The Portland daily press., 1896-06-23
WILL BECOME TEACHERS.
The Class of the Portland Training
School Graduates.

! Nine Young Ladies' Receive Djplomas-
Addressed by Mr.. A. w. Edison of
Worcester on Qualification ~ a
Teacher"
The Assem- bly, hall of the High school
building never looked prettier. and
scarcely ever has held more attentive
audience than it did last night when
nine young ladies, forming the grad uat-
ing class of the Portland Training school
received their diplomas. as reward for
their faithful service and consoien tious
work, from the hands of Mr.. ". H.
Brownson. who represented the school
board on this OCCASION. The stage was
tastefully decorated with potted plants,
out flowers and ferns and the graduating
class, the most of whom were dressed
wholly in white, ooc upied seats upon the
left of the platform. Besides Mr.. Brown
son there were also seated upon tho plat
form, Mr.. A. W. Edison of Worcester,
Mass, Rev. Mr.. Bellows, Mr.. o. C.
Evans, Superintendent of Schools of Bel
fast, and Mr.. George H. Allan of the
school board.
After the Rev. Mr.. Bellows had in
voked the Divine blessing on the
grad yates and their future work, Miss
Nellie A. King rendered piano solo III
a charming manner, and was vigorously
applauded. Miss Tarbox, young lady
who Ia possessed of a soprano voice Of
great ring and sw eetness, received an
encore for her solo and on her return
simply oaptivated the audience with her
selection.
Mr. Brownson then introduc ed Mr.. A.
W. Edison the speaker of the evening as q
gentleman who served in the front rank
of eduoationalists in Massachusetts.
In commencing his address t he speaker
stated that he intended to conf1ne him
self more to the ideal teacher, the teacher
of tomorrow than the tenoher OF today.
He said that he did not intend to lull
any teacher into feeling of self satisfao-
tion by his remarks. There IL room for
improvement and growth In every wide
awake teacher. II believe" said he,
IA buAlu Q40tAAS &OO0 WOIh duu GUuStAQG-
ly squirting the teacher on until perfec-
tion ia reached.
Mr.. Edison said he found a great deal
of undeveloped talent in Massachusetts,
and that it was his aim to help person
of snch talent to become a good teacher.
He said that he asked every teacher If
they were we'll satisfied with their present
work and when he found one who was
satisfied he was sure that in that school
one would find things not above par. he
said that he desired to have every teacher
criticize sharply the ideal which his was
to picture, and by comparison SEQ where
her own faults are, and correct them If
possible. The ideal teachers charao-
teristics are di vided into two classes.
The first of these is her natural qualifioa-
tions and the second is her acquired
qualifications. Before anyone under
takes to teach, 4" said Mr.. Edson, "she
should be in the bsst of physical health.
Then a teacher should have good per-
sonal presence, because to boys and girls
good looking teacher is the most
fascinating, and has the most influence
on the school room. Then, too, a teacher
| should always be neatly dressed and look
as we'll as possible
The speaker illustrated the necessity Of
this qualification by several anecdotes.
'My ideal teacher should be of good
nature, one who smiles from morning
till night, who has good time herself
and intends that every one else should
have good time. In good kindergar-