Daily Kennebec journal., 1914-01-06
Is Oldest Active Teacher in
Maine--W. S. KnowltOn, His
Record and Some of Ideas.

SkoWhegan, Me- Jan. o.-NopeeIdp.~
Names Oldest active school teacher
William S. Knowlton, has taken
Skowhegan as one of his residences
at least temporarily. He has recent
" been elected superintendent of the
winn schools and will spend his va
cations here. He has a daughter who
is teacher in the High school in
Skowhegan, and he has moved his
family here.
Mr.. Knowlton has been an active
teacher almost continuously for 81
years and has written two books,
Modern Classics" and The Old
Schoolmaster," and is at work on an
other. The Million Acre, which will
be five stories treating on the Bing-
ham purchase.
MIR. Knowlton was born in Sanger
willie "A years ago. son of Isaiah
Knowlton, His grandfather settled In
Sangerville in 1890. Mr.. knowlton re-
ceiving his education in the common
schools and Foxcroft Academy and
was a graduate of Waterville college
IN the CLASS Ol loUb 1AC ID tAi0 CAAiS
survivor of his class which numbered
35.
He began teaching when he was Is.
College at that time was not in session
in the winter and he continued his
teaching in vacations. After gradua-
ton he took up teaching again and
has taught continuously ever since ex-
cepting when he was supervisor of
the schools and when he was a
clergyman for three years. His origi-
nal plans were to become a lawyer
and he was admitted to the bar.
After a year of practising law in
Houlton he took up teaching again.
In the 81 years there have been three
terms in each year most of the time.
In that time he has taught in about
Is different towns. He was teacher in
Mcnson for II years; Caribou, 10 years,
and in Houlton, 10 years; having
taught 81 years in the three towns.
Mr.. Knawlton is entitled TO the
States school pension that became a
law at the last term of the Legisla-
ture any time that he many choose to
stop teaching. He has, however, no
intention of giving up his work at
present. He says II feel as we'll and
as strong as l did at forty and can
do as much work" In speaking of
the changes that have been brought
about in teaching in the last 81 years
he states that many of the old
methods are now being taken up
again as practical. He is firm be-
lever in the classics and believes
that Greek should be continued in the
schools He declares there are too
many fads in educational teaching one
being the Roman pronunciation OF
Latin Speaking of manual training,
Mr.. Knowlton declares that boy
should not train his hands at the ex-
pense of the brain.
Mr.. Knowlton has had his influence
in political affairs and helped make
some of the laws on our statute books.
He has served on both branches of the
Maine Legislature, having been elect
ed to the lower branch in 1907 from
Monson and in 1909 he served in the
Senate from Piscataquis county. Both
terms he served on the educational
committee, the fish and game and
library comittees. He has had as pu-
pills probably more of the famous men
Of the State than any other teacher.
These include: Byron Boyd, former
Secretary of State; Chief Justice Smith
of Montana, Beecher Putnam, Ira G..
Hersey, r. w. Shaw and Parker Har-
Olson, having them in his school all
at one time. He is Mason, having
Joined the order in 1860. He possesses
one Of the most valuable libraries in
the State