The Portland daily press., 1894-11-24
TEACHERS In CONVENTION
Large Gathering and Interesting
WHAT is AND WHAT SHOULD BE
IN CUMBERLAND SCHOOLS.

Ought Children To Be Kept After School
Apparently Not--Teaching of Language,
ing-Superintendent Luce's Ideal
School Board-Rev. Matt S. Hughes's
Address.
Yesterday forenoon in the handsome
reception hall of the High School build
ing, the teachers of Cum berland Conury
were assembled to the number of about
400 in their annual convention. This
large audience was about SO per cent.
feminine and one per cent masculine; at
least such was the appearance of it,
In the absence of Mayor Baxter, Prin-
principal Chase, of the High school, ex
tended cordial welcome to the city and
to the convention.
Mr.. W. Andrews, principal of the
Butler scheel, and president of the con-
vention, assumed the chair and an
nounced the mum bers of the programme.
The first paper was read by Miss Char
lotte Montgomery, of the Deering High
school. Her subject was flow to Inter
est the Composition Glass. She dwelt
upon the great Importance of establish
ing an ability in the scholar to write
what he knows and feels. Who knows
but that in this way some youthful Mil
ton may be started upon an immortal
career. The composition class should be
as systematically trained as the arith-
metic or any other class. There should
be regular and pers;stant practice and
study in this art of self expression, and
not an infrequent and loosely conducted
method. The pupil should be made to
feel that good composition is as noes
sary as correct solution of the problem.
Mrs. Alice B. Beck of the North St.
kindergarten school. read paper upon
"Froebel,s System of kindergarten
Training"
She said that The kindergarten idea is
the most complete system of developing
of the child, mentally, morally and
physically, that the mind Of man has
ever conceived of. It's method of bringing
the child into contact with natural life
and beauties. the flower, the butterfly
and the bird, makes each little one keen
ly alive to the fact that this is his coun-
try. He learns to love it and become
patriot. 1t induces also gentleness, cour-
tesy, generosity, culture and self control.
The free kindergarten is a beautiful
charity, but the public kindergarten is
<l,o NJ Of oh
Mrs Becks' paper was brief, to the point,
and Interesting.
The forenoon's topic for general dis
cussiou was "Ought Children to be De-
tanned for Work After School? Chair
man Andrews urged.a full discussion of
this important matter.
Mr. Palmerston, principal of the North
School, said that on account of the size
of his school this matter was of much
interest to him. If the question must
be answered definitely he should be
obliged to answer it in the negative. But
much depends upon circumstances, the
nature of the teacher and pnpils. For
that reason he could not be definite on
the subject Some teachers could be
successful in that method and some
could not. He would answer it with
both yes and no.
Chairman Andrews said thai rather
than let the question go by without
further discussion, he proposed to say
something about it. He would answer
the question in the negative. The bene-
fit for the teacher not the pupil, is too
often considered in keeping the latter
after school hours. Practically there is
no advantage to the pupil in being kept
after school. 1t is true that some pupils
who know that the punishment of de-
linquency is being kept after school do
not try to study during school. The answer
seems to be that ii pupil cannot keep
up during school hours he ought to be
kept back in the grade. Go, to some of
our schools these short win ter days and
you will find Is OF 20 children kept after
school and injuring their eyes in the
poor light. 1t is positive physical in
jury. The majority of our children are
able to do the work in school hours if
they will only apply themselves. His
experience had demonstrated that to his
satisfaction. He had found that the
teachers who keep none or very few
pupils after school have just as good or
even better results in their school work.
Superintendent Lord said that he was
quite in accord with almost all that had
been uttered by the chair. First it gets
TO be custom and then ceases to be of