Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-10-26

1T is also equally clear that all pupils
who are qualified to pursue a high,
school course are entitled to free tut
ton in secondary schools of standard
grade.
THE State superintendent is doing all
: in his power to give the youth of the
State the full benefit Of the provisions
found in these several statutes.
"All citizens will aid in protecting tho
towns from unjust demands ON their
treasures and will Illustrate oil at
tempts to deplete the common schools
or degrade the standard of the second
airy schools.
u shall be glad to assist in every
possible way in making this law use
full to the people of the State.
Respectfully yours,
| Nv. w. STETSON,
State superintendent of Public
| Schools"
In conclusion, we remark that it is
our conviction that this law for the
better education of youth will prove
great blessing to a multitude of boys
and girls, will stimulate the smaller
secondary schools to improve their
courses of instruction, will largely in
crease the number attending all second
airy schools, and, ultimately, enlarge the
influence of the college, and react fay
orably upon the material, intellectual
and social life of the State. The appli-
cation of this law may call for that
charity which "suffereth all things and
is kind" but in full confidence that it's
proper Interpretation will make easy
! it's application, we respectfully submit
our report.
Opportunity was then given for dis
cussion of the report.
| j. o. Wellman, principal of Kicker,
moved that the report be accepted, and
this was done. President Chase of
Bates said that he believed that hearty
thanks should be accorded the commit
tee on legislation and that 80 years
hence it would be seen that a great
stride had been made in the march of
education. Prin. Wellman then moved
that the report be printed and dis
tributed to the principals of the Sec
ondary schools throughout the State
| Prof. w. L. Woodruff of Bowdoin,
| offered the amendment that the execu-
| tive committee be instructed to have
it done at the expense of the State, if
| practicable, if not. at the expense of
the association. The amendment was
accepted and the vote carried.
| Prof Karl p Harrington of U. of NJ,
reported for the committee on courses
of study. He made two recommended
tions. both of which were accepted.
The first was in the arrangement of the
courses in mathematics, thorough re-
view should be given in the last year
of High school work. The other was
that the committee ON the program for
next year should give place to dis
| cussion on the subject of botany
whether it should not be made a requi-
site for admission to college, as it was
a very important study, thoroughly
scientific and the only one of the kind
available to many schools.
President Chase here asked the sec
retaries of the various sections of the
association to report at the earliest pos
| sible Date the names of the officers
| elected. He also stated that unless
some expression of disapproval was
made, the association would continue
to meet with the Maine Teachers Asso-
| lr'tioli, lictu pccIi lllc Cdoc. tIlIS yedl
| Principal Cook of Cony High made
some remarks about the deficit in the
| funds of the associa ton and advised
| that in the future there be one set of
1ues for the whole association and that
| 'heSe be paid to the treasurer. He
| 'hornI>t thot tho GnnrcoS Wore too
| ma II divided, and that tho preference
| in aoorcnriotic-,e a,,~,-' 10 Given to
| 'ifferent sections in different years. 1t
was voted that the executive commit
| toe take these matters into considera =
| ton and report at the next meeting.
1t was also voted that the committee
| on legislation be continued for the care
| of the interests of the association.
A discussion upon "Our Present Col
| lege Entrance Requirements in Eng
| lish," was opened by Prof. H. NJ. Esta-
| brook of L. of NJ. who spoke on THE
| Condition of the Entrance Require
| ments and Some of their Deficiencies -
| He did not wish to criticise the prepar-
| atory schools, no body of teachers were
more honestly laboring to do their duty.
1t had been his privilege for a num-
| Der of years to visit High schools and
| academies all over the State. He had
| lotllu JIldl many were lllSuIIlc1ently
| housed and had just two good things
about them, the teachers and the stu
| dents. but even these schools were do
! ing creditable work. Most High schools
have too few teachers and each teach
| ar has too much work. Hence, if the
work was faulty the teachers were not
| to be blamed.
He then spoke of the insufficient
preparation in English for entrance to
| college. He had made an investigation
| OF all the colleges and had had letters
written to himself by the entering
classes in the various colleges, From
| these he found that insufficient prepa-
| ration in English was general.
One of the first requirements should
be ability to read well aloud, and this
| was being neglected with the result
that a very small per cent of the stu
dents can read acceptably aloud.
Another requirement should be
ability to spell. Training in this re-
spect, like that in the other. had been
growing more and more inefficient.
A third was the use of grammar.
This also had been gradually becoming
neglected as time went on. Nothing
was more essential than a technical