Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1897-11-30
MEETING OF the PARIS TEACHERS,

MEETING OF The PARIS TEACHERS.
As announced in the columns OF the
Democrat, the Paris teachers met last
saturday and discussed several subjects
ot common interest with profit 10 all.
Advantages of Daily Ranking" by
Merton u. Brown, led TO an animated
discussion. Mr.. Brown thought that the
teacher should keep record Of the reci-
tstions Of each pupil, either by means
Of cards or a class-book. These records
might be made in figures and left with
apparent indifference where the pupils
could examine them.
Walter Gray OF the Bridgton High
School said he used the ranking system
"a means of disciplinlng his school.
Mere attendance upon recitation should
couG, certain per cent on u pupils
rank. Ia like manner, any infringe
ment Of rules calling for reprimand or
demerit should detrset n certain per
cent from the rank. By this system OF
ranking. be said, and by occasionally
sending pupil hom", he governed his
school.
j. NJ. Pike Of Paris Hill Academy
doubted whether teachers made better
men and women by using the ranking
system than they did without using It.
Was rot much friction and dissstisfsc-
ton produced by ity Could the human
intellect be relied upon 20 decide whether
a pupil should receive rank on certain
work Of IS ) or 10 8;
J. A. Lamee OF the Paris school CON-
mit,ee said some teachers could use the
ranking system In some schools 10 sd-
vantage and others could not. Each
teacher should Judge from his own ex-
perience. In his own teaching he had
used Il with good satisfaction Ia some
schools add In others he had not used IL
II all.
Mrs. Benjamin SWEET said she was
pleased 10 receive the report cards Of her
children, especially II she saw an I'm
provemeni Ia the rank from month TO
month.
Mrs. Isaac Rounds thought parents
could Judge Of the work being done NJ
school by observing what children said
and did at home during term time.
Parents should visit the schools more.
Miss Julia Morton read an excellent
paper on BUSY Work for Beginners"
In her opinion nine out OF every ten
pupils liked 10 work II they were given
work not too hard for them. IL primary
teachers would only provide work for
the little ones they could govern their
schools with much better success. Their
lsbors would not De much less, for IL re-
quires much care and effort TO provide,
distribute and collect the different mate
rails for busy work.
Mr.. Gray gave an interesting talk on
school Work in General" Many
teachers find that on certain days things
10 school seem 10 20 wrong. He thought
the trouble was generally with the
teacher and not the school. The teacher
should look on the bright side and not
De annoyed oy every trifie. Mr.. Gray
WAS hardly willing 20 admit that trouble
might arise az any time because pupil
Nas moody and srlky or had the "blues. J"
One would almost conclude that he
thought teachers and not pupils subject
10 that disorder.
Mrs. George Morton thought II wise
for teachers TO let pupils alone, rs far as
possible. on those days when they were
10 bad frame of mind.
Rev. X. J. Haughton said he thought
the teacher should try 10 get the pupil out
Of that condition. He also emphasized
the point that the pupil should be made
TO obey. The lesson Of obedience should
be thoroughly learned.
Miss Grsce Harlow read the article
which she delivered before the teachers
AZ Rumford Falls on Methods In Teach
ing Reading IL received much we'll
deserved praise NJ that time and Is
worthy of publication in full.
The questions for the Question Box
were mostly prepared beforehand ana
received careful attention.
Rev. |. A. Bean thought pupils should
De allowed 10 leave the school room
henever they asked permission. Mr..
GRAY said he sometimes granted permis-
sion 70 one pupil TO leave the room and
refused permission 10 the next one.
!. A. Lsmbe said thst corporal punish
meut ia school WAS not against the law
OF the state. The teacher stood In loco
par,aiis and therefore might punish a
pupil in any way that parent might.
other perplexipg questions were dis
posed Of by those 10 whom they we're
assigned.
| This WAS the fifth regular meeting and
n wss well attended Notwithstanding
all the schools were closed and the trav-
cling WAS very bad, about thirty were
present. A part Of these were parents.
These meetings have grown In interest,"
and yxlue from the start. The superin-
ten,,enr has noted a marked improve
ment in the daily school work OF sesetai
OF the teachers trscesble directly 10 these
meetings. hkNh'