Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1894-05-22
oxroao COUNTY EDUCATIONAL
ASSOCIATION.

subject. "EducatIou Short Of College,"
Prof. J. u. Merriman Of Gould Academy,
| Bethel, president Of the association. To-
| troduccd tho speaker With q graceful AZ
lusIon 10 the generous way In which col
leec presidents have responded to the
popular demand for lectures. President
Whitman presented his subject In . mas-
terly manner, Allowing that education IN
ne true sense Il not sending Q buy
through college merely, bot should be
an all round, perfectly-balanced, dcyel-
opment Of his powers and iaculI,es,
physical, mental, moral, that oek,ns
with the child, broadening aud deepen
Ing With his growth and development,
and ending only with life.
The regular session OF the convention
vas opened Friday morning ct the high
school building, South Paris, by Presl'
dent Merr,msn. After devotional exer-
cI.es conducted by Iiev. II. J.. Nichols,
and reading the minutes of the IAst
meeting by Miss imogen. Burnham,
GIlead, who was appointed secretary
pro ten, In the absence of the secretary,
lion. Geo. A. Wilson extended hearty
welcome In the teachers of the convcn'
ton. and said In closing, "1he country
In the future will be What you make "
through your training OF ts boys and
girls, |" and he cahortei them tn keep
up the stsndsrd-ncver lower the dlg-
nlty Of the profession"
Thc Improvement Of our schools under
he new law, bccause;-lst, "of more
efficient teachers" was ably presented
by Mr.. J.. A. LAmbe, South Paris, In
finely written paper. lie ssid, The sue
cess Of the new law depends upon the
supervisors. They must be able tn M
der.tani the forces that go toward the
mental development 81 the child, and
sec that only teachers who sscw some
thing Of the.e mental processes are en-
ploy-d. . a. .,
Thl. was followed by Mr.. u. w. v
Pethsm, Bryant's Pond, With paper on
the second division of the topic, Because
-"Of less frequent change. OF teachers
Next 20 the parents, the influence OF ths
teacher Il the greatest Tor the child. "
IL his duty 20 teach the pupil not merely
10 read, write and cipher, but tn exert Z
good moral influence To make noble
manly men, aud gentle, womanly
women. such teachers when secured
should he kept ~ long ~ possible.
The discussion of these topics wa
opened by Stste Superintendent y. A
Luce, Who .aid: The new Law IL no an
tried experiment. II has proved success
full In the other New Eugland states
and Maine should not be an exception
Under the old system IL was "hiring and
examining teachers" under the new, U
...I
.urpri..d that the new Law had CONE
Into effect With 80 little friction, even u
the most conservative towns.
Principal W. j. Cor,hell OF Gorham
Normal school ably discussed the sub
ject, shall Q course of study be adoptes
Tor all ungraded sehoolsf In every un
dertakins a systematic Organization
necessary "a success. The most difficult
thing that I. set for any man or woman
to do l. the education OF the child. IL
take these children, each differing frou
the other, and so train them In body sn'
mind a. Ia flt them for success In life
there are certain studies that are rudi
mentary-they are the tools necessar,
for the further work Of education. The!
are reading, writing-so ss tn express
some original thought-and arithmetic
These are the bread aud butter studic
which must be mastered. Then th
course can be enriched With otbe
studies, but they must not be bcyon'
the Intellect aud reasoning powers OF ti'
child. II must be nexible and tentative
This closed tbs morning session.
Ia the afternoon, the discussion on IN
last topic Of the morning session wa
opened by Superintendent Luce, wh'
va. followed by Prof. burlington Ut tn
Pennington Normal school. both gentle
men gave Illustrations of the good n
suits that had followed the adoption q
a course of study In different towns.
A teaching exercise In arithmetic wa
conducted by Miss Nellie Whitman
Hebron Academy, which illustrates
iinely the benefits ~ teaching arithmeti
by principles.
A PAPER containing some hne logics
reasoning was read by Miss Lidla u
smith, Gould Academy, on Algebrs
When, and How Muchf The object =
/, De gained by the study Of algebra
mental discipline. when the youthful
. mind has mastered the fundements
principle. Of arithmetic, then IL IL read
Tor the pure mathematical proccsse
supplied by algebra. believed In begin
ming the study la the intermediate grade
taking II through equations Ia thi
grade.
A scholarly paper on physical train
Ing Was presented by DIR. A. L.. Jersey
Oxford, Who however seems tn hav
COMPOUNDED physical training with sth
letic., which he thought Was oSerdoD
In the schools. lie emphasized the ne
ce.slty Of good ventilation la the scho0
room, aud suggested calling In physl
clan once a week Ia give emergency ice
sons To advanced classes In physiology
After short intermlssIon = bright III
tie cold water song was rendered BY
chorus Of children and misses, whicl
wa. followed by some very pretty calls
thcnlc exercises given by the student
of Oxford high school under the direc
ton Of their principal, Mr.. y. u. Hans
CON. Every movement MAS performe'
In perfect time To the music, and With
certain easy grace that spoke volume
for the good results of the training.
A paper on temperance Instruction
Was presented by Miss Imogen Burn
ham, Gilesd, which was followed by
finely written paper on "rhe l.ecits
tion", read by Principal llanscom, Ok
ford, presenting high Ideal OF wha
should be the teachers aim aud inhu
ence.
The recitation should awaken thought
aud give yiyidness To nowledgc preyi
ousiy acquired. There are bright, dull
forward, backward, indolent and actis,
pupils In each class, and the Essence o.
the successful recitation II 10 stimulate
aud develop the Individuality OF each
The most important element 10 securing
and holding the attention of the dulles
AZ well as the brightest In each class
aud Il IL . great help 70 them u the,
know the teacher IL Interested IN them
aud for them. The teacher must show
psrtlality, not "a the bright and attract
I've, but to the dull, indolent aud vicious
The teachers manner aud voice play IN
important part. lie must be earnest
interested and en- hlsiastic, II he woul
awaken the like qualities In his pupils
lie must study them out OF the class and
out Of the school room 10 learn how hs
can best arouse, direct and stimulate
their mental activities. Every reclta'
tion must have for lie ultimate aim the
training for the future, OF the man OF
womsn-thls must he aimed at and
worked for from first TO last.
Discussion Was opened on the topics
Of the afternoon by Mas farnham OF
Fryeburg Academy, Who sald that
ply slcal training helps TO balance and
develop the mental powers. Professor
burlington considered perfect ventilation
absolutely indispensable In . school