Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-10-19
MAINE PEDAGOGICAL SOCIETY.
final Session in Waterville-LectuTeo on
Hygiene by DR.. J. U. Webster OF
Augusta.
WArERvILLE, Oct II.

WATERyILLE, Oct II.
The Maine Pedagogical Society held it's
final session this forenoon. Jere NJ Hill, of
the Bangor High School, discussed the aims
and methods OF discipline. He said the pur-
poses of discipline were advantage to the
teacher. the welfare of the school and the
good OF individual pupils. He deprecated
corporal punishment in higher grades, advo-
Gated depriving the disobedient of privileges
and granting awards to the obedient. He
said that thorough understanding and SYM
pathy should exist between teacher and pupil
before obedience could be safely exacted ;
that appeals should be made to the pupils
sense of honor and duty. He endorsed
warmly the demerit system adopted at Port
land to secure discipline.
L. G. Jordan of Lewiston, and others con-
| tinued the discussion. Thomas Tash OF
Portland, read the report of the committee
on temperance instruction in the common
schools. The committee met IN Portland on
May last and adopted the following instruc-
tons to teachers in order to meet the require
First-They recommend daily exercises
and reviews in physiology and temperance
hygiene.
Second-Teachers should study the law
requiring instruction IN this branch and bring
themselves into sympathy with its purpose.
Third-They should make thorough prep
aration to teach this study intelligentlv.
Fourth-They should give brief instruc-
tions daily in all grades of common schools,
adapting the instruction to the age of the
pupils, teaching orally the lower grades.
j. o. Webster, NJ. d., member of the State
Board Of Health, gave very valuable lee
ture on hygiene. He said that external cir
cumstances have more influence on the health
than organic weakness or inherited disease
or vigor. He urged the great importance
of hygiene. He says the State has more in
terest in the physical well being of its citizens
than in their mental development. Our
health depends largely upon the condition of
heat with open fire places in daily use as the
best means for the ventilation of school
rooms and dwellings. To procure pure water
there should be deep well, shut off from
that diphtheria, rheumatism and fevers were
due to impure water. Heated buildings
absorbed the atmosphere from the soil, there
fore school houses should have celler or
air space beneath. He said that perfect
order in school room was ahOmination
The pupils should not be compelled to sit
still or to have their eyes constantly on their
books. He claimed that pupils were con-
fined too many hours in the school room
The lecture was replete with valuable sug-
gestions to teachers.
The convention resolved in favor of meet
ing with the American Institution of Iu.truc-
tion at Bar Harbor next year, also in favor
of the abolition of the school district system
of this State. The following officers were
chosen
Pres Thomas Tash of Portland.
Vice Presidents-J. ii. Hanson of Water
vile.
Secretary and Treasurer-Pror. f. W.
Hall of Watervile.
Committee-Thomas Tash, J. II. Hanson,
G. c. Purington, Mary f. Hughes.
Advisory Commttee-G. B. Files of Au-
gusta. +. p. Sampson of Saco, f. w. Hall of
Waterville. Miss NJ. f. Adams of Portland,
Hon. N. A. Luce of Augusta.
Committee on Professional Reading-W.
j. Corthell of Gorhsm, Prof. ii. l.. Chap
man of Brunswick, Sarah NJ. Taylor of Port
land.
The convention then adjourned sine die.
1t has been most successful and instructive
and eminently practical and cannot fail to
have a powerful influence upon the schools
of the State.