Rensselaer Republican, Volume 12, Number 9, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 November 1879 — EDUCATIONAL COLUMN. [ARTICLE]

EDUCATIONAL COLUMN.

Edited

by D. B. NOWELS,

Co. Superintendent.

urday, October 25,1879, • v wxrnxo. Write the following with care id jour ordinary hand writing: “And if hit standard bearer fall, as fall sass wad be iWay, For aerer aaw I promire yet ot saeh a bloody Prwi too tee mv white plume shine amidst the rank of war. And be yoor ortSamme to-day the helmet of Navarre." What do you understand to be the object in analysis in teaching penmanship? Describe the proper position for pupils to ait st sn ordinary desk? Draw s scale of thirds and write in it the word “length" with proper spacing and slant. Write the principles of the capital letters and describe them. • OBTIIOGB.VrH Y. How many and what sounds are the letter c? Give an example of each. What is the difference between a vowel and a cousonant? What ia a dipthong? When proper and when improper? What sounds compose each of tlie spoken words, Monday, rough , thought , each and knife f Write the words Monday , rough , thought , each ard knife pbonically, and mark each vowel with the proper diacrilioal sign. HKADixa. > What constitutes the art of reading? (a) What physical habits oughtpupils to form when reading aloud? (b) What bad physical habits may be lormed in reading classes under poor teachers? 1 What relation haR reading to other branches of study? (a) What relations would you have the spelling lessons bear to the reading lessons? (b) Why? What are the chief ends to be attained in teaching reading in tbe common schools? ARITHMETIC. Define Ratio and Proportion. Tell how to make a statement in Proportion. In 1864 gold was quoted at 280. What was the value in gold of one dollar in “greenbacks”? What is the compound interest of $152 for one year at 8 per cent, per annum, payable semi-annnally? A merchant bought cloth for $0 a yard and marked it at 20 per cent, above coal; he sold the cloth at a discount of 20 per cent, from the marked price, supposing that, he was selling it at cost. Did he gain or lose? Haw much money? What per cent.? 3 4 of A’s money equals 4-7 of B’s; 13 has $lO more than A. How much has each? By analysis. How much will it cost to fence 200 acres in the form of a rectangle whose length is 5 times its breadth, at $2.40 per rod? On what area of ground can a oow graze if she be fastened to a stake with a rope 30 feet long? GRAMMAR. In what grammatical cases may a verbal noun be used? Give an example of each. Give two distinctions between common ami proper nouns. How is the possessive case formed? What is the distinction in use between my and mines Write a sentence in which either is an adjective, a pronoun. Write a sentence having an infinitive with an object as the subject and an infinitive with an adjective in the predicate. ’ Give all the infinitive forms of the verb strike. Correct: ‘From calling of names he proceeded to blows,’ and parse the first noun in the sentence. Correct: ‘Fifty years hence, who shall bear of us?” and parse the verb. The injuries we do, and those we suffer are seldom weighed in the same balance. -Analyze. GEOGRAPHY. Into what two classes are islands divided? ‘ Give an example of each. What is the difference between a river system and a river basin? How are inland salt lakes formed? Name the largest salt lake in the United States and Asia respectively. What are the five chief nations of North America?

What range of mountains constitute part of the boundary between Norway and Sweden? What range lies between France and Spain? By what other names or titles are the following states known: New Hampshire, Vermont, Indiana,Pennsylvania, New York? Name the largest cities in eaoh of the following countries: Eugland, France, Germany, United States, Gbina. What two countries of Sonth America arc almost wholly mountainous? What two European countries have the largest territorial possessions in the world? How do the mountain ranges of Asia compare with others in the world as to height? How as to length? HISTOKY. Wbat was the Boston Port Bill, 1774? Who was J. hn Marshall? Describe Perry’s victory, 1813.. In whose administration was Indiana admitted to the Union? What was the cotton gin, and who invented it? Wbat occasioned the debate between Ilayne and Webster, in Congress, 1830. Who are the Mormons?

