The Portland daily press., 1882-11-13

EDAGoGICAL SOCIETY.
The Closing Session Held Saturday.

The Closing Session Held Saturday
The closing session was held Saturday morn
ing and was opened with prayer by Rev. Mr.
Dalton
President Chapman announced as the So
ciety's committee on the subject of Moral In
structions in Schools, President M. G. Fernald
of the State Agricultural College, Rev. A. L.
Lane of Waterville Classical Institute, and
Miss s. M. Taylor of the Portland schools.
A telegram from G. G. Purington of Auburn
announced that he was unable to present the
paper expected of him on Ranking System in
Schools" The topic was however taken up,
Superintendent fash of this city opening the
discussion.
Mr. fash thought the generality of the use of
marking by teachers seemed to prove its expe-
diency at the present time. Its object should
be to stimulate effort, and it should be regard
ed as auxiliary, and not as the chief means 1t
also is useful to indicate the achievements of
pupils, to assist teachers 10 remember the
scholars past work and enable them to give
credit for honest effort. 1t is not necessary to
mark every recitation, in these days of fre-
quent general examinations. Daily marking
is Objectionable, leading the pupil to regard
the winning of marks the chief end of study.
Such marking is hindrance to freedom of
teaching, interrupting the ready flow of in
struction. The plan of marking shonld be such
that reasonable If not absolute correctness may
receive the highest rank in the system. Some
teachers refuse to give the highest marking in
any case. 1t is better that tho children should
not be informed Of their marks. Honesty and
exact Justice on the part of the teacher is most
fio1
and right motives of study, otherwise it should
be abandoned.
Principal Chase of the Portland High School
was opposed to tbs marking system and would
like to get along without any There are pu-
pills who will not do their work except BY COM
pulsion, and ranking is one of the most effec-
tive methods of doing this.
Principal @. G. Rounds of Pennington was
convinced much of the marking is sheer nom
sense besides being great burden of good
teachers. Had tried various plans The most
systematic involved long examinations and
was ruinous to the pupils health Had given
up trying to find out pupils knowledge by
searching examinations. Employed brief ex-
aminations at unexpected times. Estimates
made at the close of a term on the purils' work
for the term are liable to be unfairly influence
ed by the conduct during the last part of the
teFnn. Jnstice upon ranking depends upon
what is taken into the account. Teachers may
differ % per cent. marking the same recitation
OHOulu prefer 10 ozark ueHCl6DCleS rather than
excellencies. REGULATIONS cannot be Judged SO
infinitely as by tenths without interfering with
the instruction. He thought that conduct
should be taken into account in marking, be-
cause we undertake to do something more in
teaching than merely to make scholars. We
| strive to mould character.
Hon. W. j. Corthell of Gorham Normal
| School, would give moreIfor the Judgment OF
| the teacher at the close of the term than for
any system of marking. Would promote schol-
| ars upon the individual opinion of their teach.
| ers that they were able to do the work of the
| higher grade. Marking is an unhealthy stimu.
| liant.
Prof. e. W. Hall of Colby thought there was
no royal system Of makings which might be Of
general application. There needs to be va
| riety to meet the diversity of what is required
| in different studies, and to balance defects Of
the personal judgment of the teacher.
| DR.. D. O. S. Lowell of Ellsworth thought
the dru1gely of rank might be lightened b,
| various devices, some of which he illustrated
from his own practice.
AT noon the society adjourned The session
in this city has been of profit to all the teach
ers in attendance, and all go home satisfied
that they have gained great benefit from thu
|