Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-10-11
COUNTY TEACHERS.
Annual Convention, Yester-
day, Was Largely Attended.
Representatives Hall Well Filled With
Teachers from Abroad.
Addresses by Eminent Educators Of
This and Other States.

The annual convention of the Ken
nebec County Teachers Association
was held at Representatives hall, State
House. yesterday. There was a very
large attendance; in fact, il was the
largest gathering of the teachers OF
the county ever had. and the greatest
interest was manifested. The conven-
ton began at 10 o'clock in the morn
ing and continued throughout the day
ard evening, with recesses for dinner
and supper.
The president of the association,
Principal M. p. Dutton of the Village
District. Augusta, presided. Prayer
was offered by Rev. Norman l.. Nc
Kinnon. pastor Of the South Congrega-
tional church in this city.
His Honor. Mayor Lendall Titcomb
of Augusta, then delivered the address
of welcome. during which he extended
a cordial greeting to the assembled
teachers. and expressed the hope that
their deliberations would be productive
OF great good to themselves and
through them TO the schools of the
county. He spoke of the great ad-
vancement that has been made in the
work Of the teacher during the past
few years, and thought the broadening
ort and the development of the schools
Of today may be attributed to the work
of such conventions as this. They
bring together, he thought, those VINO
desire to learn how better to educate
the young and the commingling to-
gether sharpens their ideas and de-
velopes their intellect. All of which re-
suits to the benefit of the schools over
which they preside. Mayor TltcomD
was glad to welcome the kennebec
County Teachers Association to the
Capital city of Maine.
r. f. Packard. principal of Litchfield
Academy. responded to the mayors
welcome on behalf of the association.
F. w. Johnson. Waterville, Weston
Lewis. Augusta, and 3. f. Packard.
Litchfield. were appointed n committee
TO select officers for the next year.
f. r. Wyman, Waterville, Miss Alice
NJ. Doherty, Augusta. and Guy How
ard. HallCwell, were appointed COM
mittee on resolutions.
Miss Elizabeth Hall, principal of the
Lewiston Training school, delivered an
address on the teachers attitude to-
ward criticism, which was we'll received
and highly commended.
1.-THE Relation of the Schools to the
Community was the subject of an ad-
mirable address given by Rev. II. II.
Dunnack, pastor of the Methodist
church. Augusta.
Mr.. Dunnack began by saying that IL
was Il matter of congratulation that
the state House is. today, the meeting
place, not of politicians who have
friends to reward and enemies to pun
isfl. but of citizens who are not self
seekers. who represent no faction or
section. no sect or party. but who come
in the interests of the best and most
useful institution in our bread republic.
the American public schools. He then
said that education directs the Moham-
medan in his pilgrimmagc toward Nee
ca. and brings the Jew to worship in the
synagogue of his fathers. 1t moves the
Buddhist to chant his sacred songs In
the cilded temples of the East. ana
controls the Christian in his more ra-
tioral worship of the true God.
"Our public school system" said Mr..
Dunnack, lis not all, certainly, that
YOU wish it to be, or that any student
of the situation wishes it to be; but
compare it with the provisions made
for the education of the common peo-
pie anywhere else and tell me what
there is like it in the world! There is
something magnificent in this experi-
ment of 70.0OOO00 of people educating
themselves. it Is the most splendid edu-
cational spectacle the world has ever
seen--a whole nation Transforming it
self into a great university.
Travel through the West. and wher-
ever you go you find the finest build
ings to be, not railroad stations, not
great warehouses. not commercial
buildings. but generally the school
houses.
I'VE have much critisim of the pubic
school. much criticism of the school
book. much criticism of the methods,
and it is very well we have. i suppose
school teachers. as well as ministers,
need the prodding of criticism, though
they do not always like it. But the
public school is one of the encourag-
ing tendencies of American life, and 1t
is an upward tendency witnessed by
the increasing development. enrich
ment and equipment of our great school
system. The large majority of teach
ers are intelligent. refined. conscien-
tious and hard working: they respond
promptly to the cry of the leaders. Let
us go forward. Come out. Come out
from among the stuff and stand head
and shoulders above your fellows.
"Of course, there are exccptions-in-
dolencc, even ignorance have occasion
ally passed the watchful eye Of the
school board when in the guise of Il
third cousin Sometimes the two ex-
trcmes in education must be met. Those
who are satisfied with everything in the
past and have nc desire for improve.
ment and those who are dissatisfied
with everything that has been done an6
demand a change. Sometimes the uu.
certainty in regard to his tenure of of
flee absorbs the teachers mind. ant
initiates against her success. Teacher.
are urged to make their calling ant
election sure-however certain the!
may be in regard to our calling-ou
election is ir other hands.
I'm spite of all these things, tn,
teacher is usually in the right attitude
toward the ideals of the profession.
Every teacher must know the valu
OF ideas and how to think them: tn
value of ideas and how to use them. T.
think an idea is great thing; to US
an idea greater thing. To posses
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