Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-11-24
SECOND DAY-TCEsDAY.

| The second days session oil the Name Educa
tional Association is this city, opened yesterday
morning, with an Increased attendance, the Rep
reese natives Hall being completely filed.
The association was called to order at 9 A. NJ
by Vice President Libbey. After prayer by Rev
DR.. Allen of Orono the following committees were
appointed by the chair
| Commifee on Nominations.-N. A. Luce, Au-
gusta; II. Woodbury., Pennington; A. H. Kelley
| Belfast
Committee on ". Z. jour. Of Edaeation.-C
c. Rounds, Pennington; S. Fl. Powell, Orono; A.
| f. Richardson, Brighton.
| Committee on Resoiutions.--D. D. Patten, Port
land ]. NJ. Hawkes., Pembroke; b. Pcase' Ban
gOr.
Committee on .Neo,JersAip.-A. l.. Tyler, Rock
land; Mrs. Beede, Farmington Miss Libbey,
| Orono.
Committee on Centennial.-E. Hunt, Portland
s. D. Thurston, Bangor; Thos fash, Lewiston
| Z. Stone, Biddeford; A. Cushman, Auburn; A.
l.. Tyler, Rockland S. F. Dikc Bath w. John
| son, Augusta: Mrs. j. G. Dickerson, Belfast; }.
| B. Redmsn, Ellsworth; w. ]. Corthcll Calais; +.
Berry, Gardiner; II. Fairfield Saco; A. r. Crane,
Hallowell; w. S. knowlton, IIoulton r. Il. Shep
| ard, Skowhegan; n. L. True, Bethel; ID. ii.
| Knowlton, Pennington; Isaac Hobson. Wiscasset.
Erecutire Committee Of Ills C0mDahee.-W ar
rem johnson, L. Hunt. Thos fash.
| The first paper was presented by r. b. Mecher,
Principal of Saco High School. Subject, "Pres-
ent plan of study for graded schools" Tie speak
| er confined his remarks chiefly to discussion OF
| the question, as relating to Grammar Schools
! showing the faults OF the present system IN a
clear and forcible manner He contended that the
natural order of study is reversed in our elemen-
tary schools Instead Of the cultivation Of the per-
ceptves training OF the rtceptlyes Is attempted
Too mnch theory is taught, 100 little practice is
required. The criticisms On the common methods
of teaching Geography, Arithmetic &c, were
pointed out and seemed TO meet the hearty ap-
prevail Of those present.
A paper on School Hygiene, by ID. d. Patten, OF
Portland, followed. The subjects Of ventilation,
position of pupils in the school room, ard physical
excrc Uses, received comprehensive treatment. The
concluding portion Of the paper was devoted to a
strong argument agar st the practice, which is be-
coming common III many of our cities, Of having
but one session daily in the higher schools.
DR.. Allen of the State College, next read an es-
say on Practical Education" As no abstract of
this most thoughtful and eloquent production
could do it anything like justice, we will attempt
none. 1t is to be hoped that an address that gave
so much satisfaction to those who heard it, may be
given to the general public in full.
The next paper was read by Il. Woodbury. Of
Pennington Subject, "Why have many
poor teachers" In answering his own conun-
drum, the essayist gave the results Of series Of
questions which he had asked of fifty teachers y
on their entrance to the Normal School, showing
that only 60 per cent had attended any but COM
mon district school before teaching, that II per
cent commenced at the age of fourteen and that
"A per cent. taught before they were eighteen
years of age. OF the fifty only four had read q
, work on teaching, and but two had taken an Edu-
cational journal. The speaker considered these
fifty type of large proportion of the teachers Of
the state. Our teachers are poor, on account OF
their youth, lack of literary qualifications want OF
special preparation. The boys and girls should be
kept out of school teachers by enactment.
Eighteen should be the minimum age at which a
school certificate could be secured. There should
be change in the manner of examination and GER
tiication. The establishment of county examin-
ing board by and from the school committees of
the towns was recommended. The true teachers
| themselves should combine as do members of other
professions, to protect the public against the work
of quacks and bunglers. In conclusion, the pecu-
liar duties devolving upon the State since the es-
tablishnent OF the compulsory Law were forcibly
dwelt upon.
The fifth essay was on Drawing, and was given
by J. NJ Hawkes. Of Pembroke. The subject was
first considered with reference to its utility Many
interesting illustrations were given showing the
growth Of and Improvement in public taste, in
the matter of characterization and designs, from
which be argued the importance of free hand and
mechanical drawing as regular study IN our
schools.
The question how the subject should be taught.
was next considered Drawing should be com
menced in the primary school. 1t should be q
| daily exercise in schools of every grade. Free
hand drawing should be followed by geometricsl
| copying-the pupil should be taught to design and
invent. The educational advantages to be derived
| from the study-the teaching of the pupil to OBJ
serve-to see fruly-the cultivation of the love
| of the beautiful, were eoquently presented
| Mr.. Rounds reported upon the subject of the
New England Educational Journal; that n. A.
| Luce be the State editor, AMI the President
of the Association member of the advisory board.
| Mr.. johnson urged the claims of the Journal as
| the only exclusively educational publication in
New England, and urging teachers to take 1t. A
committee was appointed to solicit subscriptions.
| The subject of Science Teaching in our schools
| was introduced by Prof. Carmichael OF Bowdoin
College. 1t has been wonder that our country IS
| so unproductve in science. With all our great
facilities WHY have we not discovered some new
| facts of scenceI We have scarcely any original
| facts; those utilized here are foreign How may
| we spread science among the people Text books
contain many errors, which have been passed
down from generation to generation they are
| hard to be rooted out. The teacher must not take
it for granted that everything he finds in the text
| book IS true; he must experiment for Himself.
| He can thus teach things in practical manner,
and with force that can never come from a strict
| following oil the text DoOk. ne Woulu say that on
| the 18th of July next, the teachers of the State
would be invited to come to Bowdoln College, to
engage in a systematic study of these sciences.
Those who desire to obtain this useful knowledge
would then have opportunity.
| Mr.. Patten of Portland, having re signed his po-
| .ition on the committee on resolutions, &. L.
Fletcher of Castne was appointed to fill the place.
| In the Senate chamber there was on exhibition
| a large number of drawings, showing the handi-
work of the students at Bowdoin College Castine
Normal School, the high schools in Pembroke and
PASSPORT, and the schools in Augusta and other
| places. The work invited the closest inspection,
and showed the progress made in this branch Of
study which has recently been int oduced into our
schools.
| AFTERNOON.
The exercises begun with the reading of an es-
say on "School Dcipline,' by A. F. Richardson,
principal of the Blidgton high school. The teach
er should be able to govern himself before making
rules for the government Of his scholars The
teacher is too apt TO begin with strict set OF rules
instead of few good rules and hints. lie Will
find trouble if he pursues that course. Outside oil
the school room, the teacher should conduct him
self so as to he above suspicion. The teacher
ought to discard ting liquors, tobacco, and
everything Of doubtful character. No less
should the conduct and influence Of the teacher be
guarded inside TIE school room. Believed in q
faithful administration of the rod, though its use i