Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-12-28
Meeting of the State Educational Associa-
ton Brunswick.

ton al Brunswick.
1t seems peculiarly fitting that this Asso-
citation, composed of educational workers,
should meet in the classic town of Bruins
wick, under the shadow of cold Bowdoin, ="
from whose halls SO many young men have
gone forth to WELD the sceptre of the peda-
gogue, and have exerted so mighty an influ-
ence in the educational interests of the
State.
The 18th annual session of the Maine
State Educational Association commenced in
Lemont Hall at Brunswick, on Thursday at-
tcrnoon, Dec. 10Th, with Prot. Henry l..
Chapman of Brunswick, President of the
Association, in the chair.
The meeting was opened with PRAYER by
Rev. Mr.. Small, Baptist clergyman of Bruins
wick
\ paper on the examination of teachers
an schools was read. very ably presenting
the niece ssitv of a change in the present sNs-
TEN. and advocating the appointment of a
board of examiners in each county. as pro-
posed in The bill before the legislature last
winter He said in brief that the plan was
not devised by enthusiasts. The best teach
erS those who are covered with the dust and
chalk of school work. devised it. One of
the reasons for examining boards a. proposed
was that many persons too young are per-
mittcd to teach. At the examination of fifty
teachers at one of our Normal Schools, il was
found that II per cent. began teaching b, fore
fifteen years of age ID. persons of too poor
attainment, are employed. 3D. many teach
ers are employed who have no fitness for the
work. knowing nothing of plans and methods.
and the great mass of the 200 committee
men employed in the different towns in the
State arc as ignorant as the teachers of the
s,t. "A
ith-rhe importance and responsibility of
the teachers work is not felt by very many
teachers or committee men. What impor-
lance can be attached to any work which my
boy or girl Of II or Is years Of age may I'M
dertakc with weeks or Il day, preparation.
as their friends or themselves NAV take a
notion that il would be good thing TO do:
In some communities. So far i, the idea of
teachers qualifications from the right one
that ignorant agents falling in with the vul-
gar prejudice of the ignorant against the
learned refuse to cinllov well educated and
trained teachers. and prefer the more ignorant
and less sliliul
The cnuSe of th,,c deficiencies i, not in
agents. hut in the examining committees.
whose duty bv law j. 10 examine all appi-
cants. and certificate those qualified and r.
iect those who are not. Often These boards
are made mp Of law. good naturcd men. who
do not wish to reject those whose fathers and
mothers thew know. and often a ignorant of
the best methods of school requirements as
of calculating an eclipse. The speaker.
however would Law the responsibility upon
the State law. which makes it possible 10
elect such men
Competition with incapables drives away
better teachers. \ county board of rxamin-
erS would naturally have less favoritiSm and
local pre- iudcc than town committees. We
need committees who have a sympathy with
the teachers work. and determination to
reject all >hams. Some of the hindranccs
10 the accomplishment of this desirable OBJ
iect are--the difficulty of reaching teachers
and people. Good teachers fear il least
some subject should be required, of which
they are not now familiar. Small politicians
fear the loss of political influence. as the
aboll-hment of town committees wOuld
largely reduce the number of officers to he
elected. The remedy against the employ
ment of incompctcntS in schools must he
found in the employment of capable and
trained men to examine both teachers and
schools.
Mr. w. q. Fletcher thought the trouble
was less in cities than in country towns
There girls of IL or IL wears of age 90 to
committees and ask not to be examined as to
their qualifications. but for a certificate to
teach and they get it, Teachers should be
examined bv men of their own profession as
is the case in all other professions
Mr.. ID. ID. Patten of Portland. asked who
should he the examiners of the examiners.
The present method is pernicious. Men are
appointed not from fitness. but for political
interest or selfishncss.
Mr.. G. c. Rounds Of Pennington knew of
many capable teachers who were ashamed to
take schools in the country at the present
starvation prices. This could not he rene
died while the great mob of incapablcs were
competing for these places.
ON motion of MIR. Burr of Halowell a
committee of FIVE was appointed to present a
petition to the incoming legislature. asking the
enactment of law appointing a board of
county examiners The committee will be
announced at the session FRIDAY.
The following committees were appointed
On rcSolutions-W. j. Corthell of Calais.
Thomas fash of Portland A. W Burr of
IIalowcll b. F. Snow of Alfred. b. r. Mel
cher of Saco.
ON nominations-R. Woodbury. of Farm
ington. -. l.. Smith of Topsham. \. b. Nor
rill of Portland
ON time and place Of holding next meet
ING. c. Rounds of Pennington A. f.
Chase of Portland. &. b. Files Augusta =.
On teachers and placcs-N. A. Luce of
Augusta. l.. G Jordan of Lewiston. c. NJ
Herring of Brunswick.