Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1877-11-27

EDUCATIONAL MEErING.-lt is with
much pleasure that we write OF The cdu-
ca ional meeting held al South Paris last
Wednesday. The only regret We have
to express in regard to the matter Is That
larger number Of our teachers did not
make The opportunity TO attend. Mr.,
Cor.hell, State Superintendent of Schools
aud Mr.. Rounds, President OF the Normal
School at Farmipg!on, were present, and
in q familiar. friendly way, gave The
teachers ideas concerning advanced mett-
DDS of instruction, which must prove Of
iacalculs5!e beneti, 10 all who attended.
Perhaps our people DO not take interest
enough in the fact that the average
schools % ttis State sre lar JehiUd SINH ar
institutions III other States This l. q
fac. known 20 al who are familiar with
the ,J1ca,i0Ua, departments OF our sis Il
CONFERENCE.-The. The object 10 holding
Ines, meetings is 90 provide . means tor
Placing Nsi1e upon the proper ieve. m
tf., mater. and ID more eticieu, method
t-so ,ti, ear be adop.c3. NJ. Crrh,l.
AMI Sir Rounds are Two d ,ao mos, ad
,-u,ei educators Iu Maine TA,y h.yr
H.G opportunities Tor observing he work
iars ot oar schools ard So those In
marr cher localities; they ate familiar
ali 81, The approved methods OF iu,,ruc-
10 and have also . practical knowledge
of teaching by those meth ds. + lucs-
uuu4 meetings are held in many par Of
the State. % bsing young and ineNp ii
orceI teachers. school committee men,
and those who intend 20 become teach
els. contac. with these advanced minds,
and ty such coufar.. new ideas soon Dive
cut the o'd-isshioued, lis,less style OF
teaching which has kept Us behind our
ucighbors Daring the lay fuc discus
sion was csrried on concerning the meth
ois OF teaching The drift OF this dis
c.-,iou was 10 show the superiority OF
objective, concrete instruction over al
s,rac. mem.Iizlug. In most OF the large
cities. old style r,citatious OF blank ques-
lions acd answers has been superseded
b. obiec, teaching. The desiratiiiy OF
introducing this method into our mixed
schools cannot be over-s.ated. IL HtHt
b, done, and teachers who have not fitted
themselves Tor this purpose. will soon
find they are too far behind the times Ia
secure positions. Il will doubtless aston
ish some OF our teachers to learn that
children are taught 10 read before they
know the name OF single letter OF the
alphabet. and that by this method one
year is saved in periectiug each chiid's
education. Such is 10 be the future
teaching in our schools, and those teach
ers who have finished their education, >
can only acquire the desired knowledge,
by attending the Institutes conducted by
the State. We should be glad 10 speak
OF the improved methods OF teaching II
the common school branches as suggested
by the professors in attendance, but lee
il would be safer for the teachers TO hear
the words from those who have prac'
tical knowledge OF the. work, than TO re.
ceive hints through the press, which
might only serve 10 mislesd them. TIE
improvements suggested will lead 10 II
radical change in all our schools. Text
books will be nearly or totally dispensed
with. Arithmetic will be taught with
beans and pegs; Geography by apples,
blsckbOards, and surrounding country
while the little children will play learn.
ing aud learn by playiog. We look loI
great good 70 come to the State from
these gatherings. and trust 10 teachtr
val. hesitate TO become q learner, lJI il
he does, situations viii not be obtainabie
by him in the near lnture. la the even
ing Mr.. Corthel delivered an Interesting
lecture rpon educational topics.