The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1908-10-08
THE TEACHERS CONVENTION.
Meeting of the Waldo County Teachers
Association in Belfast.

session of the Waldo County Teachers Asso.
citation began in the High school building, Bel
fast, about 1890 o'clock last Friday morning
The opening song, America" brought all to
their feet, and was sung with fervor by the 1O(
or more teachers and others present. After q
prayer by Rev. A. E. Luce, of the Belfas,
Methodist Episcopal church, Rev. A. A. Smith
of the Universalist church, Belfast, gave cor
dial address of welcome, saying that brevity
was the soul of hospitality as we'll as of wit
paying tribute to the Waldo county teachers
and mentioning the fact that their labors should
be directed toward the development of man and
womanhood capable of fighting a successful
moral battle He closed with beautiful and
appropriate selection from Matthew Arnold
Mrs Inez Pendleton of Islesboro gave most
graceful response, in which she mentioned her
own pleasant experience with Belfast's hospi-
tality, and voiced the sentiments of the visiting
teachers in being glad to be present.
| A short business session followed. President
A J. Knowlton presided and appointed the fol-
| lowing committees: On time and place, A. D.
Hayes of Belfast Mrs. Inez Pendleton of Isles
boro, Miss Ethel Dodge of Searsport; on resolu-
tions, Rev. H. E. Roullard of Stockton Springs
W. H. Russell of Unity and Miss Erma Barker
of Brooks on nominations, D. B. Rollins of
Unity. Mrs. A. J. Clifford of Stockton Springs
and Miss Caroline W. Field, Belfast.
A paper on How to Teach Geography to Be
gipners" was read by Miss c. Lillian Spinney
of Belfast, and was received with the close
attention it deserved. Miss Spinney recon-
mended, first, that the child be taught the di-
| rection of objects in the schoolroom, the points
| of the compass the direction of the winds, the
natural phenomena, as rain, snow hail, ETC.;
then the simpler forms of land and water
should be taught through observation.
| In the time allowed for discussion State Su-
perintendent Payson Smith spoke, commencing
! the paper highly, and urged upon the teachers
| the need of being fully prepared to impart the
| desired knowledge to the pupils. He said he
had observed in his travel about the State that
an increasing number of teachers were giving
| out lessons more intelligently, following nat
ural divisions, etc, instead of assigning by
pages.
AS Miss Finch of Lewiston, who had the next
place on the program, was unable to be present
until afternoon, Supt. D. E. Bowman of Water
vile exchanged places with her on the pro-
| gram, and gave very interesting talk on
English in the Grades Mr.. Bowman i'm
pressed upon the teachers the necessity for
their deep appreciation of the following truths
in order to successfully teach English: First,
they must have high appreciation of the
wonders language can bring to one; secondly,
that language originated on the lips rather
| than in books; and, thirdly, that language is
useful only as a means of expression. After
Mr.. Bowmans scholarly talk the meeting was
adjourned until l.30 p.
| Many of the teachers took advantage of the
noon recess to walk about town and do some
| shopping, but large majority gathered in the
| Baptist church at noon where bountiful din
ner was served.
The afternoon session was pleasantly opened
with a solo by Mr. John Parker. As Supt. w.
L. Powers of Fort Fairfield was obliged to leave
| on the afternoon train he exchanged places on
the program with Rev. D. L. Wilson, and taking
| the platform gave fascinating talk on nature
| study Mr.. Powers took his text from the
mornings paper on geography, which recon-
mended studying from the brook rather than
| from the book He has long been q nature
student. and the colored chart with which he
| illustrated his talk was much enjoyed feature.
He spoke of the loon, or great northern diver,
and of the term and of their return to the coast
since they received the much needed eglsla-
tive protection; and of the stormy petrol,
with the interesting story of how it got its
name AS it flies over the water its feet al
most touch the waves, but like Peter of old, ii
seems to lack confidence in that means of loco
motion, and trusts to its wings, so 1t was named
"petrel" or little Peter Interesting facts
about other shore birds, with their pictures
were given, and among those taken up were
the shag, "coots,' the wood lucknow nearly
exterminated- the great blue heron. Wood
cock, owls, and the downy woodpecker came in
for their share of attention; and Mr.. Powers
carefully explained also the protective color
ing of the female birds. At the close of Mr.
Powers intensely interesting address Mr.. E. 5
| Pitcher sang a solo and responded to hearty
encore:
| Rev. d. L. Wilson of the North Congrega
fiona, church gave an able address on ''Wha'
Have We Right to Expect from Our Schools!
Mr.. Wilson spoke of the natural hesitation 1ei'
nv a lavman in addressing body OF prefes
s1onals. but realizing that an outside point OF
view was sometimes helpful, he spoke as ar
Interested observer. He said it seemed thai
more and more was expected from the schools
as now the art OF teaching the hands as well az
the head was coming to the fore. The manua
danartment in school work, which has been to'
long neglected, is beginning to come into III
own. and the teacher who does not give som'
training along that line either lacks under
standing or equipment. He thought, with Judg'
Lindsey. that too long had we tried to GROVE
all children into the same mould, and that man.
fine artisans had been spoiled in the making
moor scholars. He thought it reasonable to ex
meet of the teacher some knowledge of chiia
narentage. environment and surroundings out
} side of school, and that the confidence OF tn
n,n;l he gained. and spoke OF Froebels emphasi
upon self-activity, and said that the teach
er should realize the fundamental fact OF tn
nnitv between God and man and her opportunl
/ ties in character building.
piano solo by Mrs. Clarence Z. Read wa
I much enjoyed.
: Miss Adelaide v Finch, of the Lewlsto
iptD /