The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-11-25
STUDY OF HISTORY.
How 1t Is Conducted in Portland
Sch oOls.
An Hour With a Bright Class in a Gran
mar School.

AT the time of the recent meeting of
the Cumberland County Teachers Asso-
citation, the subject of teaching history
was discussed at considerable length. At
that time the statement was made that
pupils generally were not particularly in
terested in this branch of the studies, and
it was as promptly oontradioted by those
who had seen the system used in the
Portland schools.
Until about three years ago history was
taught in Portland schools as it had been
taught here for many years, and as 1t
is still generally taught in other places.
There was single,Stext book from which
all the pupils learned their lessons by
rote, and from which the teachers heard
the Rotations, often by rote also.
Taught in this way the study was Of
some interest and of some value to those
pupils wh3 naturally liked it. It could
not be said, however, that generally tie
pupils were animated with the desire to
know more than the book taught, or to
pursue the study beyond the school hour.
Three years ago Superintendent Lord
proposed to the school committee a new
system, which was very soon adopted.
Yesterday representative of the PRESS
enjoyed an opportunity Of seeing his
tory recitation conducted according to
the new system. 1t Is such an opportuni-
ty as any citizen may enjoy by visiting
the grammar schools, and such as will re-
pay even the busiest man or woman for
| the expenditure of time.
The class was in one of the grammar
schools and consisted of SO or more boys
and girls of the ages of 10 or II years.
A discussion of an historical subject in
| the Maine Historical Society would not
have aroused greater interest among the
particip ants than did this history lesson
among those boys and girls. There was
not dull or listless pupil in the room.
| AS becomes historical students they did
not all take the same views of the great
| movements Of history. Is was not an
uncommon thing, after some statement
had been made, for young ssavant in
| knickerbockers to arise and state that
such was not the view of Fiske or Mo
Masters, or Higginson, whose words on
the subject he would proceed to read or
quote.
Some of them knew the facts which
they gave from having read them in..the
text books with which they were sup
piled; others from reading at home or in
the public library. The Revolution, the
Embargo, the War of 1912. the Louisiana
Purchase, the war with Mexico, the Mis-
souri, Compromise, in short, all the great
events of American history, weressssunder-
stood from their inception to their con
clusion with an exactness and breadth of
comprehension surprising in class of
! their ages.
| They also had a familiar knowledge of
the men who have made history. The
young girl who knew that John G. Whit
tier was the friend of William Lloyd
! Garrison started train of thought with
the boy in the next seat, who recalled the
| fact that when Whittier visited the great
Abolitionist in jail the latter offered
Hospitality to share with him his bed at
the public expense.
Another boy recalled that the martyr
Loveioy was another of the Abolitionists,
and girl continued with the fact that
Lovejoy was a native of Maine.
| Each pupil stated his or her opinions In
his or her own words, and generally the
Language was excellent. The boys otter
stated their facts with the charming di
rectness OF youth, and quite often wore
from the ball field or the play yard would
be used to describe the achievement O.
a great American. But the fact thai
Washington smashed the British a
Trenton seemed to be as we'll understood
in its historical bearings as it is by thos'
more polished narrators of history, wht
inform their readers that Washington in
f1icted on the enemy signal defeat
1t was great temptation to the visitol
to ask questions of SO weIl-informed anC
pleasing lecturers; but woe to him If thu
question was too difficult for them ant
| if at the same time the answer was no
perfectly well-known by himself. The,
would Immediately turn upon him for al
the information which they did not hav
themselves; and would not be satisfied
with any but accurate statements.
| With such a class the teacher mus
be alert at all times. She must hersel
be armed at every point, which means
that she must study the subject wit
thoroughness and enthusiasm. OF course
also, there must be art and tact in lead
ing in the right lines and in accordance
with comprehensive and definite pro
gramme.
The pupils are supplied with tex
books, but not with the same books. Th
histories used are those by Barnes, Nc
Masters, Fiske, Scudder, Johnston, Hig
ginson and Eggleston. The books are in
terchanged, each pupil having one at
time. Often articles from current peri
odioals are brought in and read for tn
sake of throwing light upon particula
points.