The Newtown bee., 1891-02-20
VIEWPOINT, FEBRUARY 20, 1891.
FAIRFIELD.
THE SCHOOL CONVENTION.

the adjoining town of Westport assem- bled in convention in the public school building of Fairfield Middle district. c. F. Carroll of New Britain first gave talk on arithmetic, taking percentage for his topic. He said that pupils should be taught percentage thoroughly by frac- tions; oral questions were of great i'm portance as a drill. He would not have teachers spend much time on those parts which are of minor importance and of very little practical value. He was fol- lowed by Miss M. Rachael Webster of New Haven, who was listened to atten- lively, her subject being Geography. She would have a preparatory course for beginners and, when opportunity offered, would take little ones out for walk, teaching them the first rudiments of ge- ography in that way. She would also have them draw outlines of mountains and hills from pictures and then write all they knew about them. At o'clock, J. s. Cooley of Windsor Locks humor- ously explained to the teachers what materials for writing were first necessary
 
 cheaply obtained. He then gave instruct ions in the formation of all the letters, both small and capital letters. Great in- terest was manifested throughout the en- tire session.
 At the Town hall at 30 p m, George Littlefeld, superintendent of the Normal schools of Rhode Island, delivered an ad- dress on educational progress or advance ment. He was introduced by John l.. Morehouse, who made short speech. Mir Littlefield prefaced his remarks by Il few words expressing his pleasure that he was asked to speak so soon again, af- ter his lecture on Daniel Webster, which he delivered in the hall few weeks ago. He said that foreign nations are adopting our public school system as the best one anywhere presented. He thought that the schools were destined to much high CT and greater power in the land, but rev. olutionists stand on every side. Critics complain that the schools are too exact ing, require too much; others denounce them as not teaching anything and of no use to the public. This discussion will simply make them advance and become more secure. Confidence in the power of the schools and their benefits gives them power and elevates the teachers. The schools need stronger financial sup port. Every building should be of the finest, in sanitary arrangements, mater ials, etc. Libraries should be under the school roof and not have to use circulat- ing libraries, far away perhaps. Money voted for schools is well expended and should be adequate for the purpose in- tended.
 One great evil is that teachers simply try teaching as stepping stone for something better. More should become teachers, with the intention of remaining teachers. The greatest privilege offered in this country, after homes and church. es, is the privilege of putting children under competent trainers of the mind, giving the parent the benefit of the wealth of others. A radical change of public sentiment toward the teachers is needed. Parents should cooperate with the teachers and never complain of them before the children. When difficulties are carried to the school committee, they are magnified and often great harm is done. The school committee holds an important position and should be of the best citizens, not men unfit for anything else, and they should be thoroughly in favor of the public schools and with desire to make them as fine as the best private school. The end should be to make every school as good as the best. A State should be able to compete with private schools in every way. The good and intelligent teacher is the great req uisite of fine schools, should possess the best possible physical health and should have q fine sense of honor and integrity, which has d moral and spiritual effect on the children. Teachers should under stand the subjects to be taught and the art of teaching, which is the art of ex- pression; be good disciplinarians and know how to rule children. A revolu- tion in the curriculum is now in progress, from the kindergarten to the college. The best text books ever published are being brought out and the chaff is fast
 
 Littlefield introduced an ingenious con- trivance, invented by some teacher, to illustrate and show the same surface of figure in different positions, changing from square to triangle, which greatly simplifies geometrical problems, etc. By illustrating, studies can be made inter- esting to both teacher and scholar. Much laughter was caused by the reading of short pieces, showing how the children comprehended the meaning of words given them to put into sentences. Ex- aminations are valuable, if not abused, and rraat feature among ali schools but they should not be competitive, be- cause they do not, as a rule, show the proficiency of the pupil and are injurious, but incentives to honor, etc., should not be removed. Results, not methods, must be looked for. If scholars are prepared, they never fear an examination. The course which best fits the average man for the battle of life should be accepted by all the higher colleges and made ac- cessible to all the public schools who have covered such course. The speak CT was frequently interrupted by ap- plause and was loudly applauded at the close of his remarks.
 At the saloon of M. Bracken, Monday, some of MT Redfield's gang of men were shaking dice with two men from Bur- ney's gang in Southport. A dispute