The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-10-22
CUMBERLAND EDUCATORS.
Annual Session Begun at Westbrook
High School.

High School.
The annual meeting Of this body of teach
ers and educational workers opened yester-
day morning, at o'clock, in the high school
building at Saccarappa. The session has
usually been held on Friday and Saturday,
but the executive committee took for the
present meeting Tuesday and Wednesday.
In favor of these days there are forcible
reasons, but the experiment does not seem to
be at first successful, the number in attend
ance being small for the Tuesday morning
session. In the absence Of the president,
d. W. Hawkes. of Deering. the chair was
taken by Vice President II. L. Berry of
Cumberland Mills, and the absent secretary's
place was filled by Mr.. W. W. Woodman of
Gorham.
Prayer was offered by Rev. E. E. Bacon of
Saccarappa.
An appropriate address of welcome was
given by Supervisor o. A. Cobb of Cumber-
land Mills, to which Professor FL. NJ. Esta-
brooke responded very happily.
In well thought out and well written pa
der, Miss Mary Alden of Gorham treated
the question, "How shall teachers grow In
efhciency?" The essay was followed by a
general discussion, opened by Principal e.
ID. Crosby of Deering and Rev. B. P. Snow
principal-eleet of North Yarmouth Acade-
my. the paper emphasized comparative OBJ
servation and studies like visits to other
schools and to other grades in the teachers
home schools, careful study of classes and of
individual pupils, and the use OF all ayaila-
HE helms ard
ods, with faithful preparation for the work
In hand. The Importance of elevated char
acter In the teachers was dwelt upon and
pronounced leading consideration 10 the
matter of growth in efficiency. Mr.. Crosby
would lay at the foundation Of growth in
professional efficiency sound health in the
teachers. This would be the basis of sonnd
mental activities. The teacher should aim
at placing the best that Is In him at its best
for his chosen work. Bodily strength and
mental power should combine In all their
different lines of activity, to produce ad-
vanced and progressive efficiency in the
teacher. Mr.. Snow believed the teachers of
today are sincerely inquiring after the ways
and means for growing efficiency, He CON-
mended special and systematic study outside
the daily routine, careful readi g along pre-
fessional lines, efforts to secure FREQUENT
new methods in the same branch, and great
er and greater attachments In exemplifying
high principle in his own conduct and in the
policy and administration of the school.
Superintendent Stetson Of Auburn, whose
help was valuable throughout the CONVEX
ton, with other valuable remarks, empha-
sized the fact that attachments In reading
and study outside the profession are most
helpful to the teachers special work, The
discussion was animated and suggestive.
The Query Box" which al the close of
the forenoon hour poured quite a food of
questions upon the convention, proved high
y . interesting State Superintendent Luce,
SON and others metintelligently and prudent
ly these various practical inquiries.
Among other things 1t was said that re-
SUITS. not EFFORTS, must generally settle. the
Inquire to be placed in the rank, both that the
towns are, by the statutes, to pay for only
those books needed for the branches re-
CURED by the. committees, and that book
Keeping, by single entry, should be taught in
all our common schools.
The afternoon session showed quite ma
terlally increased attendance.
The programme opened with a paper on
Advanced Reading" by Principal 81. l..
Berry Of Cumberland Mills. He believed
the reading of our schools is one of our weak
POIHbo, anu out6T6u u 6tTOuB plea LOT DETER
voice culture. more intelligent study, wiser
selection of reading matter and more honor
among TEACHERS and educators in this one of
the three RS.
MT; Nickerson of Saccarappa, insisted that
intelligent and f0rceful expression Is the le-
Ultimate aim in tais branch, and that the
studies OF the pupil and the methods of in
strnction could be focused to this purpose.
AS 1t is now the reading of our schools isn't
up to what one would rightly call advanced
reading.
Superintendent o. A. Cobb found the
school house tone" to be one of the faults
IN the classes. instead of the ton and infiec-
ton called for by the selection in hand. He
should come in with better preparation in
this branch Professor Estabrook said,
sink the reader in the story read, so that
the listener shall say not what good reader,
but rather what an interesting piece"
Drawing as Practical Aid to Teachers
and Pupils" was the subject assigned to Miss
Sophie p, Stevens of New Gloucester. Miss
stevens presented thoughtful and highly
practical paper, illustrating her leading
blackboard. Nearly every branch Of our
school work can be more attractively taught
by the use of drawing as an aid. The edu-
catlonal value Of that study in itself is great
and It ts, perhaps. generally qnderated;.
"A Teaching Exercise in Drawing" con-
Quoted Miss Maud b. Wilbur followed the
paper. In this exercise some fifty boys and
girls from the Saccarappa schools participa-
ted. Miss Wilbur used objects in all the
work of the hour.
The evening session was occupied by a lee.
ture on the "Origin and Office of Poetry"
by Prof. John S. SewaDl of the Theological
Seminary, Bangor.
The convention continues through the
forenoon today.
In addition to the election of officers and
other business of the association a paper
will be read an Language Teaching by
Miss Grace J. Haynes. teacher In the Cor
ham Normal School. and discussion opened
Are the Pupils In the Public Schools Over
worked?" Supt. o. M. Lord of Portland.
Supt Stetson Of Auburn, and others will
participate in the discussion.