Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1912-11-12
THE BEGINNING OF ENDEAvoR TO TRAIN
INSTRUCTORS OF YOUTH.

Among some old papers presented the
Democrat by Miss P. N. Andrews,
formerly OF Paris Hill, none are of more
interest than catalogues Of several of the
earliest teachers Institutes held In Ok
ford County. This is especially the
case with reference to the first of these
Institutes, which was held at Paris Hill
In 1S47.
Previous to that year, there had been
no form of training for teachers provided
by the state-no normal schools, or as
sistance of any kind furnished the
teacher to At him or her for the special
work of the profession. The legislature
of 1S47, however, enacted law provid-
ing that when . sufficient number Of
teachers In any county were willing to
attend q teachers institute Of not less
than ten days. length, the board of edu-
cation might provide such IN institute.
To defrsy the necessary general ex-
penses OF the institute, the law appro-
priated sum which was not to exceed
two hundred dollars for any one institute,
nor was the total amount expended by
the state In any one year for this pur-
pose to exceed twenty-six hundred dol
lars. As there were then thirteen
counties In the state, this allowed one
yearly institute in each county.
This act was approved by the governor
In June, 1s47, and action was prompt, as
an institute was held in this county In
the autumn following. For some years
Institutes were held annually, and With
good attendance, but the new broom
seems to have worn rather quickly. In
1S47 the number of teachers In attend
ance az shown by the catalogue (pos-
sibly slightly padded, as those things
sometimes are) was 1875, In 184S, 255.
The catalogue for 1850 shows . total OF
only IS, and the report Of the committee
on resolutions deeply regrets that 30
many of the teachers failed to avail
themselves OF tho opportunity afforded
them.
The first institute was held on Paris
Hill. In the Baptist church, In September
and October, 1s47, sixty.fve years ago.
Just how long 1t continued. or what the
dates were, we do not learn from the
catalogue, which was printed BY Geo.
W. Millett at tho Democrat Office. By
the terms of the law, It must have con-
tinued at least ton days. As mentioned
above, there were registered ~ In at
tendance q total of 1876 teachers, "a
females and 81 males, some OF whom
must evidently at that time have been
too young to be efficient teachers, but all
of whom doubtless remembered the &C.
casion throughout their lives.
The principal Of the institute was
william B. Fowle Of Boston, Mass, and
Hon. Elisha N. Thurston OF Charleston
was associate. Asa Fitz OF Cambridge.
Mass, was teacher OF music, and Sidney
Perham Of Woodstock was secretary OF
the institute. Hon. Stephen Emery OF
Paris was the Oxford County member OF
the board of education, and regards are
expressed to him for his efficient per-
Torrance Of the duties Of bis office, In
the report Of the committee on resolu.
tions-which committee was composed
of william W. Virgin, D. P. Stowell and
Samuel Warehouse. The resolutions
also express thanks to the prOprletors OF
the church and the people of the village
for their assistance, to the Instructors,
and to the several lecturers for their
gratuitous efforts.
The list of teachers In the Institute,
doubtless containing some minor errors,
10 a. follows: