Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1896-04-21
MAINE SUMNER SCHOOLS.
CIRCULAR FROM STATE sUPERIN-
TENpENT sTETsoN.

CIRCULAR FROM STATE sUPERIN-
TENDENT sTETsoS.
The Summer Schools Of Maine will
open about the 18th OF July and close
about the 18th of August. The places
where they will be held, and the date
when each school will begin have not yet
been definitely determined. Announce
ments of these facts will be made
through the public press as soon as de-
cisions are reached. IL IL expected that
there will be four Summer Schools, and
that some Of them will be In session for
two weeks and some for three.
It has been definitely decided TO group
the work under four general heads Nat
ure Studies, Common School Studies,
Special Branches. and Miscellaneous.
Under "Nature Studies" are included
work and methods In zoology, physics.
chemistry, botany, and mneralogy.
The Common School Studies" EN-
brace instruction In, and methods OF
teaching arithmetic, grammar, geog-
raphy, history and reading. .,
Under Especial Branches" are classed
music, physical culture, drawing, phys
iology and hygiene and civics.
Under miscellaneous" are grouped
| English language and literature, peda-
gogy, elementary psychology. art In the
common schools, and the course OF study.
Arrangements will be made so that
the hours assigned for the subjects COM
ing under any one Of the four general
heads, given above, will not conflict, and
SO far az possible, the programs Will be
so written that those who wish to take
work In more than one group may do so.
Experience has made il clear that the
most Of the teachers desire to take up
some definite line OF study, and complete
this work with reasonable thoroughness.
For this reason the subjects have been
grouped, as above stated, and teachers
will be given an opportunity to take
thorough and extended work In each
group. This plan will give definiteness
and symmetry TO the work as well as
enable those who enter the schools this
year to commence at the beginning and
advance as rapidly as their attainments
will permit. and next year take more ad-
vanced work, and also permit those VINO
attended last year to take the advanced
| work this year and go on with 1t still
farther in the future, II they so desire.
NATURE STUDIES.
For the course I'm nature studies
series Of lessons has been prepared,
covering some of the simple principles
Of physics and chemistry, and embracing
observation work In zoology, botany
and mineralogy. Aprinted synopsis OF
the lessons will be furnished 10 those
teachers who elect the science work, and
the printed summary will be expanded
and explained In course of lectures. The
compiler of the lessons has examined,
critically, a large number OF the latest
books bearing on object lessons In ele-
mentary science. The results OF his study
will be communicated 10 the teachers,
who will derive from these efforts val
liable assistance In the choice OF books
for private study and classroom use.
The series of lessons has been arranged
| with a view to meeting the needs OF
those hard worked and enthusiastic
| teachers who recognize the great value
| OF science instruction, but are deferred
from trying to teach 1t because OF limit
ed facilities for procuring materials and
apparatus. The methods adopted are
the simplest and most direct, and the
material required can be provided at
nominal expense. The animals CHOSEN
for study are the cat, the dog and other
familiar pets. Lessons In botany deal
with the common seeds and plants. Inc
work In mineralogy is limited TO the
study OF specimens easily found IN
Maine. The exercises In chemistry and
physics treat OF electricity, heat, the
flame, solution, etc. The apparatus used
in all cases will be OF the simplest con-
struction and can be duplicated by any
teacher, largely through his own efforts
and ut very small expense.
COMMON SCHOOL STUDIES.
The work in this group will be devot-
ed to study Of the facts 10 be taught
In each branch. and careful statement
aud illustration OF the methods To be
used In teaching these facts IN the CON-
mon schools. The persons having charge
of this work are men and women OF
large experience, and throughly familiar
| with the limitations and needs OF the
common schools.
SPECIAL BRANCHES.
The work in music, physical culture,
and drawing will be conducted as class
exercises. The instruction In civics, aud
physiology and hygiene will be given In
the form of talks and printed outlines.
An attempt will be made to give the
teachers definite ideas rs TO what should
be taught In each of these subjects In the
public schools, and the methods that
have proved most successful In giving
instruction In the same.
MISCELLANEOUS.
The work In English language and
literature will be conducted by the In
structor who had charge Of 1t last year.
Those who were under his instruction
at that time will need no urging to at
tend this year. Those who were not,
can feel assured that rare opportunity
will be presented them to acquire more
definite knowledge and larger apprecia-
ton of our language and literature than
they now possess. Superintendent are
looking more critically to teachers quail
fications in these particulars than ever
before, and the teacher who knows
something OF our language, appreciates
somewhat OF It's strength and beauty,
knows how to study 1t and how to secure
a reasonable mastery Of IL; who knows
what to read, has some intelligent ideas
| of how to read, Is immeasurably better
qualified to do acceptable work than one
who is wanting in these essentials.
INSTRUCTORS.
The following named persons have
been secured as instructors In these
schools. English language and litera-
ture: Prof. A. j. Roberts, Colby uni
versity. Nature Studies: Daniel T..
Owen. Thornton Academy; w. G. NAL
lett, Pennington Normal School: Miss
Brassill, Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Common School Branches: +. l.. Lane,
Castine Normal School; Miss Harriet 7
Young, Pennington Normal School ;
Miss Nellie F. Harvey, Castine Normal
School.
Special Branches; Pedagogy, Prin. A.
F. Richardson, Castine Normal School !;
Drawing. Miss Katherine Halliday,
Gorham Normal; School Music, n. j..
Mower, Instructor of Music in the
Auburn Public School; Physical Culture,
Miss Jennie NJ. Colby, Watertown, Mass.
| Arrangements are being made for
specialists to take charge OF the
other subjects for which instructors
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