Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-04-19

McAlary as subs.
ground covered, the problems faced
| and what the~teachers propose to dc
in the coming month. That will force
the, teachers to plan their work
Teachers meetings should be held Ia
plan for improvements in teaching
and work out a constructive program
I'm the large high school there
ought to be a council of heads OF
departments to talk over the poll
cies that have to do with the i'm
provement of teaching. The council
should be divided into committees
with responsibilities for making
studies and Investigations"
The Importance of class visitation
was emphasized by the speaker. who
said that every principal should set
aside a good share of every day for
class visitation. The principal on
these visits should be looking for
good teaching. The rating Of teach
ers should not be overlooked.
|. I'VE should make certain that
teachers do not look on us just os
inspectors or "snoopervisors,' but
look on us as helpers and friends"
J At the close of his address Dr.
Davis answered a number of ques-
tons relating to his subject.
Herbert S. Hill Of Orono
The next speaker introduced by
Mr.. Taylor was Herbert S. Hill of
Orono, supervisor of agriculture,
whose subject was Agriculture for
the High School"
He pointed out that farming is an
occupation. business and sci
ence, and that the method of farm
ing has changed in years until a
! great deal Of capital is needed to run
farm successfully. 4.- au
The use of machinery on the farm
will reduce the number Of farmers
still more. the speaker declared. A
large part Of the men on the farms
today are old or middle aged, whose
sons have grown up and gone to the
cities, and the young men who re-
main on the farm are often not as
intelligent as those who go to the
cities. The situation will become
acute.
1.-The solution of the problem rests
with the schools" he said. 1.-THE
schools must train an adequate sup
ply of men. The prosperity OF our
State is dependent in large meas
ure on the farming population
The need of secondary schools
anu oliOI SClLooAS ClLGEIilS COuESeS Ill
agriculture was pointed out by the
speaker.
Mas Sweetser on "Home Economics
Home Economics Short Unit
Courses" was the topic discussed by
Miss Harriet L. Swettser of Angus
Ia. supervisor of Home Economics.
She asserted that short unit
courses arc beginning to meet with
approval in many departments of
education, but they seem especially
fitted for vocational work. With a
definite aim in view the pupil COM
pletes a definite line of work in a
definite time. The completion of
any one unit in a progression leads
the pupil to a higher plane of eff
cheney and greater interest results.
THE short unit course aids the
pupil in rating her own skill in an
incentive to excel" she said. The
short unit course enables the school
to offer a better course in home c =
Monies.
Failure in any one unit may not
retard the progress of the pupil in
another and allows her to continue
with her class through the year.
This is not true, however, when a
progression of units in one phase of
home making is offered for a whole
year.
Il have divided the honemakers'
activities into four fields or divisions
in setting up such a course. They
are foods, clothing, sanitation and
management. No one of the four
should receive more than its propor-
tionate share of school time unless
some emergency demands it.
High school home economics
should fit the girl to live an efficient
life after leaving school by teaching
her the wise spending of time and
money, beauty and appropriateness
in dress and surroundings, mainten-
ance of health through proper food.
exercise and recreation and her re-
sponsibility to the community as a
citizen"
Address on Trades and Industries
The next speaker was Harold l..
Pride of Augusta. supervisor of
trades and industries, who took up
the subject, Trades and Industries
The Non vocational Problem"
He said that Industrial education Is
course OF study whereby the boy
is given fundamentals Of various
trades. In this work he has the op-
portunity to express himself, both in
theory and practice. He develops
his imagination and his experiments,
and by experimenting tends to find
himself and his likings of an indus
trial nature.
IF 1t were not for the Industries
OF the towns where would we teach
ers be looking for our pay checks?"
he asked.
Without about so percent Of the
boys leaving school at the end Of the
elementary courses something must
be done to At them for work. II the
boys are not fitted they are liable to
join the gand and drift around"
In conclusion, Mr.. Pride discussed
the industrial courses that can be
best taught in the schools, declaring
that there should be no more than
16 boys in classroom for the work
Is of an individual nature.
Group Conferences
F0ylnuinp Af~ TorfJA,s n5dso~. a.