The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1889-10-24
SOMERSET TEACHERS.
Annual Meeting Of the County Edu.
cational Association.

S'uAdt "oOtInS OF the County ECU
cationai Association.
lPittsneld Advertised
Tuesday morning teachers from al
parts of the county began to arrive to at
tend the annual meeting OF the Somerse
Educational Society Hon N. A. Luce
the veteran educator and efficient Stat.
Superintendent Of Schools, arrived Mon
day night.
Tuesday forenoon Supt. Luce and
large delegation of teachers visited thu
village schools, and inspected the new
school house.
Probably seventy-fve Somerset county
teachers were gathered in the Institute
lower chapel when the convention wa.
called to order In the afternoon by c. O.
Small. Esq of Madison. lie called Supt
Luce to the chair. An addres. of wei
come was then delivered by Prof. o. IL
Drake, principal of Maine Central Inst
tute.
Supt. Luce followed with some inter
estins remarks, in the course of which h,
explained that the teachers convention.
OF the present differ from the teachers
Institutes of the past in that the latte
were usually made up of a set programm,
and imported talent usually carried it GU
to large extent. The teachers conyen
ton of the present is intended to be Of 6
seini-formal character, in the work OF
which all attending teachers should beal
his or her part.
Several topics were opened for discus
sion, among which were the school dis
trlct system and temperance instruction
Misses Haley aud Webber read interesting
and exhaustive papers showing the ad
vantages OF the town system in contrast
with the district system. Mr.. Small OF
Madison does not favor the town system
as much AS some do, but the sentiment OF
the meeting was very largely In favor OF
1t.
MIR. Ball OF Bingham made a stirring
appeal for more interest on the part of
teachers in imparting sound and lastin.
temperance Impressions to their pupils.
Unless the teachers have ali interest In
that work, little good can result in the
eemmoa schools
The sweating process" received its
proper share of attention. This is q
means of inducing scholar to do right
when he Is disposed to do otherwise. 1t
consists in rendering the pupil uncomfort-
able while his course is contrary to that
desired by the teacher. 1t Is doubtless a
meritorious and necessary method In the
school room, but it Is by no means new.
Before five O'Clock the meeting adjourned.
Tuesday evening an interesting paper
on "Civics" was read by Prof. Edwards,
superintendent of the public schools OF
Lewiston. 1t was listened to by large
and interested audience, and it was un-
doubtedly one of the most valuable fea-
lures of the convention
Wednesday lorning the session was
opened by singing.
The query box was the next in order.
The first question was, "What should be
done when parent threatens to take a
child from school unless he is taught in
q certain way" Supt. Luce said that he
should use his own judgement in regard
to the best methods of teaching any
scholar, and would insist on his rights
in that respect, if his method Of teaching
was approved by the supervisor.
The second question was one Of general
interest. "A teacher keeps 4 scholar
after school to study lesson During
the time his father comes in and orders
him home. What is to be doueF' In
answer Supt. Luce read section ia of the
public laws Of Maine, as follows:
Whoever, whether scholar or not,
enters any school house or any other place
OF instruction during or out Of school
hours while the teacher or any pupil is
present, and wilfully interrupts or dis
turbs the teacher or pupils by loud speak
ing, rude or indecent behaviour, signs or
gestures or wilfully interrupts school by
providing around the building, making
noises, throwing missiles at the building
or in any way disturbing the school shall
forfeit not less than two, or more than
twenty dollars.
"A young lady teacher went into a
country school where there were about
twelve scholars, some of them large boys
who work in the woods during the win
ter. Order had never been maintained,
the teacher was unable to enforce it. and
the supervisor would not turn the boys
out of school for fear of offending the
parents. What is to be done" Supt.
Luce and Others spoke on this subject.
An appeal to the manliness and honor of
the boys was thought to be the best REM
edy.
"Under what conditions can a scholar
who has been expelled by the committee
or supervisor be re-enteredE called foI
discussion. The supervisor
or committee may allow the scholar to
return to the school whenever he or they
think advisable. If the teacher and SUI
pervisor cannot agree in regard to the
of his return, the only thing
left for the teacher is to leave the school
Mr., Small answered the question,
"Should pupils be allowed to prepare
their lessons together, or speak during
school hours?" Some pupils should never
be allowed to prepare lessons in this way,
E. Il Ia thn,
planned, the passive scholar never learning
to rely on himself. Others thought the
practice should be entirely discontinued
Remarks were made on the subject by
Mr.. Luce, Misses Webber and Boyd, Prof
Tucker and Prof. Topper.
Mr.. Toothaker's answer to the ques-
ton, "Should We have general recesses,
and if so how can We prevent too much
description of his method of dealing with
cesses for the boys and girls was com
mended for many reasons by several
teachers.
and Supt. Luce supplied the teachers
present with certificates Of their attend
ance at the convention.
aiACh iCSSSs IA. SbNS coiu eieb bhC
cover to the query box was on for few
moments, and called on Prof. Edwards
for paper on the subject Of Free text
books" Mr. Edwards gave an interest
ing statement of the workings and results
Of the system In Lewiston, after which
Mr.. Luce told its effects In other parts of
the State.
The question "Should pupils studying
evenings at home prepare lessons for the
next day or review those Of the preceding
day?" was given to Miss Haley, who
thought that lessons already recited
should be SO well learned as to need nc
further study. Mr.. Ball suggested that
scholars having prepared all their lessons
At home the previous evening had toe
much time for play. Mr.. Luce spoke or
the subject and related an Incident illus
trating this point. Others gave theil
opinions on the question.
"How would you treat an idle scholar
was answered briefly by Miss Hatch
followed BY Prof. Drake, Mr.. Edward
aud Others. The chief remedy seemed II
the minds Of all, to be found In inter
esting the pupil In something SO he woul'