Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-05-08
Names Principals
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/ Names Principals
= Continued from Page one)
IL o'clock this forenoon of the Maine
Association of Principals of Second
airy Schools Of the State, at which
several questions relative to the ath-
letic eligibility rules will be present.
ed.
Plans for County Teachers Meetings
County convention chairmen met
yesterday afternoon in the Senate
Chamber to talk over plans for the
county teachers conventions for the
coming school year. Speakers at the
session included DIR. A. o. Thomas,
State commissioner Of education. and
Bertram Z. Packard, deputy COM
missioner. The sentiment seemed
to favor holding these conventions
one week later in September or early
in October and for another week
about the middle of November. Some
OF the conventions may be held in
the spring. No decision was reached
by the chairmen.
County convention chairmen in at
tendance were: Principal Carl E.
Kelley of Northeast Harbor, Prin-
cipal Joseph Blaisdell of Hallowell,
Principa Arthur B. Scott Of Bath,
Principal H. w. Swicker of Guilford,
Superintendent Howard Gilpatrick of
North Arson, Superintendent E. r.
Bowdoin of Lubec, Superintendent
Charles A. Snow of Fryeburg.
Schools on Higher Plane
Calling the convention to order yes
terday morning, Josiah w. Taylor,
State agent for secondary education,
declared that from the point of view
of the State department of education
this has been a very successful school
year. He said that from his fnspec-
ton of schools it is his opinion that
the general tone Of the high schools,
the attitude of the pupils and the work
of the teachers has been on a distinct
lively higher plane than in previous
years.
THE level Of our teaching profess
sion has risen in a market way in the
past few years." he declared. I'VE are
now feeling the results Of a stronger
group of men and women teachers and
specialized education.
Mr.. Taylor then called upon Princi-
pal Charles c. Shaw of Gorham, pres
ident of the Maine Association of Prin-
cipals of Secondary Schools, to preside
over the morning session. Principal
Shaw paid tribute to the State depart
ment Of education, declaring that the
present State department Is hurely
one of the best in the country.
THE schools of Maine are now on
more progressive basis than ever be-
fore" he asserted.
Address by Professor Shaw
Professor Edwin A. Shaw of the de-
partment Of education at Harvard Uni
versity, who in an expert in the line of
mental and achievement tests for high
of Professor Shaw that these tests
and measures can be applied to small
high schools to better advantage than
in the large schools, for the Principal
and teacherh of the small high school
are always enthusiastic about every
thing. 1t is hard to make the teach
ers in large high schools feel that
they must be progressive, he said.
THE vital thing about the use of
tests and measures is that there must
be a real follow-up' if anything in to
be accomplished. Time must be devot-
ed to follow up the individual pupil
and this can not be done as we'll in the
larger high schools" he declared
I'm the small high schools, teachers
having fewer outside attractions can
do lot of work in the use of results
of tests in the "follow-up.' Small high
school teacherh can also point out the
common elements that exist between
certain subjects. So many teachers do
not realize that there is any other SUBJ
ject but her own"
Professor Shaw called attention to
the Importance of good training IN
reading in the lower grades and point
ed out that there is a great difference
in the ability of pupils to see letters at
glance. The speed of reading de-
ponds on the number of stoph going
across the printed page. The impor-
tant act is to pick out the important
sentences on each page.
The speaker outlined some OF the
important points in giving these tests,
stating that it has been determined
that an I. O. of between 10 and lis
is necessary for high school work, but
10 points of L. O. are of less import
ance than 10 points of 'sticktoitive-
ness. Seventy has been accepted as
the high limit of feeble-mindednes
However, there are often found chill
dren with I. O. of 80 or 40 who have
remarkable qualities of leadership.
The follow-up must be SO thorough
that some of the great mistakes that
are made will not be made in the fu-
ture.
Vocational Education
stephen E. Patrick of Gorham.
state agent for vocational education,
In an address on Vocational Skills
and Worthy Home Memberships in
the High School Program" declared
1t is possible and would be profita BILE
for some of the larger cities to con-
duct real apprentice schools in con-
nection with the secondary schools.
Il do not advocate an all day
school, as the cost of equipment is
large: and disposal of the product Is
difficult" continued Mr.. Patrick,
Industry has the equipment and
the apprentice should perform his
work under actual industrial condi-
lions and be paid a regular wage.
The school should function in a
supervisory capacity, to see to it
each apprentice receives complete
training in all branches of the craft
and to furnish that part of a COM
plete training which it is impossible
to give on the job.
There are various methods of ac-
comprising this. In some instances
arrangements can be made with in
dustry, so the boys can be divided
into two groups, one in school, one
in industry, with Shift every week
or two weeks.
ut Is necessary to have as instruc-
tor a man familiar with industry.
There would be no difficulty in ar
ranging such courses in larger cities,
as the size of the classes would be
large enough to justify the expense.
In smaller towns it would be
feasible to combine several neighbour
ing towns and employ an itinerant
teacher.
You will find us ready to do all
we can to aid in every way in case
you are interested. We will give