The Portland daily press., 1898-12-22
Modern Methods Discussed by State
Instructors.
MEETING MAINE PEDAGOGICAL
SOCIETY AT AUGUSTA.
Portland Teachers Tell How History is
Taught In Local schools-The Book
sellers OF, Hand with Their Wares
Uncle SoIon's Prophetic vision.
ESPECIAL TO THE PRESS.

ESPECIAL TO THE PRESS.
Augusta. December 2i.-When the day
of woman suffrage comes and the ladies
are members of the Maine Legislature,
the ancient State House may present the
appearance is has today. The Representa-
tiyes' hall was filled with women. women
sat at the circular tables in the Council
chamber and women invaded the attic
apartment supposed to be sacred to the
sessions of that august and masculine
body, the Judiciary committee. The
women who crowded the State House to-
day were nearly all of them, school teach
ers-not the school ma ans of fiction, but
the instructors of today. whose gowns are
decidedly Ia mode and whose appearance
ives no indication ef their calling. The
firm and angular person popularity sup.
posed to represent the teaching force was
not present. To be sure there were there
women who wear glasses, but few OF
them affected spectacles. 1t was gather
ing of bright and we'll dressed women.
OF course there were men in the company,
but they were greatly in the minority,
just as they are in the schools. All these
people had come here to attend the
sessions of the association with the awe
inspiring Dame the Maine Pedagogical
society The sessions began yesterday
afternoon but this has been the Important
day. With the members came the book
agents, and they, like the teachers.
violated the traditions of their calling, Tor
they did not canvass for the sale OF the
books they brought with them. That is,
| they did not seek to sell to the teacners
but these energetic Representatives OF the
publishing houses doubtless hope that the
school teachers will take home with them
ideas which will lead to the purchase of
works by school authorities. The agents
| took possession of the rotunda and dis
played their wares on long tables placed
there Hastily improyised signs told What
particular publishing house was doing
business at given place, and between
sessions the school ma'ams crowded
around the tables eagerly examining the
text books. The casual observer was I'm
uressed with a faot expressed by slight
alteration of an old saying: Of the
making of school books there is no end.
g.The Maine Pedagogical society, with an
elaoorateness betitting its name, slices Its
| proceedings into sections and the section
proceed simultaneously the result OF
| which is that person wandering about
| the State House today had chance TO
listen to discourse ON the art OF teach
| ing vertical writing; or if not Interested
in that subject by going into the next
room, he could hear all about the instruc-
tion of the young ideas SO that it would
use the English language correctly, while
| if this did not interest him, the visitor,
| by giving to the judiciary room on the
floor above might learn good dsal about
the teaching of history. This came IN the
session of the grammar school section, the
president, Principal d. 81. Dole of Port
land, presiding. Here the first topic was
l"United States History" and 1T was
opened by Superintendent 0. NJ. Lord OF
Portland schools, who presented an "out-
line plan of study" Mr.. Lord spoke at
some length on the value of the study of
history, for the knowledge 1T gave, Its aid
to mental growth and training and
tendency to elevate the pupils ideals and
arouse in him the sentiments which will
| make of him better citizen. Then MIR.
Lord spoke of the plan which has been
tried in the history courses in the public
schools, by which, instead of supplying
one text book for class several books
have been used In class of IS, said Mr..
Lord, we began by supplying fifteen
copies of three histories. 1t was thought
that the experiment. might result in con-
fusion and perhaps it did at hrst but II
| soon demonstrated it's success. The pupils
took an interest in what the different
authors said of the same event and they
showed their interest by the eagerness
with which they defended the ideas of
their fayorite authors. The system made
If necessary for the teacher to be student
and when teacher ceases to be student
shs ceases to be successful teacher. With
three or more books in use in the same
| class the teacher of necessity must keep
posted on the views of the various writer's.