Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1894-05-01
GIlEAD.


GllGAo.
The position ot school superintendent
In our little town during this transition
period Il no slnecure. The combined
wisdom and efforts of three men cannc,
arrange the schools Ia the satisfaction oil
everybody. Some who think old ways
are best, cling To the district" system,
The NOR. Intelligent and progressive
wish to have q graded school establish
ed AZ the ,illage-grammar and pri.
mary grades-that viii accommodate all
the scholars In town. This IL by TAR the
best arrangement that could possibly be
made, con.ldering both economy In the
expenditure Of funds, aud the superior
educational advantage. that could b.
secured thereby Ia the individual pupil,
as only thoroughly trained and expert
enced teachers would he employed.
The leading educators of the state
have long been trying Ia secure Law
aboll.hlng the district system, and J,
speaks volumes for the general intelli'
gcnce of the members IL the last house
and senate. that such Law has been put
on the ststutc-book. IL IL a long step la
the way ofprogress. And the smallest,
most remote districts-those, In fact.
that In some Instances are most opposed
Ia the measure-are the ones that Will
be most benefited by IL. The convey
anoe 81 the scholars "a and from the
school, 1. provided. or paid for. by the
town, and they secure the advantage al
much longer terms, superior teachers,
better classification, and the added dis
cipllne and mental stimulus, which Il
sl~ays the result of grouping pupils In
large classes.
TRADING the schools !. also = great adj.
vantage. The scientific or normal meth
od of Instruction, IL based upon the
theory that education must conform 10
the natural process % mental evolution.
There l. a certain order In which the
faculties naturally develop, and \ Ger
tain kind of knowlelge which each re-
qulre. during lts development. The
teacher must know this order, and IL
able 10 supply the knowledge, tn secur'
the most perfect development Of the
mental powers. This can only be done
Ia graded schools. and by teachers who
have been trained In the normal method,
or AZ least, who have a sufficient knowl'
edge Of psychology TO understand some
thing Of the mental Processes.
II eau very easily b. seen that much
~ the money which has been paid out "a
Young, inexperienced teachers each
wear by the old district system, might
about a. well have been thrown away,
aud Am sure our townspeople are too
clear.hesded and sensible, and have the
best interests of their children too much
AZ heart, Ia wish Ia continue so wasteful
aud pernicious . system.
The be.t thing possible for the town
would be the erection of 4 building al
the village centre, suitable for graded
school, and don't let us be satisfied
With anything less than the best. foi
the future success or failure In life OF
these boys and girls, will depend very
largely upon the Kind Of mental train
Ing they receive.
There will be Christian EndeayoI
Peoples service At the church Sunday
evening, May lst, consisting Of hymns
aud responsive readings by the congre'
cation, solos, duets, and anthem by th'
choir, aud short address by the pastor
on the theme, Throw out the lifeline"
II Il a peoples service, remember. Come
and help make IL Interesting.
iNoGE> BuRSIIAN.