The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-10-24

that 1t might be urged that the cost of
clothes and entertaining would be too
great for many people, but he arg ued
that the result would repay the cost.
lie pointed out how 10 many WAYS mar
ticipation in such society would benefit
the teachers, and how the teachers in
turn might benefit society.
The work of the schools from the
standpoint of the business man was the
subject of a paper by
MR.. JOHN E. WA RREN,
of Westbrook, manager of tho great paper
mills who was introduced as "a friend
of the common schools. He said he had
been scholar and teacher, but many
years ago. Since he had been resident
of Maine, about thirty years, he had not
had any connection with the schools.
Most departments of activity are carried
on for everyday existence. But the
schools exist for the future.
The high school law and the abolition
of the district system were important
acts, and bad done much to elevate the
schools. The next step was a State Uni
versity as in the West.
| Private schools and academies have
largely gone to the wall because of the
competition of our high schools. This,
with all the gain, has made some loss.
The whole school system has suffered
some because of this atten ton to the few
There has been reaching out for the
college By the High Schools, resulting
in a change in the course of study of the
High Schools which has not been bene-
tolal. The result has been to send some
to college who should not have gone
there, and to cramp the course for those
who do not wish to go TO college. Those
who cannot or do not wish to go to col
lege are left in the lurch, a dispropor-
tionate share of the teachers attention
going to those fitting for college. Our
schools are supported by all for the good
OF oil. And they should not 60 beyond
the point where the majority of the
pupilsScannot remain with them. 1t is
a question whether the State, having
established the High Schools, should not
step in and limit them.
The standards should be made broader
rather than higher. The manual train
ing and Kindergarten were useful ad-
| juncts in this particular. 1t would seem
that a greater attention to English might
arouse spirit of enjoyment for the
treasures of English literature. Then
botany. geology, geography, and such
topics, American history, and State
i Of oh ba
greater extent in order that the pupil
may know more about his environment
in life, and find more enjoyment in it.
The sports might be supervised to ad-
vantage, also.
| Mr.. Warren then spoke of the desira-
bility of uniformity of curriculum in
the school system. The fact that pupil
did not like st udy was often the reason
why he should apply himself to 1t, for
the discipline involved. Therefore he
thought all alike should be kept to the
same course
Mr.. Sidney W. Thaxter, of Portland,
was called On to begin the dis cussion of
the paper. He thought it would be a
most excellent idea II the business men
would be better acquainted with tho
Teachers and the schools. 1t was a very
pleasant thing to have the manager Of
one q the largest paper mills in the
world come before the teachers to express
his opinions of the schools. MIR. ,Thax-
ter sid he did not come to discuss the
schools, but rather to say something
about what business men require. Edu-
oati,n should be continuous. The end
and object of it should be complete liv-
ing, and of course it cannot cease with
theschool life. The great industries
should be Postgraduate schools for
hnical education, and the schools
shsuld fit them for these positions. The
tesohers should have in view the career
which the scholar will probably follow.
Geography should deal not alone with
natural and political divisions. 1t
should also teach the system Of trans
pGtation, and the products of the differ
ent regions. 1t cannot be advantageous
that the youth should gain any great
amount of technical education in the
schools, for they are more particularly
instituted for the purpose of giving
orderly developments Of the intellectual
| faculties.
The greatest problem of the business
man of today Is how to wrestle with
the stern competition in business. Skill
and economy will count in the future,
and the education should have this in
mind.
| Ex-Mayor W. W. Merrill, of Desrins,
said he was before them as one who had
hal very limited education, his life
having been devoted largely to business.
| He felt that the high school systems
should be revised, and the COURSES of
study so changed that business educa-
ton may be obtained In the High School
Many things are studied in the High
Schools that ought not to be studied
except by those who are going to college
and too little atten ton is given to those
studies which fit for commercial life.
From what he had seen of the High
School scholars Of Portland and Deerine