The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-10-24
NEEDY COMMON SCHOOLS.
What Should Be Done To Lift Them
CUMBERLAND COUNTY TEACHERS
in COUNCIL.
Up.

Principal CorthelI, of Gorham, John Il.
Warren, Esq, of Westbrook, Sidney w.
Thaxter, Esq, of Portland, Hon. w, w.
Stetson, State superintendent. and
Others Speaker. Jenkins tells of the
Social Duties of the Teacher.
The annual meeting of the Cumber-
land County Teachers, Association began
at ASSEMBLY Hall, High School build
ing. at a. m, yesterday. There was
large attendance of teachers from Port
land and the other cities and towns of
Cum berland county.
The meeting was called to order by the
President, Superintendent f. e. @.
Robbins, Of Deering.
Miss Ella johnson, of Gorham, was
elected Secretary pro tempore.
Prayer was offered by Rev. E. &. Pur-
dy, of the Friends church.
The records having been read, the fol-
lowing committees were appointed:
Resolutions-R. A. Parker, South Port
lad Miss l.. S. Anderson, peering;
B. p. Coffin.
NomiDations-Mr. W. W. Woodman,
of Gorham High School; Miss Annette
Merriman. Tof Brunswick; Mr.. Gray, of
Bridgton High School.
The first paper of the day WAS on the
topic Teaching in the UngIaded
Schools" by Mr.. j. A. Tuttle, of the
Bridge street school of Wsstbrook. II be
gan by specifying the efforts made TO i'm
prove the rural schools by aholishing the
district system. furnishing free text
books, etc. These changes had helped
some; but in general the rural schools
were in bad condition. They were turned
over to young and inexperienced teaoh-
ers, because the pay was too small and
the employment too uncertain. The
multiplicity of classes. the practice of al
lowing children to remain out and thus
get behind in their studies made trouble.
Then there is lack of apparatus, poor
ventilation, and in some schools at times
when the teacher is absent, as at the
noon hour, shocking indecency and
vulgarity in language. and often of
action. Mr.. Tuttle declared that some
Of these schools were hot beds Of inquiry.
Principal j. A. Milliken, of Portland,
was the first to discuss the question. He
said he had heard the shortcomings of
the country schools portra ed many
times, but had never heard a remedy
proposed. 1t would be presumptuous for
him to prescribe one. AS a matter of
fact he did not believe the schools were
SO badly off as had been portrayed. Mr..
Mililken cited the improvements made
in q school he knew Of. since the days of
his boyhood. In that old school of his
bQyhood the chief articles of educational
apparatus were two birch withes, on a
bracket on the sswall. In Short Lac be-
lisved that the country schools were
kesping pace with other things in this
country. He would recommend benefit
ting these schools by having the teachers
of them organize them thoroughly at
first, by making as few classes as possi-
bic. Then the older scholars should be
taken in to assist the teachers. The
school should also be made busy one.
There should be blackboard work to fill
in idle moments, for idleneas is the great
source of trouble. Lastly, the rural
school teacher should get all the helps
possible in the way of apparatus etc !.
This should be done by having the
scholars contribute as much as they can
in little sums.
Mr.. G. W. Wentworth. of the Bridge
street grammar school, of Westbrook,
said that the paper presented related
experiences tallying very nearly with his
own. The provisions for managing conn
try schools now, however, are far superior
to what they were in his boyhood. The
free school book law has worked great
improvement. it may be true that in
rural sections there are difficulties not
met IN cities; but there is Improvement
going on, as Mr.. Milliken had said. The
abolition of the district system is tend
ing to create a GLASS of teachers who
are in the business to stay. The teaching
profession never had the interest and CO.
operation of the people SO much as they
have it now; and the country teachers