Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-12-31

A CON yENTION
vi the Maine Pedagogical Society-The
orsaniz 4 on Deferred Until Friuay-A
Large Attendance.

BRUNSWICK, Dec. 80.
1hr Maine Pedagogical Society convened
in Memorial Hall, BowdOin College this af-
ternoon. There WIS large attend ance Of
teachers, including President VIM. Dewitt
Hyde of Bo.doin College, Supt. w. w. Stet-
son of Auburn, w. j. Cothren of the State
Normal School al Gorham, w. + Sheldon of
the New England journal Of Education, A.
5. Manson of New York, Moses +. Brown OF
the Boston School of Oratpry, Prof. +. c.
Robinson Of BoSdoin College, Prof. Ii. NJ.
Estabrook or G ,rham, R-v B. p. Snow OF
Willard, Hon f. c. Carrington of Boston.
PRESIDENT lash called the meeting TO order.
1t was opened by prayer by Rev. W. Fisher.
The organization was deferred until Friday
Hen. A. G. Tenney OF Brunswick extended D.
most cordial and pleasant welcome in behalf
of the cltizens. A vote of thanks was ex-
tended to the speaker and to the local com
mittee for the reception and attention, and to
the citizens for their hospitality.
President Tash in his address-"rhe Re-
| iations of the Schools to the State"-said that
the family, church and the State have been
the three leading factors of civilization. The
insrumentality of the schools has from time
to time been chosen an appliance of all these
family instructions. Tne parochial and pub
hc school, each, has TX, rted a potent influ
ence within its own sphere. The influence
OF the school has never been despised by the
/ A.
pubic schools from law. The school belongs
to the State and the State has II higher tnan
an Individual claim. Ihe thought of any
age determines the education of the aye
which is to succeed it. Education follows, 1t
does not lead. / he school and chur, b alike,
walk in the wake OF science, philosophy and
political ideas. Intelligence is ldely dtius-
ed among the people. 1t gives strength to
the state, adIs To 1t svcurIy and prom lte,
prosperity and happiness. Bearing this in
mlnd, school authorities and teachers wIll be
able aud better to instruc in schools So thai
| they may better fulfil the Utjtcts of their
mission, namely, 10 train for ,he STATE, { IL
zens phys ctiy, mrntali, aud morally sound
hls bhs DCth ihS HibbS o'JNNt az ttt pubi'S
schools i'll the group ot American States.
| Prof. + & Robinson of Bosduia college,
followed with lecture on 'iiints in teach
ing chemistry" which was discussed BY Ii.
! NJ. EslaDrook OF Gorham.
Rev. 2 a Snow of Cape Elizabeth, read 4
report geography.
In the evening President VIM. Dewitt
HYDE, OF Bowdoln, delivered lecture on
"Cultiva alton of attention before II large audi
ence." The following is an abstract: At
lion is not ready made faculty ON which
foreign tasks may b. imposed accordi to
the rules Of system or the will of teacher
Attention is s,mply the mind had TO def
mite task, and the power to SO concentrate
the mind is a growth which 1t is the business
of the teacher TO foster. This is best done at
first by kiudergarten methods, which take ad.
vantage of the spontaneous activity OF the
mind and body. In the next stage the sphere
of the public school attention Is cultivated
in geography, by such exercises as map
drawing and modelling in sand and drawing
from actual measurement, the school yard,
bv writing The history with the geography OF
A country, IN reading by calling for stories
read in the pupils own words, by making
reading, writing, spelling and grammar
at first parts of one and the self same study
The elective system is IN the more advanced
studies of college course accompanied by es-
SAWS based on the independent investigation
of special topics TO give scope Tor the sell
directed attention in its highest form.
CHANGE FOR AN ARGUMENT.