The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1909-06-10
Somerset Educators in Session.
First Annual Meeting of the Western Som
erset Educational Society.

First Annual Meeting of the Western Som
erset Educational Society.
The Somerset County Educational
Association has recently been divided
into Eastern and Western districts
and the first meeting of the latter oc
Cured at the Municipal Building on
Friday of last week with sessions in
the forenoon, afternoon and evening
superintendent Chas. E. Ball Of
Bingham, George E. Paine of Arson,
Geo. G. Hight of Athens, Fred Park
man of Cornville, Alice K. Folsom of
Norridgewock, Frank L. Rowell of
Canaan and d. X. Perkins of Skowhe-
gan were present, also teachers rep
resenting Arson, Scion, Athens,
Bingham, The Forks, West Forks,
Starks, New Portland, Cornvile. Ca
man, Fairfield, Smithheld, Caratunk,
Concord, Norridgewoek Moscow, Mad e.
isoD, Skowhegan. Il should be noted
that every one of the n8dijon teachers
were in attendance and that but one
OF the Skowhegan force, detained at
home by illness, was absent. Those
who were unable to reach their
homes after the evening session were
entertained as guests by Skowhegan
citizens. All three sessions were
well attended, the members of the
association with Skowhegan people
and others interested in educational
matters, making audiences of from
three to four hundred. The various
exercises, addresses, musical parts,
etc. were of great interest and the
meeting will be remembered as one
of the NEST successful and profitable
educational conferences ever held in
this part of the State.
Under the direction of Miss Ger
trude Fletcher, supervisor of Manual
Training and Drawing, assisted by a
competent committee and Loyalty
supported by the other teachers OF
the Skowhegan schools, a splendid
exhibit of work in drawing, manual
training, sewing, language, number
work, penmanship, etc. was arranged
in the school board rooms and the
Municipal Court room, and Miss
Fletcher was present to explain the
relation of the different exhibits to
each other and answer questions re-
garding them. The music for the
three sessions was under the drec-
ton of Professor Elmer E. Towne,
supervisor of music in the Madison
and Skowhegan schools, and this part
of the program yielded much in in
terest and enjoyment.
The forenoon session opened at half
past nine, Friday morning, Superin-
tendent D. H. Perkins calling the
meeting to order and presiding until
the officers of the association for the
ensuing year were elected. Music
was furnished by the pupils of the
Park school, under the supervision of
Mrs. Alice Mitchell, including also a
solo by Thomas Coburn, and a duet in
which Master Coburn was joined by
Donald Butler. Superintendent Geo.
E. Paine of No. Arson then gave the
opening address on the general prog
ress of education in Somerset
county. Mr.. Paine is a graduate of
Bates College and of Cobb Divinity
School. He was for several years
pastor of the Universalist Church at
North Arson and in the spring of 1908,
became the school superintendent of
the district which embraces Emblem
and New Vineyard with the town OF
Arson. His address was a splendid re-
sumo of school and educational prog
ress and the present situation in
Somerset county communities. Fol
lowing this came an address on the
question "What Courses of Study
Should the High Schools OF our
County Otfer?" by Chas. e. Ball OF
Bingham, with general discussion
opened by Superintendent Geo. O.
Hight of Athens. A paper on "Medi-
cal Inspection in the Schools" writ
ten by Superintendent j. S. Norton OF
Hartland, was read by DR.. w. s.
Stinchf1eld of the Skowhegan school,
board, who also opened the general
discussion thereon. The forenoon
session closed with the address OF
Miss Grace M. Pickett, of Gorham
Normal school, on "English in the
Grades"