The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-12-10
THE SCHOOLS.
How Viewed by the
Literary Union.
Both Private and Public Schools
Are Needed.
Interesting Discussion
at Saturdays Session.
The Opinions of Bright Women
On This Question.

At the meeting of the Literary Union
Saturday afternoon there was large at
tendsnce, important business settled anu
many announcement were made, besides
having an excellent programme, with
rood informal discussion following IL.
The special colors OF the unIon-yellow
ana white-were prominent in the taste
full drapery across the stage, as well as
In the ohryanthemums which graoeo
the presidents table. The Stars and
Stripes formed the background of the
stage, and some spreading palms anu
n bust Of the Venus Dis Milo added to
the attractivsness OF its asnect. Portraits
of Azasslz, Horacs Mann and Georgs
Peabody, as patrons of education, were
In evidence on the walls.
Mrs. Charles f. Flagg, the president,
and Mrs Joseph Day, recording score
tary were first to appear on the stage
during the conduct Of the business ses-
sion. Mrs. FIagg announced that Gen
tleinan-s Night" would be held at Pine
street church Saturday evening, Decsm-
Der 2gth, at eight CLOCK, when Mrs.
eann eta A. Murphy would give mu-
sioal lecture which would be followed by
a reception. 10 this each member would
be admitted with one gentleman or
an out-of-town lady. Announcement
was also made of a lecture to be given
before the union by Miss Gall Laughlin,
a former resident of Portland, and a
young woman who has already made a
brilliant name for herself. After some
little discussion, which was engaged In
nv Mesdames Brown. Wish, CLARK,
Burnham, Osgood. Hunt, Moody and
Miss blanchard, it was voted that the W.
l.. U. sever its connection with the Gen.
eral Federation OF Women's Clubs. The
ten cent per capita tax makes SO large
an inroad into the treasury, that those
best informed on the matter feel It
wiser to give IN the membership so long
as representation is still possible through
the Maine Federation. There were some
.noes'' when the motion was put,
no one doubted the ruling OF the chair,
that it was carried by the majority.
The question for discussion on the pro-
gramme was the advantage OF public and
private school training, subject, Mrs.
and as the Idea OF the programme was not
a debate, in one sense, she hoped that at
he close of this more formal expr ession OF
opinion, others present would express
themselves informally.
Inc first speaker OF the afternoon, Miss
Inez blanchard, was greeted by most
hearty round of applause as she took her
place to speak in favor Of public school
training. According TO suggestion from
the president OF the union, Miss Blan-
chard made somtThat personal revisw
Of her own experience in the public
schools of our city, where she had been
both pupil and teacher. Miss Blanoha RI
dwelt upon the school feeling" which
was so strong among the pupils, and
mentioned the decoration Of the room in
the High school by the class OF 80, as
an example of this fratsrnal spirit. Miss
Blanchard also felt that the idea OF the
public SC hool was more in the spirit OF
the old Puritan idea of education.
In summing up ths speaker fslt that
she had learned six things from her pub
lie school experience, viz: Obedience.
order, respect for authority, Dnnctuality,
love OF study, and how to study, as we'll
as a thorough belief in the public school
system.
Mrs. Frederick W. Robinson followed
Miss Blanchard with cordial support
for public schools in general, and our
own in Portland In particular. Mrs.
Robinson-s chief reason for believing In
them was because they were free, feeling
that a broader spirit ca me TO children
from the freedom OF intercourse with
each other, and that they more early
learned there the spirit of self-control.
Following Mrs Robinson, Miss Bur-
gess's plea for private school training,
was excellently taken, for she claimed
greater possibilities of development uu-
der the more favoring circumstances
which could be given to a fsw than to
many. She maintained that the "princi-
PIES of education were the same in both
systems of education, but the personal
element could be more strongly brought
out In private training.
Mrs. Wallace Noyes, the second speaker
in favor Of the private school, said she
had no word of arraignment for the pub
lie school idea, for she had many pleasant
recollectlons OF her experience both as
pupil and teacher in our Portland schools
but pubic schools are for the average,
and it is no doubt true that dullness re-
quires more training, and the bright ones
less. Some people speak, she said, as II
the private school were Eort of hospital
for the dull or the careless. which Is
certainly one-sided view Of the case,
Mrs. Moves dwelt upon the further pos
sibilitv of personal intercourse between
pupil and teacher in a private school,
ana she emphasized her points with much
tact, claiming that mothers must choose