The Portland daily press., 1884-10-17
MAINE PEDAGOGUEs.

Annual Meeting of the Ass0ciatiOn-Ad-
dresses by Mayor King and President
COrtheIl.
The first session of the annual meeting Of
the Maine Pedagogical Society was held at
Reception Hall, in City Building. last evening.
A large number of prominent educators were
present, among whom were Principals g. B.
Files of Augusta, Geo. G. Purington of Farm.
ington Normal School, w. j. Corthell of Cor
ham Normal School, j FL. Hanson of Coburn
Institute, G. A. Robertson of Augusta, Prof.
Lane of Waterville, Miss Kicker of Water
vile, Gen. FL. B. Darlington of Boston, Mr..
A. s. Manson, Mr.. Harrison Hume, Superin-
tendent Tash, Mr.. Norton, Principals Chase
OF Portland, f. E. G. Robbins of Deering, Mr.,
o. M. Lord, Dr. Dole and many others.
The meeting was opened with prayer by
Prof. Lane, following which Mayor King gave
the address Of welcome. The Mayor said:
81 remember that one of my greatest trials
In my school boy days was to be obliged to
speak in public. l haven't got over that reluc-
tance yet. Until the present moment I had
always looked upon Superintendent Tash as
my friend, but his conduct on this occasion in
dragging me before the public seems to point
the other way.
There is an old story that once upon time
all the artisans got together to select one as
king of the workmen and the choice finally
fell upon the smith, because upon his labor all
other trades were dependent. Upon you, gen.
tlemen and ladies, depends the veal or woe of
the coming men and women and consequently
you are properly the kings and queens of the
rising generation. In ben alf of the citizens
OF Portland bid you welcome to our midst
The Mayor was roundly cheered when he
closed. In reply, President W. j. Corthell
said:
"His Honor has said that something witty
was needed on this occasion. must be as wit
ty as His Honor was, BY being brief. We have
no reason to doubt the hearty welcome that
Portland extends to US, for she has ever shown
herself in sympathy with everything pertaining
to education. 1t is thought sometimes that
money is measure of sympathy. If SO, then
Portland has proved herself sympathetic by
erecting school buildings second to none in the
State, and is second to none in the treatment
and liberal payment OF her teachers.
The presidents address to the society was
next in order, the subject of which was "Some
Tendencies in American Education" We
regret that we cannot give an abstract of this
lecture, which was thoroughly good from first
to last. The speaker took grounds against (1)
The introduction CT too many studies into our
SCHOOLS winch inevitably TENDS TO crammlng.
~ The introduction of studies which are not
adapted to the capacity of the pupils. (3)
Against an excessive amount of system at the
expense of the teachers individuality
4) The tendency to impose too much re-
sponsibility upon the school, making it take
the place of parents, church and society.
% Against that sickly sentimentality which
would compel q teacher to wear out her life in
endeavoriDg to control a school by moral
suasion by appealing TO the honor and bstter
feelings CT boys and girls whose home training
has utterly destroyed all those feelings. If they
ever possessed them. The address was atten.
lively listened to throughout.
The prospect for the meeting to-day is
excellent. The subjects to be considered ale
of great interest to all educators.
The programme for today is as follows:
GA. NJ.
1.-Final action of the society on the reports of
committees on moral instruction and on Geometry.
2.-Reports of committees on geography aud his
tory. Discussion of these subjects.
3.-Presentation of the subject professional
Reading. Discussion of this subject.
2.3O P. NJ.
1.-Final action of the society on the reports OF
committees on arithmetic and reading.
2.-RepOrt of committee on science in common
and lower grade schools. Discussion of game sub
ject.
REPRESENTATION of the subject "Course of study
and graduation in the ungraded schools
7.30P NJ.
Address-Rey. G. D. Pepper, Waterville, at First
Baptist church.
Meeting of general committee.