Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-03-21

tional church, with large attendance
of teachers and those interested in
education in our State. The morning
session opened at 1915 with H. ii.
Stuart of Augusta presiding. The Car
diner High School Orchestra furnished
several selections in manner that
gave much pleasure to those in at
tendance. After the opening invocation
by Rev. Langdon Quimby D. D., a
brief business session was held. F. G.
Wadsworth and Prin. Preble of the
Halcwell High school and Miss Mary
Brigham were appointed to serve as a
committee on nominations and Messrs.
Hersey, Cobb and Miss Alice Ring a
committee on resolutions. H. j. Chase,
superintendent of the Gardiner schools.
briefly extended the thanks of the con-
vention to Rev. DR.. Quimby and his as
sociates for their kindness in CIV
ing the association the use of the
church and its facilities. He also an
nounced that dinner would be served
at 1890 o'clock at the vestries of the
CONGREGATIONAL and First Baptist
churches.
Conservation of Vision" by DR.. o. w.
Turner.
The first speaker of the session was
DR. Oliver W. Turner of Augusta, who
addressed the meeting upon THE Con-
servation of Vision" The Doctor gave
a brief description of the structure
and function of the eye. He referred to
the dangerous character of Ophthal-
mia Neonatorim as regards the loss or
sight and transmission and the i'm
portance of following out the provision
of one of our state laws which compels
the notification of some physician in
every case of red and infiamed eyes
occurring in infants within four weeks
of birth. He touched upon the acci-
dents of childhood from the careless
handling of sharp implements and al
lowing the use in play of such deadly
sight destroyers as air guns, bean
blowers, arrows, etc: to household in
1uries, as from chopping wood, open
ing boxes, driving nails and tacks; to
golf ball injuries occurring from the
cutting into cores of golf balls: to
workmen,s injuries and the necessity
of wearing protecting goggles in ma
chine shops and factories; to wood al
cohol blindness, which endangers the
sight to such an extent that even the
inhalation of the fumes is so injurious
that there is not the slightest excuse
for it's use for any purpose Sympa-
thetic Inflammation from injury to one
eye and the danger of using patent
medicines in the eyes were mentioned
The speaker advanced a strong argu-
ment for proper regard for the ar
rangement and brilliancy OF light when
using the eyes. Hereditary influences
in eye development were clearly Illus
trated, the doctor stating that until the
seventh or eighth year of life the eye
does not reach the development for
close use, and considered that this fact
was an argument that children should
not be sent to school until the eighth
year The danger of reading in bed,
which effects the eye structure and
causes a nervous strain upon the brain
and reference to the eye fatalities
that occurred in Germany in 1912, caus-
ed by viewing the eclipse, when $500
individuals suffered greater or less
eye injuries and 500 eyes were made
blind closed his interesting address.
Icare of the Individual in Education"
by Pres. Alley of U. of M.
The next speaker was Robert ].
Alley, Phi. D., president of the Univer-
sity of Maine, who spoke upon the
Care of the Individual in Education"
DR.. Alleys address was of much inter-
est and he was listened to by an audi
ence whose attention betokened their
interest in the subject matter of the
discourse. DR.. Alley said in brief that
school children may be divided into
classes sub-normal, normal, those re-
tarded because of neglect, those re-
tarded because of disease and those
gifted above the normal. We have in
recent years given considerable atten-
ton to the care and training of sub
normal children and some of the best
intellects of the country have been
employed Special schools and special
homes have been established for the
express purpose Of lifting such chill
dren to as near the normal as posi-
bic.
The child OF neglect has also re-
leived attention and those have been
found whose food and environment
have feen entirely out of harmony with
the progress which they should make
in education. 1t has even been found
necessary in the crowded centers of
the country to furnish not only medi-
cal treatment but also proper and
nourishing lunches. Attention has also
been paid to the moral surroundings
and environment. In fact medical in
spection which is now so popular in
educational circles throughout our
state had its inception because of these
neglected children.
Cases often arise where the child is
short in its development along but one
line being in all others normal. These
cases have not been treated Justly in
the past. The deficiency is often due
to stunted growth which will In time
take care of itself. Greater fiexibility
should enter into our courses of study
and is so doing.
The Normal child has been taken
care of for many years by the mass"
method and this has not been produc-
tive of the best results. The gifted
child--the child above the normal-has
been handled with the idea that less
attention should be given them as
they would be able to look out for
themselves and this has been the
practise all through our school history.
This is probably the reason why the
e.,~<...& on Of f4fr country ra mt vro