The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-10-09
SUMNER SCHOOLS.
What superintendent stefson says
About Them.

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success in Maine, and it is a subject the
superintendent likes to discuss, for he
has taken a great interest in the move
ment.
Something about the summer schools,
you say" said Mr.. Stetson thoughtfulIy,
as though repeating the question over to
himself before beginning his reply.
Perhaps 1t would be well for me to give
few facts and figures in regard to these
schools before attempting to discuss the
work they have done.
''There were six summer schools for
teachers in session during thu past sea-
son. They were located at Ellsworth,
WateryilIe, Norway, Lincoln, Presque
Isle and Fryeburg. Each school was in
session two weeks.
! There were over eleven hundred teach
ers in attendance, being more than one
sixth Of the entire number OF teachers
employed in the State. This record places
Maine at the head Of the list in the per
cent. Of teachers attending summer
schools.
Nearly tWO-thirds Of the teachers reg
istered as graduates Of high schools, acsd-
enlies, seminaries, normal schools or col
legss. Quite a number of teachers were
in attendance who are natives OF Maine
but are now teaching in other states. We
also had teachers from the Middle Attain
tic, Middle Western and the Pacific
states; there were also teachers from
Cuba IN atte ndance. Nearly one-third Of
all the towns in the State had representa-
tiyes in the schools.
Now as TO the work done by the teach
ers. 1t is my impression that there are
no two weeks during the entire year
when the teachers work as faithfully and
as earnestly as they do during the time
that they are at the summer schools.
Many Of them attended for the eight . g.
Tiods the schools were in session each day.
They took full notes OF tho work done
and the instruction given, and spent
much time outside of the time set
apart for the regular sessions in carrying
out Investigations recommended by the
Instructors.
PROF. Roberts helped the teachers to
read and appreciate good English, and
assisted them in acquiring a more felici-
tous use Of their mother tongue. DR..
TIiplett aided the teachers in better I'M
derstanding the children and being more
seryieeable to them as instructors. he
helped the teachers to realize that they
must know the children before they can
serve them. DR.. CrossWelI presented,
with many useful and suggestive 1lIustra-
tions, the famous Hodge system of Ma
ture Study. Miss Hall gave the best
Davis presented the latest thoughts upon
grammar school methods. Miss Talbot
gave useful lessons in vertical penman-
ship. Miss Barrett gave sensible and
helpful talks on physiology, hygiene and
physical culture. The State Superin-
tendent gave interpretations to some of
the representative works of the great
painters. -
what is the opinion Of the superin-
tendents in regard to this class of schools
and the teachers they send out9" asked
the reporter.
"a large number of superintendents
have written the department. said Mr..
Stetson, expressing the opinion that the
pupils IN their daily work have been
greatly benefited by the help the teach
ers have received in the summer schools
of the previous years. They make special
note Of improved methods, better systems
of management, and more active in
terest in books on pedagogy and educa-
tional magazines, on the part OF the
teachers, as among the Tangible results
of the work done in these schools. These
comments are hearty and specific. a
IT think there has been no school In
New England that has had a corps OF in
structors superior to those giving the work
in the Maine schools. Each one is an ex-
pert in the department OF which he had
charge.
Il have received enough applications to
equip twenty-five or thirty schools, and
from points as far away as Alabama,
Iowa and Wisconsin. Experts in methods
seem to be anxious to come. into the State
and study our schools and our teachers. -
(which goes to show" ventured the
reporter, THAT the Maine teacher Is as
much in demand as ever.''
Exactly" was the response. cit is
specially gratifying that there are so
many calls for our teachers from other
states. The. average schoolman seems to
feel that Maine teacher can I'LL any po-
sition he will accept. They prove them
selves exceptionally successful in disci-
pline and instruction, and are also fertile
in devices, intelligent in the use Of meth
DDS and equal to emergencies as they
arise.
The reasons are many" said the su-
perintendent. First, attribute It to
the Increase of intelligent interest in the
local school. Second, to the progressive
quality Of our teachers. Third, to the
ability of our children to make the best
use Of the best training that can be fur
nished them, and fourth, the growing
feeling that children are entitled to school
lawns instead OF school yards, attractive
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