This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1894 edition. Excerpt: ...by them for mutual help, through discussion of the practical questions which the' are constantly called upon to solve in actual work. The general extension of these organizations, the number of teachers enrolled in their membership and attending their meetings, and the character of the work done in those meetings, form a very definite standard by which to judge the spiritand character of the teaching force of state, county, and town. Judged by that standard our teachers are not far behind those of our sister states of New England at least. We have in Maine all three forms which these organizations assume--state, county and town. The extent to which town organizations exist, cannot be definitely stated from any available data. That they do exist in most of our cities, and Mime of our larger towns, and do very important and valuable work for the schools, is known in a general way. In most of our rural towns, however, the conditions requisite to their maintenance are wanting. Where the teaching force and supervision both lack permanence, the maintenance of such organizations is impracticable. Only when the reforms suggested in another part of this report--abolition of the district system, and the reorganization of local supervision upon a more permanent and efficient plan--shall have been effected, can any general diffusion of these town organizations be expected. Of our State and county organizations more definite information can be given. The former exists as a chartered institution under legislative action, and the latter are maintained at the State's expense, and in a measure under State supervision and control. They are I. THE STATE PEDAGOGICAL SOCIETY. This society holds annual sessions. It is at the date of this report in session at...