The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1891-05-07

Inc hrst session Of the Western Som |
erset tonnty Educational Association,
was OPP med at O'Clock Friday, President
small OF Madison presiding, The address
OF welcome was delivered oy +. G, dan
son, principal Of Arson Academy. A very
Interesting paper on geography was read
BY Miss Kate b. Spauldibg Of North An
son. Discussion was opened by Supern-
tendent N A. Luce. This topic was furth.
er discussed by Miss Blanchard, precep-
tress Of Arson Academy, Prof. G. C. Pur-
ington OF Pennington, Mr.. Whitney, su
perintendent Of schools Of Skowbegan
and Miss Foster of SkowhegaD. Mr..
Whitney opened the discussion on meth
DDS of Teaching Arithmetic" Superin.
tendent Luce explained to the teachers of
the association the new lawiNassed by the
Legislature for the purpose OF compelling
teache 3 to teach their pupils kindness
toward the lower animals. The me ting
then adjourned until . O'Clock A. NJ. Sat
urday.
In the evening Prof. Purington lectured
on Words" Seventy were 10 attendance
at the association,
The second days session Of the Western
Somerset County Teachers Association
was called to order by President Small
promptly at O'Clock A. M. In the Acade-
my builiing, North Arson. The frst bus
mess of the meeting was to elect the fol-
lowing officers for the ensuing year: M.
A. Whitney of Skowhegan, president; G.
ID. Boothby of Madison, vice. president;
Miss Blanchard of North Arson, secretary
executive committee, f. G. Manson of No
Arson, chairman, Minnie Waugh, Starks,
Miss Addie Swain of Skowhegan. Mr..
Chas. Ball of Bingham ably discussed the
responsibility of teachers under the free
text book law. He claimed that 1t would
be better to intrust ths books to the care
Of the teacher and to hold him RESPONSE
HE for their use, rather than to charge
them to the pupil and hold him RESPONSE
| BILE. He had also found it beneficial to
| make fortnightly examinations of the
books, to make four grades of them
good, medium, fair and bad aud to re-
port the same to the pupils. Also 1t was
I u good plan for the S. S. Committee to
| obtain report of the district which had
kept the book the best, and to remunercate
that district. He had found that, even in
rural districts, the books were kept much
better by this system. Mr.. Luce remark
ed that he was much pleased with the
success of Mr.. Balls fortnightly examin-
atoms and heartily recommended 1t to the
teachers. Mr.. Augustine Simmons of No
Arson opened the discussion on the sub
ject Of language. This was the most In
teresting aud instructive discussion Of the
meeting. Many new ideas were suggest
ed and much enthusiasm was evinced on
the part of the speaker, of the importance
Of a better drill In language. He urged
the early study of literature. and of Ian
guage lessons and composition work be-
fore the technical grammar. He dwelt
upon this subject to some extent, stating
that simple style of writing should be
cultiva ed, remarking upon the chldlike
simplicity of Longfellow. and giving the
following quotation Except as We be-
come as little children, ye shall not enter
into the kingdom Of heaven" and he said
that except as ye become as little children
in your language, We shall not enter the
kingdom of literature. Mr.. Whitney now
read brief paper on language. The ques-
ton box was then thrown open and many
instructive remarks made. The commit.
tee on resolutions reported and hearty
thanks were extended to the people of
North Arson, to Prof Manson aud Miss
Blanchard for their hospitality. The
meeting then adjourned.