The Republican journal., 1911-05-25
least eight years of schooling, and if he begins
at five and goes until Is he can gain 10 years,
which is still better

at five and goes until Is he can gain 10 years,
which is still better.
A vocal duet, 30 That We Two were May
ing" was given by Miss Quimby and Mrs.
Pitcher. and for an encore number they gave
"Love in May"
What Proficiency Ought We to Expect from
Our Grammar School Pupils Who Are to Enter
Secondary Schools" was the subject of an
address given by State Inspector of High
schools. J. W. Taylor, who said that, among
other things, they should know how to read
well, in clear voice and with comprehension,
at sight. They should also be drilled on GER
tain prose and verse selections. Their work in
should know fractions, percentage and mental
arithmetic They should know the funda-
mentals of government and especially the
Importance of health and of preserving it.
The next speaker was State Supt. Payson
Smith of Auburn, who was greeted with
applause. He gave an address on "Recent
Movements in Education in which he dwelt
particularly on the Importance of better
physical care of the children. He said that so
per cent of the children in the State had been
found upon examination to have defective
hearing, and ~ per cent to have defective
eyesight. Although discovery of these de-
fects shows why the child in many cases is
dull and backward, it cannot help him unless
corrected, and he said that but one-tenth of
the cases reported to parents were treated. He
impressed upon the teachers the Importance
of annually reminding the parents to whom
notifications were sent of effectiveness in the
physical health of the children for in this way
only could many of them be reached. He
spoke of the extension of educational oppor-
tunities and said that every last talent of the
child should be cultivated. The child with but
one talent, as well as the child with many, must
be trained to make the most of them. He
spoke of making the schoolroom center for
lecture courses, lyceums, reading rooms, ETC.,
as is being done in the cities. This he said
originated in the little old country schoolhouse
in New England, where from necessity the
schoolhouse used to be the social center He
also spoke of the value of communications be-
tween teacher and parents, and of the Parent
Teacher association, which originated in Massa-
chusetts and which has spread to Maine
At the close of the afternoon session the
teachers repaired to various rooms in the
school buildings, where Round Table con-
ferences were held. High school department,
leader, Principal c. W. Proctor, Belfast; Gram
mar school department, leader, Ethel N.
Dodge, Searsport; Primary school department,
leader. Maud F. Follett, Belfast; mixed grades.
leader. Nellie Hall, Belfast; superintendent
department, leader, Supt. r. W. Martin, VIM
terport.
The evening session opened with duet by
DR.. F. X. Sawyer and Rev c. H. McElhiney,
followed by whstling solo by Mrs. w. H.
Goodel of Searsport, and both numbers were
much enjoyed, Mrs. Goodell responding to an
enc ore.
The speaker of the evening was Prof. Will
mot B. Mitchell, of Bowdoin college, whose
subject was, Reading and Rectitude, and
who held the close attention of the audience.
He said in part, Reading influences the mind
and the moral attitude of pc son can be told
by the reading he cares for" He cited many
illustrations and brought out a great many
helpful and instructive points. He handled
the subject with ease and showed that he has
given the matter careful thought and knew
whereof he spoke. The address was fitting
close to a most successful convention.