Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1904-10-12
TEACHERS, CONVENTION.
Some of the Taings said and Done
Evening Addresses.

county teachers as-ecnt5n was heid at
DAD Eel oss hall. Eisaeuh.
Brief refer nee was made " the affair
in last weeks issue, which deserves a
more extended notice than 1t was then
possible to give it.
The day was an ideal one, and this to
some extent doubtless accounts Tor the
Large attendance. In many nearby towns
blackboard parties we're formed ana drove
to Ellsworth, and by noon the number OF
visitors upon the streets was marked
One old farmer with an honest look, but
somewhat given to superstition of the old
school logic, thought II curious to see so
many women upon the streets, and de-
ciared that big rain was coming, "for,"
| says he, sits a sure sign"
| The teachers were happy lot, and jokes
were numerous. One young lady who
had driven fourteen miles la party
where but one young man was present,
became greatly alarmed about noon on ac-
| count OF his sudden disappearance with
her pocket book, which she had intrusted
to him. Friends formed a searching
party OF some dozen persons, and finally
succeeded In locating the yout hiul educa-
| tor in Pine street home.
At p. m. the afternoon session was
! called to order by Herbert Poole, of Bar
Hsr Dor, who presided. Prayer was offered
| by Rev. J. p. Simonton. In few re-
| marks well put Chairman Poole intro
duced to the convention w. II. Dresser,
of Ellsworth, principal of the high
| school, for an address OF welcome.
| Mr.. Dresser said that in welcoming the
teachers to Ellsworth he, in behalf OF the
| local instructors, thought that an apology
| was necessary for not entertaining the
| visitors. He did not feel that it was
necessary to apologize, but to explain.
Instead OF the meeting being at Sullivan,
plans were suddenly changed to Ellis
worth, and the entertainment committee,
owing to conflicts with other events,
| were unable to offer .solace to the inner
man..
Mr.. Dresser declared that the fellowship
between teachers was unusually binding;
our work Is as noble as any done by man;
we are on the level with the Clergyman
and author, and our aim is to advance the
next generation to higher standard than
that of to-day.
In the absence of President s. A. Bender,
OF the E. NJ. c. s., OF Bucksport, Principal
Cowan, of Bar Harbor, responded briefly
and feeiingly to the address OF welcome.
It was voted that the chair should APP
point committees for the nomination OF
officers, and for the drafting OF resolu-
tions. The chair appointed DIR. e. E. Phil
brook, OF Castine, o. L. Flye, of Brooklin,
and G. B. Stuart, OF Ellsworth. Nancy A.
Abbott, Hancock, 8. A. Smith, Sullivan,
aud +. II. Cowsp, Eden, were appointed
committee on resolutions.
In introducing the next speaker, DR..
| Philbrook, Mr.. Poole said 1t was recog-
nized fact that to-day we realize more the
value of the study of nature and teach
| ing nature in the natural way, placing
the teachers on platform OF sound
common sense.
DR.. Phiibrook spoke at some length,
taking for his subject ''Some Aims in
Teaching Geography. He drew atten-
tion especially to appreciating nature as
| 1t lies about us, embracing the power to
see the power to compare, and the power
| to draw conclusions FROM seeing and
comparing. He upheld the old-fashloned
definition that geography was the study
| of the earth, as the home Of man.
Superintendent Arthur Heald, Of Bar Har-
Dor, read an interesting paper on ''Ends
| to be Sought in Teaching Reading. He
said In part: "By the way OF introduce
ton to the subject we are considering, let
| me say that the idea underlying the whole
scheme of our common school studies
| should be that of the development of
power in the child. Giving him ability to
do things, bringing about results, the
ability to frame an idea, and to realize the
ideal.
Like every other branch OF our school
work, the work Of teaching reading has q
variety of important and far-reaching
ends to be attained. l propose to you
| that the great end to be sought is to give
the child the power to receive, to express
and to love the best OF all the worlds
recorded thought"
A short recess was taken for the enroll
ment, over 100 persons registering. The
| convention was again called TO order Tor
the "query box" conducted by Principal
A. F. Richardson, OF the Castine normal
school.
| The election of officers followed: Her
bert Poole, of Bar Harbor, president; vice
president, Merle E. Tracy, fremont; sec
rotary, W. II. Dresser, Ellsworth; execu
tive committee, e. ii. Smith, Sullivan,
Annie M. Davis, Ellsworth, A. F. Rich
ardson, Castine, Nellie Douglass, Bluehill,
and Grace Haynes, Bar Harbor.
The evening session fulfilled the rroph-
ecy that the educators meeting 1uld
be the most pronounced event of its kind
ever held In Ellsworth. A selection was
rendered by the Ellsworth male quartette,
composed of o. W. Tapley, e. F. Robin
son, A. w. King and j. A. Cunningham,
and was heartily applauded.