The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1902-10-09
MEETING OF WALDO COUNTY
TEACHERS.

The fall meeting of the Waldo County
Teachers Association was held IN UNITY
Oct. Sd and 4th The program prepared for
the occasion was carried out with one or
two necessary omissions, owing to absence
OF people to whom these parts had Deen
assigned. The exercises Friday morning
were opened with prayer by Rev. W. A.
Luce of Unity cordial welcome was ex-
tended the visiting teachers by Supt E.
A. Tabor of Unity II. E. Ellis OF Belfast
responded in few we'll chosen words.
The first topic for discussion was "Lan-
guage and Literature,'' "IIow Much and
How Taught" Mr.. Hayes OF Belfast spoke
from the standpoint of the grammar grades.
lie thinks much of the work IN language
unsatisfactory owing to lack OF Intelligent
and thoughtful preparation on the part of
the teacher He would bring before the
| pupil good stories; have these stories read
at least twice for seat work and again in
class. He would then have pupils tell the
story from memory. The second day he
would have them make mental pictures OF
scenes depicted in the story and when
| feasible illustrate with blackboard draw
ings. Still another day he would have pu-
pills study manners and customs OF people
=, spoken of in the story and also study some
thing of the author. After studying several
authors he would have pupils compare the
style, modes OF expression, etc.
| E. II. Rose of Brooks spoke from the
standpoint of the High school. He would
aim so to teach his pupils that they may ex-
press their own thoughts clearly and with
| ease and readily interpret the thoughts of
Others This can be brought about by wide
and attentive reading, having pupils cult
vate a quick eye and ear for new words
thus increasing their vocabulary. Have
pupils read, first rapidly then more slowly
and carefully. Have them write descrip-
| tions using for a guide an outline placed
upon the blackboard. Debates are excel
f, lent practice, training pupils to speak with
out notes.
| Miss Mary Brown of Liberty spoke from
the standpoint of the rural school, She
| finds it harder to teach language in the
! rural schools owing to the lack of time. 1t
is hard for this reason to do much in dicta-
ton work. She would have pupils copy
their reading lessons, paying special atten-
tion to pronunciation, capitalization, ETC.,
thus securing accuracy. Spelling in SEN
tences serves the double purpose of dcta-
ton and drill in spelling. Conversation
lessons are helpful, and she would encour-
age pupils to look up words and facts them
selves.
State Supt. W. w. Stetson would have
children in primary grades taught to read
something simple and worth reading to be
found outside the text book He believes
| in reading to the children and thinks they
derive profit even though many words and
expressions are beyond their comprehen
sion. He would have them commit poems
to memory, selecting from the best authors
Teachers should use care in correcting
words and expressions Incorrectly used In
the grammar grades he would have pupils
learn rules, definitions and principles from
a textbook. In the High school he would
! combine the methods, the minds of the chill
dren then being sufficiently mature to see
the reasons for the rules and to reach con-
clusons.
Supt. John r. Dunton Of Belfast would
not use a textbook in the grammar grades
He believes the true basis of all language
| work is thought-getting, and children derive
| no benefit from what they cannot compre-
hend. Rural pupils have an advantage in
that they receive individual training
| Pres. II. c. Buzzell of Monroe announced
the following committees:
| Committee on Resolutions. W. r. How
ard of Belfast; Miss Mary Brown of Liber-
| ty; II. E. Ellis of Belfast.
| Committee on Time and Place of Meeting.
| Supt. }. r. Dunton and A. ID. Hayes OF Bel
| fast.
Supt. Tabor announced that the school
building would be open during the noon re-
cess and invited teachers to inspect it, The
meeting then adjourned till o'clock p. m.
| During the noon hour many of the teach
ers avaied themselves of Supt. Tabor's in
vitation. The school building is one of
which the people of Unity are justly proud.
| 1t is beautifully situated and is surrounded
by spacious play grounds. The building
contains three rooms, all large, well lighted,
| supplied with appliances for work, and all
furnished with modern single desks.
The first hour of the afternoon session
was devoted to the. Question Box, conducted
| by Supt Stetson in his inimita Bile manner.
i The questions brought out many points of
interest and the answers were listened to
With pleasure and profit.
The topic, Mature Study in the Common
Schools was presented by Prof. A. F.
Richardson, Principal of Castne Normal
School. He believes the mental growth of
the child is retarded when he enters school.
He spends the first five or six years of his
life in learning entirely from observation
and the work of the school gives him entire
ly different training. Prof. Richardson
would give the children noon walks in the
| fresh air and less routine work in the school
room. He would not teach technical bot
any, ornthology Or astronomy but simple
things from all these studies, developing
| powers of observation and love for the
! beautiful in nature. He would have them
i commit poems relating to the flowers and
y, birds.
Prof. A. j. Roberts of Waterville gave an
address on "Reading, Writing and Spell
,ng.' He considers reading the most i'm
portant study because it is the key that I'M