Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-10-11

| Hon. w. w. Stetson. State superin-
! tendent of public schools. was the next
| speaker Mr. Stetson has always been
| a real favorite with the teachers OF
| kennebec county. and his address of
! yesterday added UNNECESSARILY to that
| reputation. He spoke of the necessity
| of advanced work in the school room
and how best the teacher may succeed
| in bringing the boy and the girl to the
| highest point of excellence. His refer
! enccs to the study of arithmetic. his
| tory, reading, etc. were pointed and
| met with apparent appreciation. He
| thought the time was coming when the
child would be able to more quickly
| absorb the knowledge necessary to ac-
curately add column of figures than
| he is able to do at the present time:
and that the same advancement would
be noticed in every other class of
study Mr.. Stetson's address was
polished as usual and was delivered
with much spirit.
The next speaker was S. l. Graves of
! New Haven, Conn. Mr.. Graves was
formerly principal of the Village Dis
trict in Augusta, and is no stranger TO
| the teachers of kennebec county or of
| the State of Maine either. His address
was entitled THE Single Standard of
Education" and he handled the sub
ject i'll an energetic and vigorous man.
ner He called attention to the fact
that there must be changes made in
the school rooms so as to afford more
comfort to the scholars before com
plete success may be obtained. He
maintained that the child under years
should not be taught facts: the mind
| is too young to be able to acquire solid
knowledge Up to that age. Young chill
dren should be taught our-door nature
study. taught gems of literature. and
should be taught these ut home at their
mothers knees. Then when they are
sent TO school they will develop more
RAPIDLY and be better able to acquire
the knowledge which the teacher is to
impart.
The committee to select officers for
the ensuing year reported as follows:
President. Supt. T.. r. Wyman. Wa
tcrvilie vice president. F. FL. Cowan.
Augusta: secretary and treasurer. Miss
Martie Barker. Gardiner: executive
committee ID. S. Wheeler. II. w.
Sprague. Miss Helen NJ. Dunbar. Wa
terylle Miss Emma o. French. Hal
lowell: II. Il. Douglass. Gardiner.
The selection was endorsed by the
convention by unanimous vote.
The committee on resolutions report
ell as follows:
Resolved. That this association eX-
press it's thanks to President Dutton
and his official associates for securing
slch pleasant quarters in which to ho!d
| it's meetings: to the State officials for
the use of Representatives hall: and
TO the Maine Central Railroad Co. for
reduced rates of fare.
The resolutions were unanimously
adopted.
The attendance was not so large at
| the evening session as it was during
the day. because of the fact that many
Of the teachers from up the river were
obliged to return home on the evening
! train: but those who were present were
umpIv repaid, for they had the pleasure
of listening to excellent essays by two
Of the most prominent educators in
Maine. Principal George &. Purington
of the Pennington Normal school, and
Prof. A. j. Roberts of Colby College.
Mr. Purington was the first speaker.
and he took for his subject. THE Spirit
Tha. Gives Life He said the spirit In
the teacher is what should be consid-
cred. I'VE should give more attention