The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-01-05
the CLOSING SESSION.
Teachers Hear Papers by Cornam
Pedsgoeues and Elect Officers.

WATERvILLE, January 3.-The closing
exercises of the Maine Pedagogical Society
were largely attended. W. G. Crawford,
superintendent of the Waterville schools,
read valuable paper on reviews.
Il. M. Estabrooke, of the Gorham Normal
School, was the next speaker. his subject be-
ing "The Necessity and Feasibility Of
County Institutes" After referring to the
good work done by the normal schools, Mr..
Estabrook turned to its Limitation and asked
what Is needed to supply the deficiency In
professional training? A series Of county
normal Institutes, of not less than FIVE days
continuance each /; a definite course OF work
in methods to be done by specialists In the
different departments; supplementary
course of work directly In the line Oh that
done by or to be pursued by the teachers
during the succeeding year, review OF this
work At the next institute, followed by ex-
animation and certlfcation Of those salts
factorily completing the same, and series
of attractive evening lectures Oh such q
character as to supplement- the professional
work of the day.
superintendnnt of schools at Lewiston
w. j. Corthell, principal Of the State
Normal School at GOrham, spoke on state,
County and Town Supervision"
The ideal system he believed to be as fol-
lows: A state superintendent, state agents,
two for each Congressional district, who
with the state superintendent shall consti.
tute the state board of education, the board
to have pOweI t. eXamine-and give certih-
Gates to teachers, to fix courses OF study, es-
tabish school limits or districts, determine
the rank Of teachers; committee Of not less
than three, nor more than i've, In each town.
cities to have one from each ward, to hire
teachers to take care of school property,
choose district inspector, such committee
TO serve without pay; inspectors OF schools
chosen by the committee out of single town
enough, the committees to fix the pay of in
spectors, their functions and powers to be
fixed by the board of education.
This subject was discussed by N. A. Luce.
state superintendent CT schools, and NJ. A.
Whitney, president of the Skowhegan
schools.
Charles F. King of Boston. illustrated
work 10 geography.
Besides the routine resolutions the society
adopted the report of the special committee
favoring the abolition of the district system,
the CHASING together of towns for the cleo
tion OF SuperintendentS, commencing flee
books. commencing tenure of Office by teach
ers, favOring distribution by the United
States government of aid to the iliterates of
tue different states; recommending the for
nation OF bands OF mercy in the schools,
that towns of 1000 or more inhabitents elect
school committees Of three, that the commit
tee Of any town or city be empowered to
elect superintendent of schools, that when
any two or more towPs having val
uatiOn of not more than two million
shall unite to hire superintendent of
schools and shall raise therefor five hundred
dollars, the state shall give those towns three
hundred dollars for the same purpose and
three hundred more for teachers salaries,
exclusive of the amount now given said
towns. that there be established board of
education consisting of the governor of the
state, tue president of the senate and the
speaker of the house, and five others male
or female, appointed by the Governor and
council, that such board be empowered to
elect Superintendent of schools and secre-
taly and fix their salaries, that the members
Of this board receive pay for their
travelling expenses and that each, except the
Governor, receive some compensation as men,
beIs of the council when attending to the
educational interests of the state, and that
there be appointed person from each coun-
ty In the state to use his influence TO
secure the adoption of the foregoing, and
who shall. in the press and otherwise. urge
such legislation.
These officers were chosen: +. 7. Samp-
son OF Saco, president; A. f. Richardson of
Castlne, vice president; II. NJ. EStabrook of
Gorham, secretary and treasurer; ex-oficio
E. P. Sampson, A. f. Richardson, Fl. NJ. Es-
tabIoOk, Miss Helen w. Fuller Miss Mary
u. Snow, executive committee; L. L. Samp-
SOD, +. IL. Nickersun, Professor l.. G. Jur-
dan, q. A. Stuart, Miss Sarah NJ. Taylor, ad-
vis0ry board.