Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1892-11-10
Hancock County Educational Association.

The annual meeting OF the Hancock
County Educational Association was held
at Ellsworth, Wednesday and Thursday,
Nov. End and 3rd, 1892. The weather was
very unfavorable on both days, but in spite
of the rain and mud. over one hundred
teachers from all parts Of the county were
present. On account Of the large attend
ance the sessions, after the first morning,
were held in the Unitarian church, instead
Of in the Grammar school-house as had
been intended. The session was opened
with prayer by Rev. G. b. Chadwick, of
Ellsworth, at 10 80 Wednesday forenoon,
after which all the assembly Joined In sing
ing America"
The address OF welcome was delivered
by Mr.. E. W. Lord. as follows;
Mr.. President, Members Of our Assocta-
ton and friends: What pleasanter task
could be assigned to one than that which
makes him the bearer OF kind wishes to
all! What could be more agreeable than
to grasp, in fancy, every hand. and give t.
each one word of welcome! But even
such pleasant duty may become irksome
II we try to go beyond our powers Of
speaking or writing and, lest 1t should be-
come so TO both you and me, will attempt
no flights Of rhetoric, no highly polished
sentences. but will only say in the plsinest
words, I'VE welcome you"
We welcome you, believing that the re-
suits OF this gathering will be far-reaching
and important; they will be so. IL each
one present will do his part toward max
ing our meeting a successful one Let each
bring forward his plans. discuss them
thorough ly and honestly; tell OF his sue
cesses, and. II he will, Of his failures: Of
what has been attempted and what has
been gained; and the success Of our meet
ing is assured.
We welcome you, believing that you rep
resent the greatest power of our nation !;
tie bulwark of our liberties and the birth
place of our destinies-the common school
Of America. While all the land is celebrat-
ing the Columbian anniversaries, and pat
riotism is the order of the day. 1t is to the
schools that we look for any special dem
onstration. and In them that there must
he taught those lessons OF patriotism
that love of country which can never ex-
lst without ennobing its possessor. Our
nations flag floats to-day over nesrly every
school house In the land is not this sig
nifcan' fact? And To what institution can
the nation point with greater pride than TO
our system Of common schools? And these
schools must be what we, as teachers,
make them. And not only to you who
come here as teachers do we extend our
welcome, but 70 those who NAV not be &C
lively engaged in this work, yet whose in
tere>t In 1t Il sufficient to have brought
you here todsy.
I School officials, ye august and reverend
| men, we welcome you; retired teachers,
( from whose long experience we hope to
| garner valuable sheaves; prospective
teachers, whose attendance shows your de-
sire TO learn the best methods of your
work, ye all are welcome.
/ And II there be any here who, though
/ you have never taught nor ever expect TO
teach, yet feel an interest In our cause, we
welcome you; for you represent the peo-
! pie on whose interest depends, in a great
measure, the welfare OF the schools This
should be one Of the objects OF our asso-
cistion-to interest the people; not only
the parents. whose interest is, Of course.
most important, but also every citizen
not only the women, who often do more
10 make our schools succeed than all the
/ other sex-and that, too, while the msscu.
line element has the monopoly of the bal
lot box-but also the men
As the old Roman, Cato, is said 10 have
ended every speech, on whatever subject
with the words Carthage must be de-
stroyed." so find myself drawing polit-
ical questions into my remarks; buI this
i not such DEPRESSION a. might seem q,
first thought. We aim, by sill honorable
/ means, Ia advance the common school ;
give woman the ballot. and We have taken
mighty stride toward the accomplish
| ment OF our aim
But realize your anxiety as you note
the passage OF time. and knowing that life
Is short, and time, the material Of which
II Is made, y precious, will say no more
but only once again, I'VE welcome you.
The response was by the president, Mr.
Julian Emery, in s few well-chosen words
The class exercise in drawing which fol
lowed, was conducted by Miss Ella F. Jor
dan. who, with nine or ten of her brigh,
boys and girls, Illustrated her methods In
teaching this important art. This exercise
attracted much attention and elected con
siderable praise from many Of the teachers
The afternoon session was opened BY
Miss +. True Of Ellsworth, with paper
/ on History, which contained many noveI
and practical ideas, as all who are familiar
with its authors success as teacher
were justified in expecting
Miss Eva Z. Aiken's paper on physical
culture was enthusiastically received, AND
the exercises which followed 1t were one
OF the most interesting and important fea
lures Of the whole session.
As Principal Richardson Of Castine was
otable TO be present, Principal Purington
Of the State Normal School, Pennington
occupied the time assigned to Mr.. Richard
son, giving a most interesting and practi
cal talk on English grammar
A discussion on corporal punishment
opened by Mr.. W. II, Dresser OF Els
worth. was the last thing on the program
for Wednesday afternoon. This discus
sion was participated in quite generally by
the teachers; and the general opinion
seemed to be 10 favor of such punishment,
within proper bounds, as a final resort for
the teacher.
The evening session was one Of great
interest; 1t was opened BY piano and or
gan duet, Miss Hopkins and Mrs. Hall fur
nishing the music.
| Following this was a recitation BY Miss
Aiken How Mrs. Ruggles got Nine Little
Ruggleses Ready for Dinner Party" a
humorocs impersonation which was much
enjoyed by the audience after which in
response to repeated encores from the de-
lighted listeners, Miss Aiken recited a
beautiful selection entitled The Other
Side of Life"
The address Of the evening was to have
been delivered by Supt. W. W, Stetson, of
Auburn, but as he was unavoidably absent,
Prin. Purington consented to again act as
substitute and accordingly gave an ad.
dress on The Duty and Dignity of Ser
vice. Mr.. Purington spoke Of the neces-
sxy and duty Of all humanity's doing SER
vice of some kind and showed how all
true dignity is attained through such ser
vice. He spoke especially of the work of
the teacher, which he considered the most
important Of all service. and urged every
teacher 20 realize the honor of his profess
sion. He closed his address with char
acteristic poem, called The Jolly Old Ped
agogue." The audience was unanimously
of the opinion that a better lecture never