The Republican journal., 1913-04-24
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
Meetings Held in Their Interest at Which
State Superintendent Smith was Present

State Superintendent Smith was Present.
I State Superintendent of Schools Payson
Smith came to Belfast last Monday and at
four o'clock in the afternoon met about 50
teachers in the High schoolroom. Practically
all the Belfast teachers and some from Sears
port and SwanviIle were present. Mr.. Smith
spoke for about half an hour explaining the new
order of studies. The new branches to be added
will be essentially practical and the old ones
retained will be those that will fit pupils for
practical work in life. The standard of school
teachers examination for State certificates
will be raised on and after Sept 10, 1914, when
all must be graduates from High or Secondary
schools. There are four ways in which State
certificates may be obtained-by examination,
by two years experience in teaching, by rec
ords in training schools, and on Superinten-
dents recol- mendation. Many pertinent ques-
tions were asked by the teachers and an
swered by Mr.. Smith,
The teachers voted on the place and time of
the fall meeting of the Teachers Institute of
Waldo county. which will be held in Belfast
tne hfst or second week in September. The
1uii arrangements will be announced later.
] The evening session v as held in Memorial
Hall at o'clock under the auspices of the
Home and School Association, its vice president
Charles E. Rhoades, presiding. The first
speaker was Mr.. o. E. Frost, who explained
fully the undertaking of the School Building
Corporation of the City of Belfast. He said
that the only difficulty in sight was the mar
keting of the bonds to finance the work. but
hopes to see the work begun within the next
two months. Mr.. Woodbury. was called upon
to give some of the plans of the Home and
School association, which will call for larger
appropriations from the city. They include a
commercial course in the High school, an un-
assigned teacher for extra work, and medical
inspection of the Iupils. He also spoke of the
new promotion system, which is meeting with
general favor After few remarks in regard
to the Home and School Association by Mr.
Rhoades, Mrs. J. C. Durham, the secretary
was called upon to read the proposed consti-
tuition, which was read and adopted as follows
Article /. This organization shall be called
the Home and School Association of the City
of Belfast.
Article II. Its object shall be to bring into
closer relationship the home and school in
order to promote the efficiency of the school
work.
Article Ill. Any person interested in the
betterment of the schools is eligible to men,
bership. There shall be an annual assessment
of 25c per member.
Article Nv. The officers of this association
shall be president. vice e-president. and sect
treas. These, eX offcio, with four others
elected at the annual meeting shall form an
Executive Committee. In addition to this eX-
ecutive committee there shall be a Social Com
mittee, Lecture committee, School Improve
ment committee and Membership committee
The f, ur members of the Executive Cvm, not
officers, shall serve as chairmen of these COM
mlttees; they shall choose the membership of
their respective committees.
Article V. The annual meeting for the cleo
ton of officers shall be held the first Monday
Article VI This constitution may be amend
ed at any meeting by a two-thirds vote If
those voting.
Then followed an address by the State Su-
perintendent, who entertained his hearers for
nearly an hour with bright off-hand remarks
that wi linger long IN the memory of those
Who heard them. He said his chief message
would be one of frank criticism of teachers,
and courses of study-in fact, of schools in
general-and it was evident that he spoke from
close personal knowledge ard wide expert
ence that had revealed to him the weaknesses
in the schools. These he made evident by apt
illustrations. He said that general miscon-
cepton of what is termed education ruins
many lives that m light otherwise be made use
full. His idea of education is to fit one for the
straight path to work" The main object
of all schools should be to make better citizen
ship in each coming gen ration. Our State is
an industrial one and our lu2c schools should
teach along this line. His address was re-
ceived with applause. and all who are interest
ed in the schools feel that his visit to Belfast
was one of profit well as of pleasure to all
who heard him,
NEMC OF THE CDANHEC