Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1900-05-23

That he was ready for his work, that he
had clear and definite conception OF
what was to be done and of how to do it,
was evident from the first. Coming to
his position in the third week OF the leg
isiatiye session, before the adjournment
OF the legislature he had secured the pas
sage OF acts and resolves enabling him to
print and distribute circulars of infor-
nation and suggestion, to maintain sum-
mer schools for teachers OF two weeks
duration, and to hold State examinations
| OF teachers and issue State certificates.
His next important step was to make
searching personal investigation of the
actual condition and needs OF the rural
schools, by visiting and making special
systematic inspection OF two hundred of
the poorest and best of them In eight
counties in the State. The result OF this
inspection furnished him with a fund Of
facts and illustrations of conditions
which put as he put them In his report
OF that year, poured flood OF light upon
the actual conditions Of the rural schools
OF the State.
During this fest year OF work so varied
| so onerous and continuous that 1t would
have been impossible for any less vigor-
Gus, energetic and thoroughly healthy
man. he organized and directed the work
OF six summer schools; prepared and is
| sued course Of study for the elementary
| schools Of Maine which, with the accom-
panying suggestions, explanations and
| directions for use, made a pamphlet, as
subsequently published, OF 10a pages; su-
perintended the work OF and personally
attended most OF the county institutes,
and planned and organized State exami.
nations of teachers at four different
points In the State, besides preparing his
annual report and performing that no
small amount of routine office work which
the State superintendent cannot delegate
to others.
II would make this sketch far too long
to describe In detail all OF the five years.
work which Mr.. Stetson has done. There
is room for only brief mention of some
Of the more important features OF 1t, and
OF some OF the results attained. He has
given energy. force and something OF
uniformity to the work of local super
vision, by holding conventions OF super
inteudents for considering ways, means
and euds OF effort; aud has secured the
leg isiation preparatory to the gradual
adoption OF u system OF skilled district
supervision by union OF towns therefor.
He has so organized the work OF the
summer schools that 1t forms a contiuu-
GUS, systematic course OF instruction in
pedagogy, extending over four terms of
twp weeks each, with right TO Il diploma
to every teacher attending four terms ter
at least two-thirds of each. One who has
closely watched the development OF this
work, ueuas no great gitt uf prophecy to
venture the guess, that ultimately these
schools wtll be SO ordered that tie
diplom Is gran Ell shall give special prigi-
ieges To those holding them WHO shall
wish to enter the state norm Il schools, or
may be made to count something in the
grad. mr. tsn,.tb q, stat. certificates
ehuei Ms "'teet'o'i H'u suPeiH'slo' TUE
State examinations have been successful
beyond authorization. During The first
TO-. ST. a.,in.,.
We '"e ''''''
OF such examinations, have ueen awarded
to e9l teachers.
To eres,.sn AGENCY for arousi,g l,c.,
,,,a,as, e., ,,a t,rc,, .o,.,,,,,. 49,, ttrra,,.'
interest III tue local sc"oo's' shd u'rectlhs
the force OF such interest to the most be-
nelIcent eads. he has Damned "A system OF
.,,,a,t t,,...,,,..,.,,., ,,,,.,- AMI. -,
'e"'"' '"' '''S "o7 sue" ''''
when they have become general, they VIII
make the local school, in surroundings
and ,ur,ishtuss work minis,ar,o,he
pufest anu best III uian--'o'e o' the oeau-