Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-10-31
Thursday Afternoon Session.

The first general assembly of all the
teachers was held. Thursday after
noon, when City hall was packed to
suffocation, Music by the assembled
orchestra from the schools of the State
made strong impression on all. It's
work was highly commendable. Aft
err prayer, Gov. Haines spoke briefly
touching on the efficiency of our Maine
schools and some of the ideals that
seem desirable.
Then came the address of State
Supt. Payson Smith, who highly COM
plimented the work of the teachers
and the growth of the association. He
strongly opposed division of the asso-
citation, because the teachers could not
afford to lose the unity of plan and
action now the dynamic force behind
educational progress in Maine" The
crowds at conventions he thought not
a sufficient reason for change. Supt
Smith also opposed choosing a per-
manent convention city.
He said:
mot only has your association won
the support of the teachers of the
State from kindergarten to the col
lege, but 1t has also the confidence of
the public in whose interests you meet.
The press by its unusual attention to
your deliberations reflects at once it's
own liberal and generous attitude to-
wards your work and the extent of
public interest in it.
I'VE should not be worthy however
of the past il we should be content
with the achievements of that past.
The association, like the teachers of
its membership, must grow if it is to
live. My desire today is to suggest
what some of its extended activities
, might be.
Opposes Division.
Before naming these, however,
there are one or two questions of pol
icy that have recently been under
discussion and upon which / want to
express my views. On account of the
large attendance at the annual meet
ing and the consequent crowding at
any smaller convention city, few
members have expressed their advo-
cacy of dividing the association into
eastern and western sections. l UNI
derstand the arguments that are pre-
scented and | acknowledge their force.
| believe, however, that we can far
better afford a little crowding now
and then than we can to lose the unity
of plan and action which is at pres
ent the dynamic force behind educa-
tional progress in Maine. This State,
l confidently believe, is just now max
ing as rapid progress educationally as
| it has made at any time in its history,
or as any other state of the some com
pick conditions is making now. Thls
progress is due very much more than
YOU realize to the fact that in our
State wide conferences and conven-
lions the men and women from the
east meet those from the west and
those from the north meet those from
| the south to join their forces in earn
est discussion under the wisest guild
ance we can summon TO our aid. All
our institutions of every grade and
| character are represented mere ali
have their place and we go back to
our homes not less appreciative OF our
own work because we realize better
of how big movement we are a part.
hin this union then is great strength
and let us not destroy this union by
any divided association except by far
more urgent necessity IMAM mas ".
appeared.
For much the same reasons
think it would be unwise for the asso-
citation to select any permanent con
vention city 1t is obvious that the
association will be somewhat restrlct-
| ed in it's choice Of convention clties
nut the interests of the whole state III
whose service we are enlisted should
| lead us to the fullest possible recog-
milton of the claims of every section
of 1t.
Extended Activities.
"As to the future work OF the as
ISOLATION, / believe there shouiu DC
pushed forward extensions OF worh
outside Of the annual program. inns :
has already been done to some extent
and most effectively. Many OF the
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