Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-05-03
THE TEACHERS
Out in Larger Numbers at
Sangervi|Ie, Saturday.
Each Session Fully. Attended and Full
Of Interest and instruction.
Next Meeting TO Be Held at Milo The Papt RS
and Discussions.

Sangerville, May 2-(SpeciaD. When
the teachers reeonvened. Saturday morn
ing. there were more present at the meet
ing of the Piscataquis County Teachers
Association than on Friday. One very
pleasant feature of the reception by the
town to the teachers, was the young
girls of the school acting as guides
around the town to the visitors.
Prof Stetson. the State superintendent
of schools, was unable to be present at
today's meeting. having gone home i'll,
caused by overwork and exposure on his
recent trip to Fort Kent in northern
Maine.
The first business of the day was the
selection of the place for the next meet
ing. There was considcra BILE discussion
over the relative merits of Foxcroft and
Milo. The vote resulted in favor Of Milo.
After some business of minor import
ance. a short recess was taken to allow
the teachers to sign the constitution and
to register. This was followed by pa
per on School Organization. by II. S.
Towne. the superintendent of schools of
Dover. which was listened to with the
closest attention. 1t related to mixed
schools, as in properly graded schools
organization Is very simple matter.
II is impossible for a new teacher to
properly organize "A school at once, and
the speaker advised a temporary organ
ization. Learn, if possible. the methods
pursued by predecessors, and follow
them as far as practicable. but don't try
TO learn too much about the bad boys.
lest one become prejudiced against them.
He continued: Learn for yourself all
about them Make as few classes as pos
sble, and rather than try ut first to
keep the pupils from taking too many
studies let them, and insist that every
day they have their lessons thoroughly.
III they are trying to take too many
studies, in a few days they will beg to be
let off from some.
There was some discussion upon this
matter, which at one time grew quite
heated The general opinion was that
there should be some stated place a
which to commence classes. and not al
low one child to start five or six pages i'll
advance of another
Prof w. S. Knowlton Of Monsoon gave
an excellent talk on school Discipline,
introducing the subject by the words:
.'Order is Heavens first law" He was
of the opinion that a school that is dis
orderly isn't worth a cent To get the
most out of everything. there must be
order For example: John can't be study
ing while James is trying to find out if
Johns skin is susceptible to the prick OF
a pin A boss river driver wouldn't at
tempt to take a drive down a river UNI
less he did some bossing, neither a teach
or try to teach without discipline. BE
familiar: and never allow any liberties
or take them. If you unjustly reprimand
a pupil don't allow him to retort then.
but have it understood that he is to come
in at recess or after school ana explain
matters to YOU: then make an apology
as open as was the reprimand. Make an
imperative rule that a child snail not
chew gum in school, and then, II he dis
obeys. punish Dlm.
There were many good points brought
r,g.ttl 4at~ltr Nod
plan was advanced by Miss Chandler.
one of Foxcroft's Grammar school teach
eTs Her plan is 10 awake a loyal, Amer
lean spirit in the pupils, and a respect
for the laws of the country The last
session of the series called out large
number of people the schoolhouse being
crowded This was more of an expert
ence meeting, in which several papers
were read on subjects of vital interest
to the work of teachers The first paper
was by Prof w. j. Rideout of the DO
yer High school. Subject: should Writ
ten Examinations be Given in Rural
Schools?" He advocated the written
tests partly as a preparation Tor work
in the higher schools and colleges. me
pupils should all be given an equal
chance and not nave TO labor uiiuer tile
disadvantages of not having time for
thought On this paper there was gen
erstl discussion.
w. r. Cleaves. the superintendent of
Sangerville schools followed with paper
on the difficulties in teaching geography.
In substance he said: THE first diff
Guilty is TO SO start young pupils that they
will take pleasure in keeping UP Their
studies. There is another great difiicuity
in the scarcity of everything by bare text
books Again. larger scholars would
rather be caught in the company OF a
Jail bird than Il geography, The pupils
are rather inclined to learn. word for
word the lesson which they Will forget IN
u
The discussion disclosed the idea that it
was best TO interest pupils in one thing,
and gradually get the surrounding Tea
lures: also to get the pupils to draw out
line maps and later to get them to fill
them in.
general discussion followed on the
subject: How | Teach Grammar. After
a short intermssion. Prof. l.. A. Ross OF
Guilford High school, read paper on the
subject: '.Scme of the ADVANTAGES
Country School-Consideration its Oppor-
tunities for Nature Work. The coun-
try boy dwells in the heart of nature, ana
too often passes ii by. There are not 81
many lectures or theatres to attend which
makes the brightest pupil dun the next
morning.
of Gulford Misses Bearse of Guilford,
and Jones of Milo as committee on
resolutions presented the following winch
We're unanimously adopted:
Whereas. The citizens OF SangerVllle,
have contributed to the pleasure OF the
success of the Piscataquis County Teach
ers' Association. by their liberal hospi-
tally; by the free use of their public
buildings. and by their interest manifested
in other ways, and
Whereas. Both State Superintendent
w. w. Stetson and Prof. A. f.. Rogers
have so ably instructed, thoroughly in
spired. and largely offered to the profit
of saitr meetings. in the appreciation OF
these services he ii
Resolved: That the aforesaid receive
the thanks of this association.
Be 1t further resolved that these reso-
lutions be entered upon the records of
this association, and that copy be sent
to the press for publication.
The school building in which the meet
ing was held. is one of the prettiest in
the Stateand Sangerville should be proud
of 1t.
THOMAS BYRNES DEAD.