The Portland daily press., 1895-11-23
REV. MR.. HOGuE

S1p0l noendent of schools in Bridgton,
POKE OF the study of grammar in the
- ing i"oeo schools in his town. He said
10y were doing something to teach
o' accommodations He spoke of it as
" ms ms u much magnitude and labor.
are also making beginning to-
''-Ns 0le use of correct grammatical
some care Is taken to have the
Oe"oaers pay constant attention to the
papis language and to call attention to
mistakes.
NJ onought that some Bridgton scholar
might criticize the expression of one of
'iie speakers of the day when he said that
certain ideas should soak and lay in the
mind" He might have mean that they
should hatch out new brood, in which
case 1t was, perhaps, appropriate, but
was certainly ga highly figurative and
somewhat a archaeological expression. !"
daughter.
ME- Hauge spoke further of selections
for reading.
THE REV. MR.. PARSON
OF Auburn read paper upon the subject
OF Books and Reading" He said that
1T seemed appropriate to the occasion be-
cause of the fact that teachers are too
much inclined to limit their reading to
subjects especially bearing upon their
work. He declared that people who
have no time for reading" generally
IND time for something else which they
like. 1t is matter of inclination, not OF
time. The greatest readers have been the
busiest men. Books are SO cheap now
that lack Of funds can never account Tor
not reading. He believed that the chler
reason why more people do not read was
because they had not formed the habit. 1t
is as much habit, as is parting your hair
on one side He declared that he had
carpenter in his congregation, seventy
five years old, who reads more than any
lawyer in his congregation. He declared
that there is no other resource or recrea-
tion for man comparable to reading. He
developed this idea at some length and
dwelt upon the Importance Of forming
the reading habit. He thought that con-
slant reading of good authors would give
a better command of language than the
study of technical grammar. But how
teach the boy this love of reading? First
lot him read what he likes to read. His
own experience as boy was that nothing
could keep him from the fascination Of
the yellow dime novel. But finally he
awoke to the fact that he had worked
that mine through. When he realized
that he could tell the end by the begin
ming, he had no further interest. If a
boys mind never seeks, of it's own
accord, anything higher than the dime
novel, no outside power can make it.
Mr.. Parsons's paper was very bright
and interesting, and caused much enjoy
ment and amusement, though many did
not agree with parts of it.
THE EVENING SESSION
The evening session was devoted to the
"Question Box" an address by Superin-
tendent Stetson and an informal recep-
tion.
Mr.. .Stetson's subject was Teachers
and the Lessons They Teach" His adj
dress was devoted to personal remi-
niscences of his acquaintance with Grant,
Sherman, Golf. Sturgeon, Gladstone and
Billings These "reminiscences were of
very much interest and were thoroughly
enjoyed by the audience.
TODAY'S PROGRAMME.
The programme for today will be as
follows:
9O0a.m Reports of Committees and
Election of Officers. In High Schools,
Principals Crosby, Moore and others.
General Discussion. Teaching English,
Prof. Roberts. General Discussion.
Questions for discussion forwarded to
the Executive Committee-Is Some
Change in the Country Association De-
sirable? Should Arithmetic be taught
Analytically or by Rules? Should the
Grammar School Course be Broadened or
Deepened2 Is Mr.. Rice right in saying
Lessons Should be Taught before They
are StudiedS' What is the Value of the
Method of formulas in Teaching Arith-
metic?