Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-06-02
EVENING SESSION

In the evening at s O'Clock in the
Hall of Representatives the associa-
ton was addressed by three most in
terestiag speakers. DR.. Payson
Smith. commissioner of education of
Massachusetts. s. Dana Townsend of
Camden, y. j.. and DR.. Elizabeth
Gardiner of the Child Welfare De-
partment of Rhode Island
|, The program was in charge of
Mrs. Milton =. Higgins, president of
the National Congress of Mothers.
and Parent Teacher Associations,
who presided and introduced the
speakers.
The first subject presented was an
excellent descriptive discourse on
Music Appreciation in The Public
School by Mr.. Townsend. With
the aid of the Victrola, he gave ex-
amples Of the grade OF music best
ntted to the child of the different
ages In his opening. Mr.. Townsend
bitterly arraigned the prevailing
sentiment for the so-called Jazz"
music, and said that il had no place
in the school life of our land. If we
ate music. we must first know what
tod do. There are three fundamental
principles to begin with. rythm.
melody and bar accent. With the aid
of the machine and list Of selective
records he was able to give his
hearers a wonderful exhibition of the
elementary principles required in
the proper teaching OF music in the
schools. Music. he said, is an essen
tial we'll worth doing when it is well
done. His address provoked most
favorable comment and was atten-
lively listened to-
The next speaker was DR.. Payson
smith. who took for his subject
Partnership in Education" The sue
cess of our institutions here in New
England reses upon the efficiency of
our teachers he pointed out. The
Parent Teacher Association can
prlng about betterment in our edu-
cational conditions. He cited the
effect of organized social welfare or
sanizations upon the public mind
ana the results obtained This body
can be clearing house for problems
confronting school authorities. he
SAID and pointed out that coopehatio
was absolutely necessary in this age
in which We are living.
DR.. Smith said that first of all
mental. moral and physical habits
must be established in "A child's
surroundings. A reform much need
ed is to get the machinery out of
education and to get education in.
Maine neDds wide-awake associa-
ton of just this kind whose business
IL should be to assist and support
the State superintendent of public
schools in the problems that he has
to solve.
In closing, DR.. Smith said that he
had no sympathy with the parent
who took his child from good pub
nc school and put him in an inferior
private one just that the stamp of
snobbishness might be put upon
him
Dr.. Elizabeth Gardiner
| The last speaker was Dr. Elizabeth
Gardner. who spoke at some length
on Child Hygiene, going into some
detail into the bills relating to birth
registration, milk supply and ven
erial disease control She urged
proper legislation for such measures,
She cited the bills enacted in Rhode
island and told of their advantages.
Her address proved very interesting
and was well received.
Delegates in Attendance
The following registered at the
wednesday afternoon session: Alice
M. Varney, Augusta: Mary r. Leon
ard. Mrs. l.. NJ Flint, Lewiston;
Nellie w. Jordan. Augusta; Cora 3.
Rowe, Augusta; Mrs. w. d. Rich,
Bath: F. H. Byron. Yarmouthville;
Mrs. Hugh Ross Hatch. Fairfield:
Rev. John Graham, Kittery Point:
Nellie Z. Brown. Adelaide AIansur,