Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-03-16
OUR TEACHERS
From All Over Kennebec AS
semble at WateryiIIe.
Fourth Annual Meeting Of Association
Big Success.
Very Interesting Papers and Talks on Impor.
tant Subjects.

Waterville, March 15.-(SpeciaD The
fourth annual meeting of the Ken
ncbec County Teachers Association was
held at the Coburn Classical Institute
building, Friday There was very large
attendance, the number present being
estimated about 200
The forenoon session was opened at
1880 by W. L. Powers, president of the
association. Prayer was offered by Prof
A. l.. Lane of the Coburn Classical In
stitute. The reports of the secretary and
president which were each very brief were
presented and accepted Il. W. Small,
principal of Monmouth academy, followed
with a paper on English Literature in
Common Schools" W. d. Stin-
son of Augusta, treated the sub
iect, Common Sense in Public
Schools, " in most acceptable manner,
and the paper on English Grammar" by
Prof. W. !. Thompson was very instruc-
tive.
Prof w. II. johnson of the Co
burn Classical Institute in his paper,
utility of Classical Study" made fine
argument in favor of more extended
study of the ancient languages. No
branch of education, he said, afforded
better opportunity for the developing of
the mind, and after all that was, in real
ity the use of an extended educa-
ton. He seemed to favor the idea
of commencing the study of the
Latin verbs etc, in the grammar
grades of the public schools and not wal t
as now until the high school grade is
reached.
The paper on manual Training, :"
by W. T.. Holden, principal of the
manual training department of the Port
land high school, which was on the after
noon programme, was taken up at the
morning session to allow the speaker to
take the afternoon train for home. The pa
per was filled with interesting matter per-
tanning to the progress of manual training
and the practical results attained in Port
land.
There was a larger attendance at the
afternoon meeting as several came on the
noon train from the western part of the
county. The exercises opened at 2 O. clock
with class exercise in the primary de-
partment, conducted by Miss Della o Don
nell of Watcrville. Miss O'DonnelF s
work was very nicely shown, and was of
great interest to the primary teachers
preccnt.
Miss Stella l.. Barton of Augusta, read
a very fine paper on the subject, Begin
ncrs in Geography" and Principal Weston
Lewis of the Williams Grammar School,
Augusta, ably carried on the theme in II
paper, Geography in the Grammar
Grade.
The paper of State Superintendent Stct-
son on ''Somc Things Rural School
Should Do for It's Pupils" was filled
with good suggestions, ana closely
| listened to by all present. Mr.. L. Nj.
| Sanborn's paper on The question OF
| "Civics" was an ably written and finely
delivered article.
| One of the most attractive features of
the afternoon programme was the class
drill in Swedish gymnastics by Miss May
Il. Smiley OF Gardiner, with class OF Is
pupils of the Gardiner High school, nine
young ladies and nine young gentlemen,
While the drill was performed very nicely
and without II false movement
in any of the exercises, some
present, however, We're disposed to
consider the exercises altogether too light
and simple for pupils of the ages and
strength of those who were present, today,
and gave tho exhibitions The young
men especially who took part in the drill
were of size which they could doubtless
develop more perfect bodies in 10
minute practice with pair of 10-ponnd
dumb bells, than they could in an hour
exercise in the light gymnastics shown.
The drill given was considered an excel
lent one for children of the primary and
grammar grades,
Principal ID. f. Bowman of the Water
vile h.gh school delivered finely written
euloyy on tho late principal of the Coburn
| Classical institute, DIR. j. III. Hanson. AS
IL was delivered from the platform where
that famous educator SO long instructed
and before so many of his pupils of the
mast Mr.. Bowman had double power
over his audience. All the way through
he was listened to with the closest inter
est by all.
| At the business session the following
officers were elected President, +. W..
Johnson, principal of the Coburn CLASH
cal institute, Waterville; vice president,
| w. II. Thompson, principal of the MS
kline academy, China; secretary, MISS
Stella K. Barton. high school, Augusta
executive committee, j. H. Blanchard,
superintendent of schools, Waterville, ID.
H. Goddard, principal of Oak Grove sem
mary yassalboro, G. W. Chamberlain,
princ;pal William r. Smith grammar
school, Augusta, Miss Clara Burlelgh,
grammar school, Gardiner. Miss Mildred
Wh;ttemore high school, Halloween.
The committee appointed in the morn
ing to consider some plan of better or
ganization, reported in favor OF assessing
each member % cents annual dues for the
sunnort of the association; report accepted.
The evening meeting was held in the
Baptist church, at which time Prof. A. l..
| Lane delivered an address of welcome IN
mace OF President Whitman, who was
unable to be present. The response was
given by A. A. Brainard, prihcipa, VI ens
eugrsta high school Then followed
most interesting address by Prof. A. ".
Anthony of Bates College on the subject
| a ruit on the Educational Tree.