Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-12-20
IN THE scH00LRo0M.
What is Being Done in Maine for the
Advancement Of Education.

ton. to be held at Edward Little Hail.
January ): Roll call, report of secre
tary. music. High school teachers.
quartet; address, State Superintendent
". W. Stetson: report of current ed
ucatiOnal thought. Miss Lewis, Miss
Atwood ana Miss Josslyn; instructions
10 teachers. Miss Smith. Mr.. Mower
and Superintendent Richardson.
". II. Bennett, superintendent IF
schools for Newport, has been at work
upon an English course for the High
school which he will probably present
to the school board for its considera-
ticn in a few weeks. An English
course used to be taught in the school.
b, > gas given up. and now nothing is
left but the classical and college
preparatory. Owing to the dissatis
faction among scholars who are not
going away to college because of the
lack Of an English course, it has been
deemed wise to make the change.
The teachers of Orono, held an in
teresting and well attended meeting.
Dec. 10 Miss Gertrude Fraser. as.
sistant in the High school, presented
a paper on, What is the purpose and
the value of the daily class recitation
and how may il best be conducted?'
Miss Fannie Mosher, teacher of Gram
mar school. grades ! and s, then gave
a paper on. What is the value of
written tests. and how often made?"
a discussion followed each of these
papers The following questions were
then taken up and informally consid-
cred in a most interesting manner:
How most successfully teach spelling:
when use a spelling book; how much
written and now much oral spelling?
To what extent and in which grade
should mental arithmetic be taught?
What the remedy for excuses given by
indulgent parents? Has obedience de-
clined in the American school: how and
Thyf
Bangor News: AS sure as a new term
of school begins in eastern Maine, so
sure do the parents and friends of the
boys ard girls who are seeking learn
ing resolve to visit the schools, and to
thus learn at first hand how the cause
Of education Is progressing with those
whom they love. 1t is the duty-the
sacred duty-of those who bear close
relations to the pupils in our common
schools to know how the youngsters
are getting along. 1t is putting too
much upon tie teachers to ask them
10 do it all. The influence which Il child
receives at home is far greater than
that which any teacher can exert. In
order to get the most from schooling
privileges there should be unity of ac-
ton among teachers. pupils and
parents. Yet the old term dies and the
new term is born, and the parents
make resolutions to call at the schools
and then forget il, and so the weeks
and years slip by, and in the end the
teacher does all the work. If the edu-
eating process turns out successfully.
The pupil is given credit for great
ability and ii there is Il failure, the
oyerworked teacher comes i'm for I'LL
hlaine We all know how it is. We
also know how it ought TO be. There
is no use in denying the fact that the
PARENTS and friends of the school chill
drcn are guilty of gross neglect. If
there We're a dollar at stake in the re-
suit the chances are that no trouble
would be too great for the protection
of individual rights. But here are the
little ones. who. let us hope, are worth
more than all the dollars that were
ever mintei. and we let them take
their course without so much as drop
ping into school to see what they are
doing
II. r. Williams, superintendent OF
schools in the district of Dover. Fox
croft and Guilford. has recently dis
tributed among the parents the follow
ing pamphlet: TO Parents; Do you
know the teacher of your children
Are you familiar with the work being
done in the school in your community!
Have You ever. examined the course
o. study your children are pursuing:
Have YOU ever talked with the teacher
of your children. telling her the things
she must know in order to do her pest
by them. but what it might take her
weeks to discover. unassisted by those
who know all their peculiarities! five
minutes talk with the teacher might
he the means of changing for the bet
ter the whole life of some boy or girl
whom she has failed to reach In the
most helpful way. The home must
touch elbows with the school If the
greatest good is to be done the chill
dren of the great and growing nation.
They are to be the men and women oil
tomorrow, and to just the extent thcy
are trained to be useful citizens, loyal
and true-hearted men and women. 10
that extent will our country be SAT-"
and PROSPEROUS and our homes. the
embodiment of comfort, happiness anu
prosperity Your schools have mad
and are now enjoying, an eitV.abie
reputation. and it is my desire that
their good reputa tioh and their useful
ness may increase rather than dimin-
ish while / am connected with then'.
To this end | ask the cooperation CT
all who may read this. in our en-
deavors to improve the schools ana
render them more helpful to the cnii-
dren and to the communities in when
they are found. Will you not WISH
your school at least once during the
present term? Will youss not tchiiei
with the teacher and the superh-
tendent about the things You hnd tha'
you like, or the things that you .thinh
should be changed for the betterfadf
have great confidence in the Judgment
of large majority of parents In mat