Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-01-31
COMMERCIAL EDUCATION
AND BEST METHODS TO USE
DISCUSSED AT CAPITAL

able to tell at that time what was
necessary in studies. How much real
value is therein the teaching of two
or three years of French in our sec
ondary schools? Are we teaching too
much or is it better to give a student
a general knowledge?
Principal Hal r. Eaton Of Bangor:
Wants to gather something more con-
crete from the meeting. He asked:
After we have taught them (the pu-
pils) these things they should do are
we to put these things down definite
ly into our programs? Cannot ask
each one what they are to do. What
are these desirable things?
Principal John o. Newton of Kents
Hill: Questions which have been
asked him of business men on school
boards have been best methods of
helping school in following out the
answers. The men have not always
been educators but have had clear
ideas Of what the boys want. What
can the country man do for the
country boy and girl along the lines
that DR.. Briggs suggests: What are
the best things that I can do for
the country boy and girl who have
not had advantage Of city training?
Principal S. r. Oldham of Pitts.
field: Important word is desirable"
Classics in English at present time
are desirable. Wants to teach O.
Henry. Kipling, Scott, Cooper rather
than Hamlet and the like. A great
weakness in teachers is not keeping
a written plan of work. Union of
departments is a good idea-for the
teachers to get together and tafk
over their studies. What are the
| desirable things We are going to do
with Latin when we. are through
school. speaking for the pupil? 1t is
valuable for the teachers to keep in
mind what their alumni are doing.
At this point DR.. Briggs spoke in
review and also in "rebuttal" as Mr.
Taylor termed it. He said that one
thing noticed about all the speakers
and what he liked was that they
placed no butts" in their talk. They
were eager to learn of such methods
and did not offer objections.
he spoke Of young man who took
small country school in New Jer.
sey. In that school they had never
neen able to keep the boys. When
the new teacher went there he gath.
ereo tn pupils about him and asked
where one could buy a farm. The
pupils offered information. This led
to the supposed buying o. the farm.
then the process of raising a mort
gage was made which included a trip
TO the court house; the land was
surveyed; the soil was tested and
the crops were decided upon; wire
FENCES were bought by writing to
fence manufacturers: neighbors cows
got into the farm and this brought
up the legal side and in turn the
ethical side wal brought up, whether
1t would be best to sue a. neighbor.
Then as each thing was taken nm
the school teacher would check I'M
that study in the book. The practi-
cal application Of the Studies was
the reason for the success :.
A recess of few minutes. was af-
forded while tho windows were
opened and fresh air. supplied, And
then the principals and the speakers
took up the thread Of the mornings
work again.
Prin. L. E. Moulton Of Auburn:
spoke OF the excellent speech Of Mr..
Nichols on Thursday evening. He
spoke OF the arrival in their school
OF the new commercial teacher. With
the teacher he passed some time at
one OF the biggest shoe factories
there where many Of the Edward
Little boys and girls are employed.
There they endeavored to gain an
idea of: the kind Of work that was
needed. A plan has teen devised also
IN this school whereby half time
credit is allowed the pupil who
works half time and goes to school
half time.
Prin- James G. King Of Bath: Gave
definition OF balanced course as h..