Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-07-09
THE TEACHERS
Welcomed to State of Maine
by Governor CIeaves.
Opening of the American Institute Of
Instruction at Portland.
City Hall Crowded TO Observation-Disclosures
Of Visitors in City.

states. City hall was filled at the open
ing meeting, the attendance being per
haps the largest In the history of the so
ciety. The hall was deliberately decorated
with flags and bunting. Streamers radi
ated from the centre chandelier and tn,
front of the gallery was adorned with
shields bearing the names of all the state:
in the Union The front of the platform
was festooned with red, white and blut
| bunting, and on the wall back of the p lat
form Was the word "Welcome'' in larg,
letters, underneath being the initials OF
the name OF the society, A. |. l.
| On the platform were seated the officer;
of the society and many prominent educa
tors President W. W. Stetson, State
superintendent of schools of Maine pre-
sided. He spoke briefly and then Cover
nor Cleaves made an address of welcom,
in behalf of the State of Maine, saying:
Mr.. President, Ladies and Gentlemen:
''It is with pleasure that I welcome to
| our State the members of the American
| Institute of Instruction. Your organiza-
ton has exercised powerful influence for
more than SO years in promoting and ad-
vancing the cause of popular education.
and bring to you, with full and over.
| lowing measure, the cordial greetings of
| the people of Maine, and extend to you a
generous welcome within our limits.
81 need not come here to tender you the
freedom of our magnificent and prosper
| Gus commonwealth, for the great cause
you represent holds commanding posi-
| ton in every city, in every town and
| hamlet and home throughout our borders.
Wherever you may travel within our at
| tractive and progressive domain, you will
| find the cause of education dear to our
people, you will be welcomed with the
| greatest hospitality, and made to feel that
| you are not strangers within our gates.
| We feel especially honored by Your pre- S.
ence in our commonwealth, and appreciate
che distinguished honor bestowed at your
| last session in the selection of one of our
| own citizens as your PRESIDENT.
"You come to State that has always
shown it's devotion to the great cause of
education and at no time in her history
has she ever failed to recognize that the
stability and safety and power of the COM
monwealth could best be preserved and
promoted by the education of It's children.
! Upon those who are directing the
educational forces of our country, great
responsibility rests They are to grapple
with the problems of today and meet the
new questions and conditions rapidly
crowding themselves upon us. We can
| hut appreciate; however even with the ad-
| yanced educational thought of the present.
| chat many of the old landmarks erected
| by our fathers are worth preserving; that
| In many respects to be old fashioned is
not to be despsed
"Our State glories in her excellent
educational system; she boasts of the
superior advantages of her colleges and
numerous Summaries of learning; she
takes a natural pride in her normal schools,
her academies, her grand free high school
system. He common schools, the avenues
| to which are wide open to all, the nurseries
of good and pure government, are guarded
| with enthusiastic pride; and to the honor
Of our State, everywhere upon our soil the
cause of education sits enthroncd, it's
| standard never to be lowered, but raised
higher and higher as the years go by.
Il trust you may have an agreeable and
profitable session and that the good in
| huence Of your new work will further
l
you return to your homes. may you carry
with you the most pleasant recollections
| of our State and her people Welcome to
the State of Maine
In behalf of the city, Mayor j. P. Bax-
ter spoke. He gave the guests cordial
welcome to the city He referred to the ad
vance of education and said that the
problem of education has recently been
brought to the test of critical study more
directly than ever before; and the demand
now Is for the education of the whole
man; the proper training of every faculty
which God has given him. but whether,
however, that public education ought to
| be carried beyond the point attained by
| the present grammar school; or, perhaps
to be better understood whether the State
should attempt to furnish more than a
good common school education, leaving
those who desire TO pursue the more adj
vanced courses of study to see the academy
or college fitting school, is question yet
| to be settled, and one which demands the
consideration of our best educators.
The regular address of the evening was
| by President f. b. Andrews of Brown
| University, on 1.-The Public School System
As an Instrumentality of Social Advance.
The lecture was set out by mentioning the
grewsome fact of poverty, showing it to
be due to too low standard of life among
the masses, and dwelling at considerable
length on this relation of dependence. In
connection with this subject the speaker
briefly touched ON the great question of
restricting immigration, especially that of
the Chinese.
The means of elevating tho standard of
life were next discussed: the plan of
| Stuart Mills, and the lecturer own.
This last insisted TN certain simple bnt
meaningful educational reforms; enforced
school attendance, the universal use OF the
kindergarten, systematic moral influence,
higher talent and training in teaching
better teaching methods, better school
houses and schooihonse surroundings and
lunch; reforms which, it was Thought
would, in time, change the national Con-
ception of what life ought to be- and SO,