Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-10-28

on resolutions were nominated. Tht
former was composed of c. f. Cook
f. w. Johnson. and l.. W. Robbins
The second was made up of A. l.. Lane
\. N. Richards and ii. W. Dutch. The
meeting was then adjourned for dinner
The afternoon session opened with
an address on the subject, Things t.
Teach and Stand For" by Principal
G. E. Sawtelle Of Winthrop. This was
d very strong and earnest discourse
and brought much of encouragement
and Inspiration to the assembled teach-
ors. He said in part:
| ~ strong mind requires Il strong
body. This fact has been recognized
of late. There have been a few cases
/ where this has not been true, but they
have been exceptions and no one can
I II what might have been done had
J. the body been strong in these in
! stances. Teachers should not fail to
see that SO far as it lies in their power
! their scholars should have robust
health. This idea should be empha-
sized by them more and more.
Another thing to teach is the great
value of broad learning. Division of
Labor has been carried TO a great eX-
ialiats in every branch of labor. Trusts
and great corporations are aiding this
with their vast enterprises and organ
ization. All this results in much
greater productiveness. There is Il
danger. however. in each one thinking
that his speciality is the only one and
his views Of life becoming thereby
narrowed. Complete knowledge is
~. a. h
crs deal in truth and should be as
proud Of their ware and as jealous of
the exceIlency of it's standard as any
old manufacturing firm is of its pro-
duct. The highest end Of broad learn
ing is its efficiency.
In choosing a calling ii is not wise to
think only of the money returns. Com
petition. the life of trade is also the
life Of the individual A man should
be able to stand on his own feet with
out aid of family influence or family
torture. An object for which he can
devote his whole life and put forth his
very best effort if necessary. Money
should be a secondary consideration.
The outlook for the teacher is most
encouraging. The tendency is upward
and not downward. When the pur-
pose remains true there can be no fail
ure. In the bright lexicon of youth
there is no such word as failure, but
in the more sober commentary of latter
life there is. There can be no failure
in any case. however, when the pur-
pose remains true.
Miss NJ. s. Snow, superintendent of
the Bangor schools. was down in fourth
place on the programme for the after
noon, but as she had to leave for home
carly she was the second speaker. She
opened her address with the
remark that other people often
had bright ideas and she thought
that she occasionally had. In
proof of this she laughingly pointed 10
her subject on the programme. II was
Thrift" but she said that she intend
ed To speak on savings banks in the
schools and thought that it would per-
haps BE- wise to conceal it under this
title. The history of these banks in
the Bangor schools. given in her bright.
witty style. was one of the most inter
csting things Of the day.
The Bangor schools she said, had
been afflicted with an instrument OF
torture for some time It was in the
Il
a little stick and the local name was
the "all day sucker" The children
seemed to have ii regular passion for
these and consumed astonishing guam
titles of them. Some of them found
their way into the school rooms. natur-
ally. and We're d great source of annoy
ance to some of the teachers, and to
one in particular When opportunity
was afforded these We're enjoyed on the
sly. and occasionally passed around.
The habit was not 50 very marked. still
it caused considerable trouble. The
scholars hands were often dirty and
sticky from contact with the sucker
and IT, teachers We're continually
sending the pupils out to wash them.
one teacher was 50 annoyed by the
habit that she determined to break it
up. if possible. SO. one day. she hal
a little talk with her scholars and
made trade with them. They We're
to save the money they had been
spending for the suckers and buy
some pictures for their room with the
proceeds. They We're caught by the
idea and entered into the plan with a
Will
The scheme was so popular that it
was not long in reaching the ears of
Miss Snow. one of the cast iron rules
of the schools is that no collections of
any kind shall be made in the school
rooms. This is as interchangeable as the
laws of the Modes and Persians. The
superintendent had a talk with the
teacher. The latter asked in despair
what she should do. The StomachS of
the children were kept in almost con-
tinual disorder by the constant suck
ing Of the candy and its presence in the
rooms had become almost intolerable.
Miss Snow knew this and also that a
child with a disordered stomach was
one Of the hardest things in the world
to handle so she suggested that the
| system of school savings banks should
be tried. In this way the cast iron rule
! could remain unbroken and the
| troublesome sucker" be conquered as
we'll The teacher was willing to make
the experiment and preached the sub
| ject to her scholars. She succeeded in
| filing them with her own enthusiasm
and the scheme was organized. The
results We're astonishing. The children
were delighted. Every morning they
brought in their pennies and nickels