Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-12-28
RURAL SCHOOLS
6iven thorough Discussion BY
Our Maine Teachers.
Raising Quality of Work in One Place
Helps Whole State.
ra9crs OF O.her Educational Topics and II.
;ereslirg Discussions.

Lewiston, Me, Dec. 27-The princi-
pal subject of discussion at the fore
noon session of the Maine Pedagogical
Society was Rural Schools" Miss
SNOW, the president, said that to raise
the quality Of school work in one place
was to help to higher standard in
all parts CT the state. Miss Lincoln
of Pennington Normal school. spoke
of the work of the poem in the rural
schools. Mr.. PaySon Smith spoke of
the schools typified by the Little RcI
School Houses" An interesting dis
cuSsion followed which was partici
pated in by Principal Moody of Au-
burn, Prof Richardson OF Castlne,
Prof. Winslou Of Bath.
Miss Ardelle Tozier Of Old Town
read paper on Art Education il
Rural schools" Prof. w. G.. Mallett.
superintendent of schools in Farming
ton, spoke on The Grading of Rural
Schools"
At the afternoon session Principal
George Phoenix of the State Training
School of Willimantic, Conn, Gc.iveyy
cd an address.
Thomas NJ. Baillctt spoke on "Some
New Phases Of Educational Thought"
In the evening. Henry Z. Bailey, agent
for the promotion Of industrial draw
ing III Massachusetts. spoke on
Beauty in School Work"
Principal George 2. Phenix qucs-
toned the statement of Mr.. Smith.
who attributed the greatness of
NIainA'., 1
School House" He claimed that it
was the industrial training which they
had received IN their homes rather
than that received from the schools.
He did not believe in setting tasks for
children in order to discipline them,
without a definite object in view. but
considered it mere waste of time.
Spelling is an observation study but
does not teach children to study rocks
or trees The elementary school
teaches too much grammar OF q wrong
kind and takes too much tim about
it. You can drop out the first three
years OF arithmetic and 1ini al the
end Of five years that your pupils have
advanced just as far as if they had
put in the whole time to that study.
How many Of you have ever used
cube root outside Of school room? Ad-
dition, multiplication. division of
whole numbers and fractions, and per-
centage. Is it worth while to spend
eight years in studying these. As Il
substitute | would recommend the
reading of good litera ture and history.
Machinery has given more leisure 70
the working classes and they should
begin to use their leisure for Seif-!n
proVcmcnt.
Dr. Raillott spoke encoGraEinGly Of
Maine schools. He said that the large
number Of Maine teachers who had OBJ
tanned situations in Massachusetts,
showed that good work had been done
in them. lie also spoke Of ex-Speaker
Reed and Congressman Littleiicld as
examples of great men who had been
fitted for positions Of responsibility
from the Pine Tree State. He empha-
sized the wori. done through compul-
sion in European evening schools,
such as drawing. hand work for 3irls,
commercial branches, etc.
I'VE have the best primary schools
in the world because our children are
happiest in them. European teachers
are better informed and get more work
out Of their pupils. They read m"re
and look ahead to q life Of teaching
and DO not live from hand to mouth as
our teachers do Tho women have mt
the chance. especially in Germany,
that they have here. All European
countries have their highest interest II
the high schools.
Il believe in some electives in the
High school but not too many Inc
teaching in Germany is more uniform
than here The time is coming when
we shall demand more scholarly WORK
in our teachers. after they leave TIM
colleges or unvcrsitiy, II we q" not
love study enough to pursue it without
being driven how can we expect cur
r.i1r.iIS to DO sO?'