The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-12-29
LEARNING THE ART OF TEACHING.
Proceedings of the Maine Peda-
gogues at Auburn Yesterday.
President Halls Ideas of the Teach
er and the Library.
A New Method of Teaching the
Modern Languages.

opened with an address by Prof. E. w. Hall
of Colby, president of the association, on
the teacher and the library.
Prof. Hall said that the teacher and the
library had peculiar and intimate relations.
Previous to 1886 the public library of this
country was inefficient, but after the report
of the commissioner of public libraries and
the great discussion that ensued at that
time, had widened the influence of the libra
ry, and ina:ees catalogues, etc., had fol-
lowed, until, the public library system of the
land is remarkably well-developed, and to-
day the librarian has changed from jealous
guardian of literary treasures to a helper
and friend to the student in his work.
The first duty of the teacher should be an
acquaintance with all the details of the IL
brary and all the library helps that every
library mas. He should know all the cross
references, all the shelf marks, all the cata-
l0gues and the treasures OF the collection.
The library, in this way, becomes a store
house for the teacher. Such teacher be-
comes desirous Of communicating his knowl-
edge of the library to his pupils.
Prof. Hall quoted. profusely from
statistics of library use in Barnstable, CT,
Hartford, CT, Springfield. Mass, Providence,
R. L., to show how, the liqrary may and does
help the public schools. In Chicago, one
special design of the library is its use in con-
tion with the public schools and often the
scholars are taken to the public library
where lectures are often, given by the
librarian and a reverance and love of books
are thereby instilled. AS result OF this
the librarian points out the use of the books
of reference. The same is true in Glovers-
vile, Cambridge, Mass, Peoria, ILL.,, of
which separate illustrations were made by
the speaker.
In Worcester, Mass, the public library and
the public schools have most complete and
satisfactory union, and the teachers use the
public library as a direct and systematic ad-
junct to the work of the schools, and the re-
suit is a marked advance of the pupils and a
gradual association with broader treatment
of topics of school interest in current publ
cations. In Worcester, Mass. between Jan
uary and June over 700 valuable books of the
public library were in the hands of the pu-
pills of the public schools. A library is alb
solutey required in teaching IN public
schools. No teacher can afford to slight the
public library and no public library can af-
ford to slight the public school.
Prof. Hall spoke at this point of the ten
dency of the public to read fiction to an in
ordinate extent, over 90 per cent OF the cir
culation of the public library being of fiction
There are two ways that this taste may be
overcome: LIST, by the introduction of bet
ter type of fiction to the adult population
whose tastes can not be changed much; and
3D. by inculcating in the young love of a
different sort of reading. such as biography,
history, science and art. A systematic edu-
cation in love for good reading, is great
and needed safeguard Of the youth. All
schools teach reading. Why not teach not
only how to read single chapter, but an en-
tire book.
There are well authenticated cases where
young men have fitted and entered college
who have not read single book. 1t seems
impossible, but there are well authenticated
cases to this effect. Pupils need education
in the proper treatment of books. especially
large and costly books, and books belonging
to others. They need instruction in the use
of tables of contents, indices and how to
get at the essence of books.
In Maine, we have only about go libraries
of over 1000 books each. An awakening in
this directiod is needed. An educated and
enthusiastic teacher is just the one to take
the initiation and awaken public sentiment
in communities where they are needed.
The time must come when the public will
agree, that public libraries are public bene-
fits and therefore fit for sappart-hy public
taxation ana when this time comes the ma
tion will be growing better. In Michigan
the state constitution provides that the fines
from penal infractions go to the support of
Libraries and thus the preventative is sup
piled by the direct results of crime. The
time must come when town libraries shall
be provided at public expense.
round of applause followed the Prest-
dents address.
The report on history was delivered by
PRINCIPAL George G. Purington of the Farm
ington Normal school. l. was technical
paper of much interest to the session.
Prof. Henry johnson of Bowdoin College
a paper on the teaching of Modern
Languages in Secondary Schools.
Prof. johnson referred in opening to some
of the discouragements in the way OF teach
1<inr.r lox in
loss of fexibility, by this time of the stu
dents life, in vocal organs. He was quite
severe upon the lack of use Of foreign
language study among professional men and
regretted the slovenliness OF the English
speaking people in their own noble tongue.
The direction of the paper was along the
illustration of the study OF German and it
requested the use of the reason in
study of the language. i. e.. giving the stu
dent something to think about. From this
point, Prof. johnson spoke from the black;
board which he had industriously covered
with German words and combinations of
sounds. He considered what to teach to a
pupil who comes knowing nothing about the
language-a condition, he quantity remark
ed, infinitely better than pupil who comes
he knows something. de would
teach the sounds and would never say that
one sound is like another. Sound is definite.
inelastic, absolute.
Be sure that the pupil has each individual
sound. He illustrated it especially In the
vowel 0, and said that he would teach every
sound of o as an absolute sound. He would
give the pupil a printed list of the sounds
and while not expecting the pupil to remem-
Der all the sounds, he would expect him to
nothing that Is not correct. In
the same way he would teach the verb and
the prOnoun, and would leave the article and
noun until he had given eight or ten lessons
in order that the pupil might have the ma
chinery of the language before he got en-
numbered with words This is done easily
by pronouns.
Prof. johnson was compelled to make his
paper brief in order. to come within the
limits of time. 1t was shortened much to
the regret of all.
1t is understood that in the system which
he illustrates SO copiously are seventy sounds
his alphabet. and that he intends
of years, in the instruction of his next class
at B0wdoin.
Professor Taylor, of Colby, gave very
bright paper on the need of better system
of teaching Latin.
At the afternoon session there was the
largest attendance in the history of the So
ciety. Prof. f. K. Chapman of Boston, gave
a paper on music in primary schools, Illus
trating 1t by class from the Auburn prima-
rIes. A printed report on geography, by
Rev. b. p. Snow Of Willard, was read and
adopted. This was discussed by Superin-
tendent Crawford ofWaterville. After papers
on physical training 10 Public Schools" by
G. e. Adams of Colby and +. ii. Dodge of
Bates, Albro E. Chase. principal of the Port
land High School, gave notice that the edu-
Gators of Maine, propose to push a law this
winter prohibiting the sale of cigarettes to
minors. In the evening Geo. II. Martin,
agent Of the Massachusetts Board of
Education. discussed "What our pupils know
of tie English language when they leave the
grammar school," and Prof. G. G. Rounds of
New Hampshire, delivered an address on
"School government as factor in moral cul-
ture."