County Supervisorship of
Schools. The eye of the State is upon the
work of this board. Much good had been ac-
complished, and the people had held up the
hands OF the Supervisors and encouraged
them in their hard and earnest work. We
must have good teachers and good school
supervisors. You cannot cheat education.
We must spend money for schools or else
spend it for prisons, reform schools or aims
houses. One educated boy is worth $4,000 to
the State; if not educated, he will do more
than that amount of injury. He had no fault
to find with our noble State, but its resources
must be expended by educated brains. After
an allusion to the death of Supervisor Abbott
and few words addressed to his fellow Super
visors, the speaker closed.
The Board meets under favorable auspices
The people and the Legislature are alive to
the interests and the wants of our common
schools, and are pleased to note the impetus
that has been given the past year to the move
ment in behalf of popular education.
The following is the programme of exer-
else for to-day:
) Forenoon, business meeting. Afternoon
1.-The Common Schools, G. w. Hathaway
; Supervisor of Somerset county; "Moral In