Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-10-18
THE MAINE TEACHERS.
Meeting Of Maine Pedagogical Society
at Lewiston.

Mr.. Corthell Of Gorham, Friday =. NJ,
spoke in favor of n State Board of Education.
Mr.. Phipps of Lewiston, formerly of the
State Board of Massachusetts,, said the Mas
sachusetts Board consists of eight persons APP
pointed by the governor for eight years; and
this board elects secretary and appoints
agents.
Mr. Dingley of Lewiston, spoke briefly ON
the text book and State Board of Education
questions which had been discussed.
At the Friday evening session prayer was
offered by Prof. Stanley of Bates College.
Mr. Corthell, of Gorham Normal School,
read paper on the employment of teachers
by school agents. The objections to this sys-
tenn, are that it is not business-like, in that
those who are in charge of the schools, are
responsible for them, and know best the kind
of persons wanted, viz, the committees,
ought to employ the teachers. Those who
are to Judge of the qualifications of teachers
ought to be the ones to employ them,
The remedy is to pass law putting the
employment of teachers in the hands of COM
mittces. In all of the towns in our State that
have made special progress in their schools,
teachers are employed by agents. One year
the law provided for this, and it is conceded
that we had the better teachers that year than
ever before. Let the district system and
y
of all the business of the district except the
employment of the teachers.
Mr. Phipps of Lewiston, concurred in Mr..
Corthells view. Maine expended for teach
ers last year Sl,l10,0o Ii that money had
been expended by the committees who under
stand the qualifications wanted, il would have
yielded tar greater results.
Mr. Stanley of Western Normal School.
endorsed Mr.. Corthclrs views, and gave some
account of the Pennsylvania system of exam
ination of teachers.
Mr. Burr of Hallowell, gave accounts of
several cases of employment of incompetent
teachers by school agents He thought that
practical measures should be devised to bring
about desired results.
In response to call, Mr.. Dingley sug-
gested practical means, and expressed his
concurrence in Mr.. Corthell's views.
Mr. Rounds of Pennington expressed SINH
lar views.
Messrs. fash of Portlands Jortlan of Lewis
ton, Rounds of Pennington, and Miss Starrett
of Belfast, were appointed committee to
secure the publication in the newspapers of
the State the reasons for comforting on school
committees the employment of teachers.
Messrs. Corthcll. Luce and Hanson were
appointed a committee to secure petitions for
this object, and present the subject to the
legislature.
Saturday morning the society re-assembed
and prayer was offered by Rev. Mr.. Dickcr-
man.
Prof Hanson of waterville read a paper
on How Much and What Instruction Shall
be given in the Glass Room Different
schools and different pupils require different
methods. If the principles are understood
the methods will take care of themselves.
He laid down ms those principles ~ that the
teacher should have a knowledge of mind 4;
| (2) he should have clear and well-defned
| idea of What he hopes to realize: and (3) he
should have professional skill which comes
| from experience. Prof II. suggested that
the teacher should not do the pupils work.
Instruction belongs TO primary grades and
education to higher grades. The What in
the higher grades, will he chiefly occupied in
giving the right direction to the activities OF
the mind. Both the "how much and what
Of legitimate instruction exclude everything
in the form of direct assistance which the
| pupil is capable of doing for himself.
| Prof. Chapman of Bowdoin College opened
the discussion, concurring with Mr.. Hanson,
| The discussion was continued by Messrs.
| Stanley of Pennington, fash of Portland,
Rounds of Pennington, Martin of Lewiston,
Prof. c. II. Smith of Bowdoin College and
Mr.. Harper enforcing similar views.
| Prof. Corthell said that the instruction in
the class room should he directed TO this -
| How can develop and bring into pleasure
bic activity all the powers in the childf lie
thought that the great lack of our school
training is that it tends too mach to the de-
velopment of memory at the expense of the
reasoning powers.
Prof. Jordan of Lewiston, thought we ex-
pect too high reasoning powers in pupils.
Prof Smith Of Topsham. thought too much
| is expected of teachers and of schools. We
can only lay the foundation for subsequen,
practical education.
The advisory committee were directed to
publish the proceedings.
| On motion of Prof Rounds the thanks OF
the society were extended to the Maine Cen.
trail railroad for reduction of fares, and citi-
zens of Lewiston for their hospitality.
The next meeting of the society will be
held in connection with the Maine State Edu-
cational Association at Pittsfeld late in
December.
At noon the society adjourned.