Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-04-25
STATE HOUSE.
r. a
Supt. StetsOn Issues Extended
Pamphlet to Public.
It; Subject The School Improvement
League Of Maine.
N ihocs Of Organizing and Objects Of lie
Improvement League.

| superintendent W. w. StetSon Is lSSuin {
pamphlet dealing with the school i'm
provcment league of Maine. in whicl,
| there is a constantly growing interest In
our State. Ey way of Introduction Sup.
Stetson SAYS:
There has long been n feeling among
parents. school officials and tea,- ,crs thar
! 'ur schools stand in need of certain new
deals and revitaliZing forces. IL ma ,
cor some time been apparent that We
mast strive To restore the old-timc inter
81 IN the local school and its work Ii
perfectly clear that the success Of the
Scho"l depends very largely. no. only
upon thc parents Of the community. bu;
IN great measure upon tn. sense Of re-
Spoasioiity which the boys and girls
NJ msclNcs feel for their own training
There has been a constantly increasing
idea that the schools should no. only give
instruction in certain studies, but they
should be responsible for certain tranin.
y citizenship and the incubation III high
ideals of literature and art.
The history of the Two years existence
manifestation in the formation Of the
school Improvement league of Maine ana
the ready acceptance al the movement in
10 popular favor proved at once how
keenly on the alert are our people and
oar teachers for any forces which shall
bring increased usefulness 10 the public
school.
The history o fthe two wears existenc,
IF this organization is plainly written not
only in the improved condition Of scores
4.
even bet .er than thai. In an incrcaSiu.
responsibility the pupils are having in
matters Of prime inheritance 10 them.
and in stronger intcros: in the loca!
school.
1T is not the purpose of this manual to
refer TO what has already been done
through league CndeaVor. but rather t.
suggest methods and lines OF action for
future work. Many teachers who have
not Yet engaged in league work viii
doubtless I've glad TO receive from thost'
nod nDyi. in fol-
suggestions growing out of that eXDer-
ence and such hints and helps as have
proved of value to league workers. II Il
not expected that all these suggestions
will be OF SerV &c to all leagues. but out
of them may come some assistance in
the varying circumstances i'll which the
leagues work.
The Superintendent deals At some length
with the matter of tine organization Of To-
cal leagues lie says that the flexibilitv
OF the working Plan Of the league rem
ders it equally useful in all grades and
classes of schools. Wherever the teacher
feels the need OF strong parental inter
est of increased student enthusiasm. of
broader ideals of life. there is a field for
league endeavor. Ii will be found how
ever. that the organization will vary ac-
cording to the school in which the league
is to work In the primary school the
ton of the teacher: in the ungraded
school. more perhaps than in any other.
the organization will have PARENTS in it,
membership and will receive from them
active 0p-operation. In these schools, in
the higher classes Of graded schools. AMI
in high schools. the local league should
have form of organization with consti-
tuition and bylaws.
Having decided that 4 league will be
desirable ADJUNCT 10 her school the each
| er's first sep i5;to enlist the attention AMI
interest OF the pupils and the patrons Of
| the school The state educational depart
Ipartment has ssued two documents bear
ing upon this work, one being an outline
tot fhe5piirposes of the league and sug-
/ EestionS that are of value in effectinS
Ian Organization. the other speaking at
some iength of the work that has already
been, done by the movement. The teach
err should obtain a supply of these docu-
ments, make a study Of their contents
Hand send copies into the homes of the
community. Then appointing a suitable
| time she may talk briefly to her school of
the general purposes of the Leagues,
naming some particular advantages that
might come through them to their
school"
In speaking of the objec;s Of the league,
Mr. Stetson says:
| 1t is hardly necessary 10 call the atten-
| ton either of the people or the teachers
| of Maine to the Importance Of clean.
| wholesome and comfortable surroundings
| for children. 4 he draughty, Differentiated
schoolrooms, the spine-curving benches,
| the unsightly school yards are coming 10
be things of the past. We are providing
better things along these lines: towns are
| showing their willingness to do all they
can to hasten the era OF better iacil III
| individuals and communities are DAILY
| giving evidence of their apprecla ti"li o.
| these needs: it is now for our teachers
ana school children to do their par IN
| ctlltivating these favorable tenuencie9
and exercising care and protection oil Inc
things that are provided them ne
| League should not Only exercise us 81
forts in decorating rooms ana IN grazing
and caring for grounds: ii IS ITS proNihie
also to assist in preserving things aifeauy
| provided to help keep the room ana
buildings neat, and 10 exercise Il con ~, /.
| wltchfIlness over the school yard. Thus
not only will teachers ana scnooi OH
Gals have valuable assistance in caring
Of civic pride will be engendered in chii-
dren and lessons OF ncatncSS ana orucI,
more important than many learned iron,
looks will become a part OF the cn!i"
unconscious training
The following certificates OF incorpora-
ton have been fled with the secretary Oh
State:
Boston Plaster and Fire PROBING 20:
orLaniZed at Portland tor the purpose %
Mining and dealing in gypsum. 10 .cor
s,r1Ict and improve roads. aqueducts ere.
with 81 1850 capital stock of which s3'o
maid in The officers are: President. ~
don w Coombs of Portland, treasure
lC'has. II Tolman of Portland. Cer'iica''
approved. April %, 1891.
Akerley Manuiac turing Co, organiEeo
at Bangor for the purpose OF connuc,i.., :
General, manufacturing business. VIII
s:.kD capital stock OF which so is paid III
The officers are: President. C.. Ney ny ~
man Of New York: treasurer, Robert