The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1902-05-15
Waldo County Teachers Meeting.

The spring meeting OF the Waldo County
Teachers Association, which was held in
Searsmont Friday and Saturday, May 9th
and 10th, did not attract so much attention
as would have been accorded a horse trot
or prize fight; but it was, none the less,
pleasant and profitable session.
The Belfast delegation did not start on
time because those having the matter in
charge could not decide whether to go on
buckboards or in a school team. Finally
the question was settled by pulling the pet
ais from dandelion blossom and saying
blackboard, school team, uckboard, school
team" after the fashion of the small boy
when he uses the formula "rich man, poor
man, beggar man, thief ''School team"
won, sixteen people including the driver
climbed up behind two horses and we were
off. The reader will notice that the ratio
was not Is to !, but it came within one of it,
and neither the passengers nor the horses
cared for closer approximation.
When the writer entered the hall where
the meeting was held State Supt. Stetson
was replying to the address of welcome
which had been delivered by Supt. Adams
of Searsmont. Mr. Stetson made some
affecting remarks relative to ''the late
members from Belfast Some routine mat
ters of business were then attended to and
the meeting adjourned to eat. There was
Dut one trouble with the dinner. More
food had been provided than could possibly
be annihlated by the attacking party.
There were seven different styles of brown
bread of various shades, baked beans, nine
teen kinds of pie and uncounted varieties
of cake, not to mention all the ''txinS."
Pretty girls served coffee and tea from
bottomless tank and after a fierce onslaught
the diners were forced to retire vanquished
yet satisfied.
In the afternoon the Association was
treated TO an exposition of methods of teach
ing primary reading and numbers, illustrat-
ed by class exercises, Mrs Maude Follett
and Miss Alberta Wadsworth, teachers.
The exercises were the practical work as
done in the Belfast schools and the lessons
the same as they would have been had
the pupils attended to their regular school
duties. 1t was an impressive object lesson
showing the advantages of the modern
methods of teaching over those in vogue
when the present generation of parents
were in school. Pupils now learn by in
ductive reasoning rather than by memoriz-
ing. Then followed: School Improvement
| League of Maine, Payson Smith, Rumford
| Falls; Advantages and Disadvantages of
| the Graded System, Thomas Hunt, Camden !;
| Preservation of Our Wild Birds, A. L..
Lane, Waterville
Friday evening-Protit and Pleasure of
Nature Study, a. L. Lane; School Improve
ment, Payson Smith; The Future of Maine,
Supt, Stetson.
Saturday morning-Botany in Ungraded
Schools, ID. +. Carey, Montville. This sub
iect was also discussed by \. L. Lane,
The following resolutions We're passed
Whereas, the present session Of the Waldo
County Teachers Association has been one
of especial interest:
| Resolved, That the association tenders its
thanks to the citizens of Searsmont for the
cordial manner in which they have enter
tanned us; to Mr.. PayS0n Smith of Rumford
Falls, Mr. Thomas Hunt of Camden and
Prof. \. L. Lane of Waterville for their
able and instructive talks, on Sc4oo! I'M
provement League of Maine, the AdYdH-
tage and Disadvantages of the Graded Sys-
TEN and the Preservation OF Our Wild Birds
to State Supt. Stetson for the able manner
| in which he conducted the question box and
for his pleasing and efficient suggestions To
the teachers; and to the speakers OF the
evening for their helpful and inspiring
| words.
Resolved That a copy of these resolutions
| be spread upon our records and sent to | he
| Republican journal, Bangor Daily News
Bangor Commercial and the Lewiston Jour