The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-09-25
GORHAM'S SCHOOLS.
A Peculiar Controversy in Progress
in tile Neighboriug Town.
VILLAGE SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN
USED FOR NORMAL PRACTICE.

And There Has Developed a Lively Oppo-
sition to the Systematic Matter the
| Subject of Meetings of the People at
which the Discussions Have Been
| Animated.
The village of Gorham has a school
system different from it's neighbors. 10
begin with there is still a school district
in the town, notwithstanding the new
State law abolishing the school district
system Then the schools are taught by
teachers elected by the trustees OF the
Normal School, and two OF these teach
ers receive their pay from The
State. But all. the people OF
the village are not satisfied with this
system and their feeling over the matter
has resulted in a school district meeting,
at which there was some animated dis
cussion, and a conference of the trustees
and the district authorities. A second
district meeting is to be held next Satur-
day evening.
The State, in order to give the future
teachers who receive their training Id the
Normal Schools actual practice in the art
of training the young idea, has provided
for the establishment of model schools in
which normal pupils may at certain
times take charge of the classes. The
model schools at Gorham for the last
three years have included all the primary
and grammar grades OF the village
schools. Three years ago, the schools of
the village were in crowded condition,
two of the grammar grades being in the
high school bu ilding and there existed
considerable confusion. Then the district
made an arrangement with the normal
school authorities by which the normal
school trustees agreed to provide quarters
for the grammar grades and pay the two
teachers. The primary school was also to
| be model school, the teacher being
elected by the normal school trustees. but
the expense of the school being borne by
| the district
The three teachers in charge of these
schools are members of the normal school
faculty. They conduct the classes and
have control of their respective schools.
but to them are sent the normal school
pupils to conduct some of the lessons, the
ground covered by these exercises also be-
ing gone over by the regular teacher.
1t is only the pupils of the senior classes
who teach in the model schools. The
regular course at Gorham is of two years
duration and for the first year and a half
the pupils have no work to do in the
model schools, but they are required in.
turn to act as teachers in their own
classes under the eyes of the faculty.
More than that many of the normal
school pupils have taught before entering
the school and SO when they enter the
practice schools, they are not entirely
new to the business. Nevertheless there
has been dissatisfaction with the system
at Gorham. Parents have complained
that the constant introduction of new
teachers in the schools tends to retard the
progress of the children. On the other
hand, as Principal Corthell explained
yesterday, the pupils who enter the model
schools after being in the schools of other
towns, are found not to be as far ad-
vanced as pupils of the same age already
in the practice schools. The feeling of
dissatisfaction at one time was believed
by many to be directed against one OF the
model school teachers who has since
resigned, on the ground that there was
lack of discipline and failure to do the
best work possible in her school. That
point, however, is still matter of dis
pute and as the teacher is not now con-
nected with the school that chapter of the
controversy is over. 1t lead however, to
the signing of paper by many of the
parents of pupils in the model schools, to
the effect that they had no complaint to
make against teachers, but were not
pleased with the system.
Early in the month, the discussion over
the trouble led to a petition for the repeal
of the vote by which the village schools
were united with the model schools.
That vote was passed at a meeting of the
district On April 80, 1891, and is as
follows: "Voted, to transfer the scholars
of the grammar grade to the model
schools connected with the normal school
and combine all primary grades in the
district school building, said primary
grade to be under the management of the
authorities of the normal school COM
mittee of the town and grading COM
mittee of the district"
This petition was signed by the follow
ing gentlemen: Edwin A. Soule, Scion
S. Andrews, H. S. Billings George H.
Wentworth, L. ". Brown, John W.
GRAHAM L. J. Patrick, James P. Fogg,
H. W. Hale, III. L. Morrill,, f. o. Bolton
Leroy Mcdonald, o. J.. Drown, Charles
Jose, p S. Fogg, Howard SWEET, L. K.
Libby J. J. Fifeld, Daniel Feeney,
Thomas McDonough, Daniel Clay, Fred
W. Harding, LA. Libby, G. W. GRAHAM,
Thomas Pardon, E. W. Cressey, b. 4.
Whitney.
In response to this petition, Mr.. Stephen
Huxley, the district agent, called
meeting for the evening of September IA,
and that meeting was lively one. 1t
resulted in the appointment of Messrs H.
A. Soule. J. J. 6. Hannaford, II. b.