The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-11-07
Portland Teachers Association.
At the meeting last evening the superinten
tendent reported as follows:

The following paper was presented by the
executive committee, and answers to the vari-
GUS questions were read by the principals of
the various schools or by those appointed by
them:
The following questions pertaining to GER
tain parts of cur school work, are presented to
the members Of the Teachers Association, for
the purpose OF calling ont frank expressions of
opinions that may be embodied in report
from each school, which shall be read at the
meeting in November.
Let the answers be full in explanations and
suggestions.
Let it be understood that the aim of these
questions is to further the general purpose of
our association, namely, the establishment of
correct principles and effective methods in
connection with all school affairs, even if we
are obliged to acknowledge faults.
Principals will see that each school is repre-
sented by report embodying opinions upon
these topics.
LII pupils perform operations in mathe-
MATES by methods different from those pre-
scribed by the text book used or by the teacher
and obtain correct results, how do you deal
with the pupils?
2-There is a popular opinion that the work
OF our schools impairs the health Of the pu-
sure system" How far does the experience of
your school confirm this view?
3-Do exercises in music and drawing de-
tract too much from the time that should be
devoted to other branches? Do their results
justify the work?
The intention of the prescribed work in nat
ural science for the lower schools is to coun-
teract the combining influence of school rout-
inc, by giving pupils q chance to think and
talk about what they can perceive directly
Such work is based upon actual observation
not upon merely memorizing words or defini-
tons. Is this part of the programme success
full? Make any suggestions pertaining to it.
(Which influence actuates more promi-
nently the efforts of the teachers in your
school, the preparation for examinations or the
development OF the scholar as an end? Which
do the examinations as now conducted encour-
age?
6-What features of the school system in
this city according to the experience of your
school should receive consideration with a
eXew to remedy?
~ No. 1.-The replies to this question were gen.
orally that any correct method of performing
examples in arithmeti, is accepted, il UNDER
stood by the pupil. 1t is often found, how
ever that children do not understand the
methods which they bring in. although the
methods may be CORRECT; in that case, and in
all cases. an effort is made to give pupils the
best methods in their work.
No. Pit is not the opinion Of the teachers
that the regular school work impairs the
health of the pupils. Cases of complaint can
be explained by length of sessions in the lower
grades, by bad air in all grades, or what is
worse, drafts of cold air, and in the higher
grades by two hours, after the school work, at
the piano, or by late hours at dances, parties,
etc., etc.
No. 3-It is thought by teachers that the
work in music and drawing do justify rea-
sonable amount OF work. Some criticism was
made on the introduction in music of too
much theory compared with the amount Of
singing done. In drawing, it is thought too
many books are used.
Many arguments in favor OF both music and
drawing were introduced and urged by the
teachers in their papers. The opinion was
generally expressed that music and drawing
do not seriously detract from other school
work.
The nine o'clock bell now sounding, the re-
mainder of the papers was deferred for consid-
Grafton at the next meeting