Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-10-28
G. 4. S. CLASS TO
TAKE PART IN
BANGOR CONVENTION

Gardiner High school is especially
honored In that representative
class from this school will take a
part in the convention OF the State
Teachers Association to be held In
Bangor on Wednesday. Thursday
apd Friday Of this week. That this
is 20 10 due to the efforts Of Mrs.
Ellamae Thomas. instr uctor of his
tory at Gardiner High who naugur-
ated the system and socialized reci-
tations here. For the past four
years students in Mrs. Thomas class
es recitei m this way. and 1t has
certainly proved an unqualified Sic
cess.
At the opening of the class the
instructor desigrates a student to act
ss leader. that is 20 give the recita-
ton. this student announces his top
ic, giving the substance Of 1t as best
re can, at the conclusion Of his talk.
he says that the recitation Is now
cpen to the class. ana this is the
signal for any student who has any
additions or corrections to make to
stand up, and one by one these stu
dents ale called upon to offer their
knowledge of the subject. At the
conclusion OF this the leader calls
Upon the class to offer either con-
struCtive or adverse c'iticism. 1t will
Ee seen that this method does away
with the usual custom of allowing
one or two members OF a class to 90
n large part Of the class work. for in
the work carried or by Mrs. Thomas
every member of the class IS soon
drawn into discussion. At the same
time it gives a person some idea of
public speaking. OF course his and
fence Is not large. hut he cannot help
hut acquire the rudiment by doing
this. Sometimes student Is notified
n day or two before that he is to
to give 4 soci ,lized recitation on q
certain day, and ether times he II
called upon to give one on some
review work.
Mrs. Thomas has also been very
instrumental In the starting Of the
system Of having captains and lieu
tenants in the various rooms in the
school, ana this IL another thing
which has worked out very we'll I'M
der her direction. This system is to
have two stude ats appointed by the
teacher for every class, the duty OF
the captain being to assume full
charge OF the room in the absence
of the teacher, and the duty Of he
lieutenant being to substitute in the
absence of the captain, to make out
the absence slips, and to great visit
tors at any time. Accompanied by a
student she made trip to New York
in 1923. where they visited the
Washington Irving School for Girls
where this system Is In effect. and
they made a study OF it there.
Mrs. Thomas is the wife Of Hon.
A. O. Thomas, ;Ctate Superintendent
Of Schools. nnc came to Gardiner
six years ago. She is a graduate of
the state Normal School at Carney,
Nebraska, and also Of Cotner Uni
versity Mt Lincoln, and has been at
the head Of tn. department Of the
School OF Education at the univer-
sity.
The students who will make the
trip to Bangor will leave Gardiner
| Thursday afternoon. and will be met
in Bangor by Bangor High school
students and will be guests Of these
students over night. During their
stay there they are to DO guests OF
the State Teachers Association
which will pay their expenses. The
recitation will take place Friday
morning. the subject being United
States Possessions in the West In
dies" Thirteen students will COM
prise the class. but none Of them
knows who will be called upon to
give the recitation and lead the dis
cussion afterwards. 50 every one of
them will be well prepared. Those
who will 60 are: Samuel slosberg.
Leo Hickey. James Booker. Mana
Marso ,nEgbert Linds. Katherine
| Turcotte, Frances Collins. Mary
Trafton, Lucille Clark. Charlotte
Jewett. Ruth Hale, Rachel Milton.
and Evelyn Libby. all members of
| the Junior class.