The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-03-15

s;.o ~ rnor9 @ nee a'lv ifit sl,9'1 facrease in
ume to come, as II Has ourIng abe past four
years there will be needed more Recitation
Rooms for the classes Although there IL in
the study rooms or school rooms as thew are.
called, ample room Tor fifty or more ADDITIONAL
pupils, there are not even now recitation room
Accommodations sufficient for the easy work
ing of the school in its present size, There is
also needed small reception room where
the Principal and other teachers can see
the parents and friends of the pupils wno fire.
quently call to make Inquiries in regard to
their studies and progress. Such interviews
must now be had at The door or in the passage
ways of the building.
IL also seems to me that the course of study
in the High School needs some slight moolfica-
tlons.to ADAPT 1t to The pre- seut demands of the
times TO Keep iUlly up with the progress of cd
ucaiion elsewhere. The Department of Sur-
veying and Navig alton needs instruments
with which to carry instruction into that
branch farther than 1t can at present be Done
Engineering should also be added to the
| course. Instruction in the spanish Language
should Il think, be furnished tor those youpe
| men who propose to enter that branch OF COM
mtrc,al business which would bring them into
| intercourse with tie West India Islands and
.ther COUNTIES where that language is spoken.
| There are some other notifications, also, which
| are needed but which would acquire too much
| time aud space to specify.
But by far the greatest present need of the
schools, in my Judgments to elevate the char
| AFTER and toue o. its instruction. We have in
the Portland high School large amount OF
that school should receive the best inst uction
| that can be had The most prof able teachers
are those who DO ,sess the highest qualifications
for the work 10 be done. They are tue teach
ers who have tact as well as talent; VINO nave
asympathy with young people, and C fobdness
for the business OF teaching; who can control
and govern a school by being its leader aud
Lot its driver; who are masters OF the branches
they are called upon to teach, aud who can
teach the subie It iu hand, rather than the text
book; who are familiar with the mot approved
methods of instruction and school manage
ment; who understand the philosophy of the
human mind, and the principles aud methods
| by which its faculties are to lie developed aud
| trained; who have enthusiasm and good com
mon seuse, and not sluggishness and indecis
ion, and who can stand before their pupils d.
kind. coDpanouabe, well read, aud we'll cul
| tured gentlemen and ladies'.
| As Que of the means tor securing good teach
ers, and at the same time for eievatisg the
standard of the school, I would suggest thu
| establishment, in connection with the school
OF Past Graduate course, which shall be sub
staDtially class TOR the training OF teachers
At the request of the gentleman who writes
the Report OF the Committee, furnish the
following outline of plan. which has befoi,
been laid before the G, m nittee:
1. Tue class to BIZ composed of graduates o
the High School, OF ct persons OF equivaleh
| culture.
9 The course of instruction to comprise:
| U } Class Teaching,-that is, exercises il
| model teaching in The various branches, to bt
couduc ed by the pupils in turn as teachers
while othei members of he class take the place
of pupils.
q Lectures on Teaching and school man
| agemeut.
(3) Study and regular recitatiops in SOM
text books on the Theory and Practice o
Teaching, sc.
3 The members ofthe class to be required t.
VISIT under the direction OF the COMMITTEE
tue public schools of The city, and elseWher
wheL convenient, for the purpose of obseiv
ing the methods of teaching, Sc, in sue
schools.
4. The members of the class to be allowed t
acs as temporary subs itut S in place of abse q
teachers, thereby gaining intiatory experieuc
in be work in which they propose to engage.
5 A port on of the XeTclses of this class t
be held at such Time and place as to admit G
their being attended by teachers of the city.
| G. Members of lbt class TO be allowed t
study at their homes, assembling only for tn
purpose OF lectures, recitatlOns, &c.
A course of this kind, properly carried GU
would, think, do much towards improvin
the teaching force of the city.
Respectfully submitted,
A. P. STONE, Principal