Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-10-28
KENNEBEC TEACHERS
Annual Meeting Of Kennebec
Educational Association.
Teachers Give Results of Their Exper-
fences to One Another.
Interesting Meetings. Forenoon and After
noon. Lectures in Owning.


locked their schoolrooms. told tn
scholars they might have a hoiidA
and, Friday morning, with the lad
assistants in their most becoming
gowns, came to the Capital city to cx
change ideas and gather inspiration
for the winters work. They call it tn,
annual meeting of the kennebec Coun
ty Educational Association, and it i
really a short post graduate course i!
almost everything pertaining to schoo
work.
The meetings during the day Were
held in the hall of the William r
Smith grammar school building. The
morning session was called to order al
1870 by President Weston Lewis of this
city After The opening prayer, the ad-
dress Of welcome was given by Mayor
s. w. Lane of the city. He said that
he remembered clearly when, many
years ago, he occupied a similar posi-
ton to that of those before him and
realized the responsibility and impor-
Il stc u j.. y.o.}. For him to extend
I'll, "a IL. nal welcome, he said,
seemed like the soulltss welcome Of a
corporation. The teachers present
would be considered the choicest guests
Of the homes and families of the city
e-tn Ia here
when a young man he often sought a
certain house in the evening and found
the light burning low in the parlor and
knew that it meant a warm welcome
for him. So now when the visiting
teachers see the lights burning low in
the homes of the city they may know
that it is not meant that no one is At
home. but that n warm welcome is
awaiting them wherever they may go
In his public capacity he said, he has
listened to many complaints in regard
10 the expenditure Of the citys money
but never yet has he heard any in re-
gard to the expenditure for schools.
The only complaint here was that not
enough was being spent. 1t was al
ways the first duty Of the government
to provide for good schools. The more
il spent on education, the less it would
have to spend on its criminals. The
work of the teacher is of the noblcst.
making life more pleasant and more
secure.
The response was made by Principal
II. w. Dutch of the Hallowell high
school He said that he wished to call
attention to the high significance of the
convention. The United states is now
the leader in educational work. II has
imbibed all the lessons of the ages and
profitcd by priceless experience. Now
it has received her diploma and is
capable Of teaching the older countries.
The convention stands in the place OF
the primaries Of educational work
1t is the laboratory where new ideas
are worked out and future success
made more sure. Its influences are far
| reaching. The sum of individual efforts
yields the quality which has placed the
United States in the lead. He thought
| that Augusta was a most appropriate
place for the meeting. being the CAPT
| tai of the State and the center of her
political and judicial life.
\ musical exercise was then given
under the direction of Miss Estelle
Bearing of this city. The scholars who
| took part in the exercise We're taken
| from grades 3. t. 6, :. 8. The children
| demonstrated the method by which
| they were taught to sing. with familiar
songs ana some that they had never
before seen. Their singing was very
| fine. and reflected much credit upon her
ability and methods. The pupils did
their parts with precision and hearth
ness ard their share of thu program
was enthusiastically received.
This was followed by a very inter
esting paper on music by Miss Eva
Towne, teacher of music in the Water
vile public schools. The following j.
4 brief abstract:
The watchword Of the present is on
ward. There is no time for experiment
In the hurry of life we must adopt
what promises u what we desire. II
the brief school life of the average
scholar we must give him what vii
mould elevate and broaden his life
Every class is composed of three type:
lof children, one must leave scnocl early
to aid in the support of the family, L
1.-THE second study is a bore ana fnanua
llabor is preferable. and the third cal
lcontinue his STUDIES through college
Under this condition of things 1t ma!
be asked should music have place II
the schools.
Music Is universal 1t has dis
tinctive place in education and on
that no other study can fill. 1t mus
be taught, however with other aim
than that of cultivating the musica
talent of those who have it, or OF max
ling those who so desire accomplishe
musicians and teachers of music. 1t
chief value lies in the fact that 1t open
! for the child new avenue OF expires
sion. It's psychical value is also bein
recognized by prominent educators
IS of much value as a means OF phys
cal development. Singing requires a
upright position and expands the lung
Many throat and lung diseases haN
been cured by proper singing. AS mel
tai discipline it stands unrivaled. l
read music at sight, requires II
closest attention and concentration
thought 1t has a refining and eleVa
ing influence. The school room Whe
singing is taught is brighter and mo
pleasant.