The Portland daily press., 1884-05-19
MAINE PEDAGoGuEs.
Spring Meeting of Their Association IN
sROckIand Abstracts of Papers Read,
Nc.


sc.
RoCKnAND. MAY 16 The Spring meeting OF
the Ma No Pedagogical Society began this
morning with president W. j. Corthell of Cor
ham in the chair. Several prominent educa-
tors are present, among whom are president
NJ. g. Fernald of Orono, Prot. Small Of Wat
erville, Supt. fash OF Portland and Snow of
Biddeford, State Superintendent Luce, prine-
pals Rounds Of Plymouth, N. H. and Wood
bury Of Castine aud many others.
The attendance is fully as large as usual, N
spite of the fact that the summer term OF
schools has just began and many teachers find
il impossible to leave.
The first paper presented was by Mr.. A. b.
Morrill, of Portland on sNaturaltScience9in the
Common Schools. The essayist viewed the sub
1ect from several points of view. Why natural
science should be taught in the district schools;
how it may be introduced how instruction
should be given. The paper was thoughtful
one, and presented several points we'll worthy
the attention OF our educators. Discussions
followed the paper in which Messrs. Esta-
brook of Gorham, fash of Portland, Rounds
of Plymouth and Snow of Biddeford took
part
AFTERNOON.
Principal Rounds of Plymouth, explained to
the audience the aims and methods of the So
ciety. The Maine Pedagogical Society is
unique in its work. Nothing corresponding to
it is to be found in any other part of the Uni
ted States. 1t is distinctly professional, and
has two grades of membership, the first in
GLIDING those who are graduates of colleges
and have had ten years of actual experience in
teaching; the second requiring as a condition
- I-at.z.
years experience, Or If not graduate, at
least two years of successful work. The en-
trance fee is two dollars, with an annual fee of
one dollar. This gives the society a sufficient
fund to publish its reports, papers, &c. The
work of the society is at present confined to
working up scheme of studies for our COM
mon schools showing what subjects deserve at
tention and to what extent they should be
pursued. Committees are appointed to pre-
pare scheme of study, for instance in Arth-
metic, and their report is then critically con-
sidered and revised at several subsequent meet
ings before it is finally adopted. When it is
accepted it bears with 1t the weight of endorse
ment OF the most prominent teachers of the
State, and is thus entitled to greater degree
of consideration in our schools than would be
the opinion OF any one educator however wide
his experience.
The paper on "Moral Instruction in Schools
by Mr.. A. Lane of Watervlle then followed.
Mr.. Lane was not able to be present, and his
pupOA w as AOdu ny 44IS. Ne ". E6r1dlQ. MT.
Lane claims that no teacher whose every day
life and influence does not tend to elevate aud
eDnoble his pupils is fit for the teachers pro-
fession. The teacher must be all that he pre-
tends to be; his desk must hide no sham. To
properly give instruction in morals REQUIRES
thought. The instruction must be marked by
tender sympathy and not by fault finding
and reproof. 1t should be given in bommo-
pathic doses and sugar coated.
In the discussion which followed, president
NJ - i IL r.
influence has much to do with moral instruc-
ton; the teaching with younger pupils should
be wholly incidental. To excite child's in.
dignation against wrong doing is to develop
his love for the right Remarks were also
made by Miss Taylor of Portland, Miss Hughes
and Miss Comstock OF Castino, Mr.. Woodbury.
and Messrs. fash and Lord of Portland.
At the close of the discussion it was voted
TO appoint committee to develop.a course of
professional reading for teachers, and to make
preliminary report at the annual meeting in
October.
In the evening the society met at the Ban
tist church, where it listened TO a scholarly
address by Prof Small, whose subject was
Education in Republics" Prot Small is
thoroughly patriotic, but he attacked some OF
our most cherished idols. While We have full
reason to congratulate ourselves on many
things, we are over bosStfal in others, and
assume superiority which is not berne out in
fact
SECOND nay.
The session on the second day opened with q
paper on Crank as Basis for Promotion By
Mr.. Sampson of the Saoo High School. He
took strong grounds against the ranking sys-
tenn, because: first, it places false incentive
before the student; second it affords no trust
worthy indication of his mental growth; third,
it is capricious, since it will always be iufiu.
enced to large degree by the teachers mental
and nh nal
as substitute for corporal punishment.
Inc discussion was opened by Mr.. A. a.
Files of Portland, who strongly defended the
system, followed by Mr.. a. B. Morrill,, who
would do away with it altogether or SO modify
it as to reduce it to a minimum. Remarks
were also made by Mr.. Luce and others. The
subject will be more fully canvassed at the |
October meeting.
Six new candidates were admitted to mem.
bership, five to the first class and one to the |
second.
The meeting closed with the adoption of |
resolutions thanking the officials and citizens |
Of Rockland for courtesies and hospitality: |
the railroad companies for reduced fares; the |
Baptist church for accommodation; Prof. |
Small for his address, and the school officers of
Rockland for helpfulness.
The following is a list of the committees on |
General Committee-Thos. fash, Portland, chair
man.
Language-Prof. H. L. Chapman, Brunswick;
Miss 5. G. Starrett, Belfast.
Reading and Spelling-W. j. Corthell Gorbam. |
D. M. Lord, Portland; Miss NJ j. Pettingill, Lewis.
ton.
Mathematics Prof. C. 81. Smith, Brunswick; |
Miss Mary F. Baker, Portland; Mr.. G. C. Rounds
Plymouth Nh.
Geography-Supt. B. P. Snow, Biddeford; Prof.
A. Y. Rogers, Orono G. A. Robertson, Augusta.
History-Prof. L. L. Paine, Bangor; G. NJ Puring- |
'on, Pennington; J. NJ. Hill, Bangor.
Moral Instruction-President M. G. Fernald |
T, Wofar 11n. NJ
Taylor, Portland.
Natural Science-Mr. A. B. Merrill, Portland;
Prot. G. FL. Fernald, Orono; q. M. Estabrooke 4
Professional Reading and Study-Mr. Roliston |
Woodbury., Castine, Miss S. G. Starrett Belfast G. Y
;. Rounds, Plymouth, N. H.