The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-11-04
EDUCATIONAL TOPICS.
Cumberland educational Associa'
ton Meeting.

The closing session of the annual meeting
at South Portland filled the forenoon of Sat
urday with proceedings and exercises of in
terest.
Principal Hawkes. of the Cape Elizabeth
High school, gave a very practical and help
full paper ON General Exercises"
Mr.. Hawkes. inquired into the best meth
DDS of correcting errors in ordinary Ian
guage, how most effectually to mould school
public opinion, considered the worth and
best way TO secure the full value of declama-
ton, aud the advantages of judicously man
aged composition writing.
The further discussion of the subject was
carried on by Principal Corthell of Gorham.
lie would have from time to time general
exercises drawn from school work-such as
will interest parents-and to these exercises
the parents should be cordially invited. Let
the young children have opportunity to read
before school and parents, this will secure
lively and real study not possible to gain for
ordinary tasks.
General exercises may introduce, with val
liable results, some studies not feasible in
regular and daily recitations. Some princi-
pies of civics, many interesting and special
phases Of history, most valuable exercises in
writing on familiar topics, can be carried on
through wisely guided general exercises.
Mr.. Norton of Portland, and Mr.. Crosby
of Deering, added remarks of weight, espec-
tally commenting such exercises as should
train pupils to think while speaking, and
emphasizing the value of such methods as
enable the pupil to express his own thought
In familiar conversational style, or in debate.
Observation-Disclosures believed in rhetorical
exercises, but was certain wisdom is called
for on the part of the teacher in managing
these exercises.
K. @. Reynolds, Esq, of the Cape Eliza
beth school board, announced his decided
faith in rhetorical work, especially discipline
in speaking.
The advantages of, and best plan for reg
ulating the use of the free text books" the
dnal topic considered, was introduced in an
address by Hon. N. A. Luce, superintendent.
| He would have the change to come in 1890
from present arrangements, as made as
smoothly as possible. Town uniformity in
books will OF course be necessary. 1t will be
| needful to ascertain before the next annual
town meeting, the number and cost of books
required The change will be brought
about without material difficulty.
| Mr.. o, A. Cobb of Westbrook. remarked
upon the advantages of free text books, es-
pecially iu view of the experience of his
town in free books.
The cost of books in Westbrook is about
fifty cents scholar per year. The town has
In use three different sets of readers, and
can rotate these among the several schools
The expense for the first year was about one
dollar. The free books have clearly ad-
vanced education in Westbrook.
The committee on nominations reported
and the association elected the following
officers for the coming year:
President-D. W. Hawkes., Deerng.
| wee Presldsnt-H. L. Berry. Westbrook.
sscret;airy5SeO F. Henley Cape Elizabeth
ham; Edgar II. Crosby, Deerlng; Leroy L. II light
cortland; Miss A; F.; Merryman. Brunswick
Miss Mary FL. knight, Gorham.
The committee on resolutions, Prof. Esta.
brooke, chairman, submitted their report as
follows:
Resolved, That the thanks f thisAssociation are
due to the citizens Of Cape Elizabeth for theil
generous entertainment of visiting teachers.
To the Maine Central and to the Grand Trunh
| railroads for reduced rates.
70 the Methodist Episcopal Society for The USE
of their chu, CHI for the evening session.
Resotced, That this Association recognizes with
profound sorrow that by the death of Superiutend
ent Thomas fash of Portland, 1t has lost mem
| Der whose experience was ever help and whose
| success as an educator was a constant inspira
| ton to the teachers of this State.
The attendance at this meeting has been
very large, but the Inequalities of South
Portland have amply responded, and the
visiting teachers have greatly appreciated
the cordial manner in which they have been
entertained.
The next meeting will be at Saccarappa OF
| Gorham