The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-01-01
FEDAG0GUEs ADJOURN.
State superintendent StetsOn Creates
a C0mmotiOn.

Critscizes Rural Schools System of the
State Severcly-Says Money ia Expend,
ed Observation-Disclosures of officers.
Lewiston. December 31.-The meeting
of the State Pedagogical Association
closed today.
Thursday forenoon tine session opened
with the discussion of can Aspect Of
the Rural School Problem" by I. r.
Crosweil of Clark University, Worcester,
Mass. a Pennington Falls young man.
His paper was listened to with great
attention.
The question, "Rural schools: Condit-
ion, maintenance. training and licensing
of teachers, supervision, their claim on
the college, their claim on the comm uni
ty" was discussed by Hon. ". W. Stet-
son, state superintendent OF schools !;
President Wn. Dewitt Hyde of Bowdoin
College; President g. G. Chase of Bates
College and Prof. Il. NJ. Estabrook of
the State College.
superintendent Stetson's remarks c-e-
ated quite commotion. He said among
other things: He had met men in the
previous fall conference who had been
burning on this rural question. Maine
is no longer in the race. Wo have sent
more men from Maine who have been
congressman. governors and been honored
in all the walks of life. Our past is glo-
rious, but we are no longer in tie race,
though it is an unpleasant fact. Men of
national reputation are interested in this
question and are willing to 20 before
their Legislatures and plead the cause of
the common schools. Does any one re-
member any legislator who has gone be-
fore a legislature TO plead the cause of
the common schools. Our doctors, law
yers, etc., know nothing about the
schools, and we cannos have any revival
until these men are willing to do some
thing. What wave of surprise went
over the state when the college presidents
put in day stuying the subject. We
have made a start, however. and public
opinion is stirring. But have stated the
condition Of public opinion. 1t is as b lad
as 1t can be. I have little faith in reso-
buttons which are passed by bodies like
this and by one-banded vote-and
sent on to the legislature. The cities say
it is not their question. 1t Is a fact that
the business men of the cites are most
interested in the country schools. Wall
up cities and they will rot out in a
1t is from the country that
we have to draw our life and sustenance.
How large number of school yards
in Maine are larger than the buildings?
Many are bought because the land is
cheaper. I believe in the educating in
fluenoe of beautiful scenes. If you have
seen the novels of the schools that are
called outhouses. If you had seen the
houses for criminals and for the money
put into establishments fer raising colts
to go down 10 Rigby in two and little
better; when you know the difference in
stables and tIs court houses and in the
yon will not wonder that
we can not 60 down the track in q quarter
of an hour. What we want Is q school
house with such environments that at
some time in the career of the youth he
will stop and uncover his head to the
scene that dawns on his vision whel he
energies from the sGhoolhouss.
A large number Of our teachers are not
fitted enthusiastically for the profession
of teaching. We have money enough in
the STATE of Maine to give an intelligent
teacher to each school-if it is wisely
expended. 1t is not money that we need
lit ia more wisdom in the expenditure
that we want. We need public senti-
ment that VIII enable us to have the
money spent right.
Mr.. stetson's speech hit pretty bard on
tho powers that be and stirred up the
at the bGsiness meeting SO new mem
bers were tagen in, and tho following
officers elected:
President-H.. X. White, Bangor.
Vice President-S. !. Graves, Augusta
Secfetary- Treasurer-A. r. Irving,
Roekland.
EIeoqtiye y Sommittess-y6; i :: Locke
E. Cole, Bath: H. K. White.
Councillors-(Date shows when term
M. Lord. G. A. Robertson,
E.. O. Robinson, Mary s. Snow, '97; @.
B. Files, '97; E. 2. Sampson, '97; George
@. Purfnton, 'os; D. ]. Callahan, '9s;
advisory Board-w.w. stetson. W. T..
Powers, '97; Geo. @. Chase, '98; e. L.
Sampson, '99; Charles e. Tilton, 1900;
A. 2. Irving, secretary.
Committee on observation-disclosures
chairman, II. M. Estabrooke
Scien ces-M. II. Small, Julia ". Swift,
W. C. Strong.
Course of Study for Common Schools
W. J. Corthell, H. M. Estabrooke. A. +.
Richardson.
Professional Study-Geo. @. Huntington,
b. 2. Snow, II. NJ. Estabrooke.
History-Geo. @. Purington, Charles K.
Triton, Harriet P. Young.
Books for Children-Geo. X. Files. W.
W. Stetson, I. G. Phillips.
Mathematics-S. /. Graves, Mary s.
Snow, VI. Fl. Winslow.
Geography-B. P. Snow, A. P. Irving,
L. W. Taylor.
Drawing-H. W. Shaylor, Viola NJ.
White, Miss A. r. Whittier.
Mammal Training-W. G. Holden, W. j.
Corthe1l. j. s. Locke, Miss H. l.. Tew.
The treasurer reported that there was
COO fxox,, I,ct vaor ord r,uo