Connecticut western news., 1885-06-17
SCHOOL EXAMINATION.
Lecture by Secretary Hine.

tainly must have been dispelled last Friday afternoon, for the Town hall was crowded and additional seats were brought in to accommodate those pres ent to witness the school examination. Again in the evening a large audience was present to witness the continuation of the examination and to gain certain information from Secretary Hine of the state board of education, who delivered very instructive lecture - subject, "Improvement of Our Schools. D
 The examination illustrated the meth cd of teaching and showed that the cramming process is not used, but rather a development or drawing out of the natural gifts or talents and the mode of instruction is designed to learn each scholar to think for himself or herself, to investigate, to reason and arrive at correct conclusions, to rely on them selves instead of others to do their think ing for them, and thus the scholars are trained for career of usefulness and self reliance. Of course textbooks are not dispensed with, but the scholars are impressed with the idea that eating text books or swallowing them whole does not constitute an education or fit them for the duties or responsibilities of life. The examination was a credit to the teachers and scholars and showed that the scholars had made remarkable pro ficiency. Parents and friends of the schools were highly entertained and greatly pleased at the progress made. Six schools participated in the examina- tion as follows: Canaan High school, Prof F. H. Baldwin, principal; Inter- mediate department, Miss Fanny Bene- dict, teacher; Primary department, Mrs J. M. Root, teacher; East Canaan schools, Miss Lillie Fuller, teacher of higher department, and Miss Elliott, teacher of primary department; Canaan Valley school, Mir J. M. Roys, teacher.
 THE EXERCISES. Song. "Look Not Backward"
 c. H. 8. and Int. Dept. Composition-Apple Blossoms,
 Miss Florine Pequigney, c. H s. Singing Musical Chart Exercises, etc.,
 By Primary Dept Mrs J. N. koOt, teacher. Mrs J; . M. Roots School. Reading in Concert Questions in Geography, Questions in Arithmetic, Mental Combinations, Canaan High School. Song, Miss Elliott's School. Reading. "What Live For" Reading in Concert,
 Reading, Questions in Geography, '' Questions in Arithmetic, Questions in Geography, J. M. Roys' School. Mental Combinations, Canaan High School. Pyramidical Reading, J. M. Roys' School. Exercises in Grammatical Analysis,
 Miss F'uller's School. Recitation,
 By Miss Bigelow of Miss Fuller's School. Reading. .-
 By Miss Bronson of Miss Fuller's School. Reading in Concert, Miss Benedicts school. Recitation in Concert, "In School Days"
 Miss Benedict's School. Recitation,
 By four little chicks of Mrs Roots School. Bong, "Vacation Days are Here,
 Miss Benedict's School Hon0 "rl ere is Something for Children to Do
 Miss Elliott's School D. l.. Freeman, secretary of the board of education, M. B. Tobey, school wis., itor, and Rev Dr Eddy were requested to make few remarks. They respond ed and expressed their appreciation of the excellent character of our schools and complimented the teachers on their efficiency and the scholars on their pro- fciency and status. Mir Toby suggest ed that in future the public examina- tions be held at the close of the winter term, when larger number of scholars would participate. ...
 EVENING SESSION. Spelling Match and Song. Mrs Roots School. Recitation t'Welcome Dear Friends"
 By Pearl Ham of Miss Benedicts School. Song, Mrs hoots School. Spelling Match, J. NJ. Roys School. Composition, Canaan and It's Attractions: v
 By Homer Spaulding, 0. H. s. Recitation, 'story of King hhoud,"
 By Miss Mary Root, 2. II. g. Mental Arithmetic Exercise, c. H. 8. Song, "Merry Ginning Bells" O. u. s. M. B. Tobey made few well-timed remarks and introduced Secretary Hine who gave a very interesting and in structive address. He related his ob- servation and experience in the cause oi education; gave good advice to parents and teachers, and answered numerous enquiries made by Dr Eddy and others. We regret we are unable to give even an outline of the secretary's address, but the demand on our space prevents il and it would be neither justice to the secretary or the cause to condense ar hours talk into few lines.
 A vote of thanks was given Secretary Hine for his instructive address. Tht audience was then dismissed.
 NOTES.
 Secretary Hine struck a responsive cord in every heart when he said. 'tht teacher of the primary departmen ought to be as well paid as the teacher of any department" In fact the secre tary thinks that the most important ant trying position of any, for first impres sions are the most lasting and the pri mary teacher either makes school at tractive and delightful or unpleasant and irksome to child, and these first impressions greatly influence and deter mine 8 chiid's future attendance al school by causing them to love or hate study.
 Dr Eddy asked Secretary Hine if he did not think woman ought to receive as much pay as Q man for teaching? The secretary promptly replied, ''Yes, if she does the same work, as matter of Tigh and justice she ought to receive the same x.orr. l...t ns O r,na4tar of hnsia,ees 1unnn on