What was the effect of this discovery of gold in California, 1848. Which was the most important battle in the late civil war? Why? What sections of the oonntry favored free trade doctrines, and what sections those of protection? PHTSIOLOGT. Why are the shafts of the long bones hollow? Give three uses of the muscles. What is the difference between digestion and nutrition? How is the waste matter removed from tbs system? Why does bodily exercise in*crease the demand for food? Why should a hearty meal not bo eaten immediately before or im~

mediately after aevere bodily exercise? What condition of the eyjrceueqf. near sightedness? # Wbat ia the nee of ftt tjppamam of tbe oar? £ Why ia a habitual stooping posture injurious to health? J Why do the Inhabitants of Greenland need .more animal food thaa those of Mexico. • theory and PRACTICE. " 1 Why should s definition or principle be understood by a pupil before he attempt* to commit it to memory? Why should a pupil be taught the geography of hie home before he is tonght the geography of the earth? Why should a recitation teat the pupil’s preparation of the lesaon assigned? When should children be pot to the study of technical grammar? Why should a teacher never apply to a pupil aucli degrading epithet* as “dullard,” “clown,” “liar,” etc.? Programme for Teachers Institutes. SECOND SESSION. I. Spelling — Best methods of leaohing it 11. Reading—Class drill in second re ad err 111. Writing Elements and principles. 1 IV. Arithmetic—Exhaustive analysis of Ray’s second method for finding G. C. D. V. Grammar. —Verbs, finite and infinitive, their distinctions and constructions. VI. Geography—Class drill on local geography with primary class. VII. History—lndiana,her early settlements and constitution. VIII. Physiology Process of absorption. G. W. Allen, ) 3. A. Burnham, V Com. D. B. Nowels, ) suggestions. Topic 1. Prepare a paper setting forth and commenting upon the different plans of hearing a recitation and conducting a class in this branch. Deduce the best method showing its advantages over others. Tbe intent of the previous topic under this head was to discover the true object had in view in teaching the subject of spelling, while this is to determine the best method of instruction to follow, in attaining tliatobject. Topic 2.. Class exercise as in first reader grade. Topic 3. Illustration on the black board of the elements and principles involved in the formation of the script alphabet. In this connection show the different classifications made by several authors of system of penmanship. Discuss merits and demerits of each. Topic 4. The topic itself is significant. It should receive an exhaustive analysis. illustrate on the board as you proceed with the analysis and be particularly careful to make plain the application of the several principles involved in operation. Topic 5. Compare and extract these two classes of verbs with respect to their limitation. And lucidly explain or illustrate by examples the different usages or construction of each. Topic 6. A good class exercise with primary class should be given under this head. Make it practical and a fair representation of the work done by your own class in the school room. Topic 7. Make outline of her early settlemeuts and subsequent history down to and including the adoption of her constitution. Out*' line the constitution in a general way noting its moat important provisions. Then take un each topic step by step and recite therefrom. Prepare Yourself to give this an exceptionally good treatment as it is animportant subject to the teachers of Indiana. A question propounded not long since on examination discovered the faet that you are sadly deficient on the history of our own stite. About three correct answers out of eighty-one were given to the question. Topic 8. Outline the organs on the board, then give tbe function ot each in the process of absorption. As is the teacher so will be the treatment of his subject a success or failure. D. B. NOWELS, County Sup’t. Marion and Newton townships will hold joint institutes this winter. Let the teachers hurry in their reports for the first month of school. Some teachers report patrons(?) visiting their schools “in the silent shades of night” and getting no further than the coal house. Gilliam township held her first institute last Satuaday at the Center school house. Teachers all present but one. Organized with the following officers: President, Thomas Robinson; Trustee, Vice President, B. R. Fans; Secretary, Mattie Lane. The teachers of Gilliam are alive, and. her institutes will be among the interesting and successful.