Rensselaer Union, Volume 5, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 December 1872 — Educafional. [ARTICLE]

Educafional.

School Examinee’s Office, Rensselaer, Iml., Dec. 9, ’72. To the Friends of Common Schools: I ask your attention'to the following general observations: 1. Tlie school should be; scientific;. Pupils,should he directed to classify and arrange the facts presented. Tho relations' of.every subject to life’s duties should be concisely and clearly taught. The measure of a pupil’s progress is shown by liis power in applying knowledge to the explanation of mystery. '2. Knowledge is gained in two | WayS:-; TBf;,--Tl)c special senses;—-2d, |. R efeoTUoP nppiredTsoie | Beauty and Goodness, is the proper i ideal of culture. ■3: The State, by her agents, says where, hoiv, and how long a school term should be. Tho sovereign people decide when school shall begin and who shall teach; the State what shall be taught; the Examiner, Trustee and Teacher arc directly to answer for the efficiency of the methods used. The people should provide pupils punctually with books, slates, pencils, paper, etc., liberally. The teacher is the “man of our counsel,” our invited guest, social equal and mental tutor, asking offices of kindness at our hands. Let us temper our words and acts with mercy, 1 seconding the teacher’s-' efforts with zeal. • 4:Dtrr school regulations'' hare been endorsed by the school officers of the State and we should study to follow the precepts thereof. EXAMINEE. The Examiner is growing more critical in the examination of teachers and more kindly disposed towards those who struggle earnestly for the light of didactic science. Those who will not study orthoepy, orthography and elocution so as to readily classify in outline the articulate sounds, letters, words and the organ s of speech, need not apply for license. The small necessities of language should be taught to the youngest pupils, and teachers who make no effort in this behalf must be weeded out as tares in the field of sdenee. The Examiner will visit each school and hold one day-institutes in various parts of tlie county; and every teacher should attend one or more days during the winter term. TRCSTEES. Trustees will please levy special school and tuition tax enough to giVe comfort, beauty and convenience to the school room, secure a sufficientiCngth qf term, and pay teachers according to the value of their services. TEACHERS. During the winter term you should learn and teach v 1. Tlie rules of spelli«!g ther-■ ooghly, ;r 1. ! 2. Classification of articulate! sounds, "vV'A "■ , , - j 3. Topical outlines, *4. Punctuation and use pf capi-i tal ie Iters, i

5. Composition unci declamation. IJave no new classes but explain every character and modulation as Observed. Use the blackboard for illustration,'and to test the neat-•nees-of pupils’ wt&en—WDife—•©«not send pupils to the blackboard to gviess or study. Talk but little. Let your language be exact, clear and pointed. Pupils should learn to use tongue and pen with equal ease aud accuracy., Teach mapdrawing and practical, arithmetic. Idavc as few books and classes as will comply with school regulations. Attend nil institutes, associations and teachers' conventions. ... visiting sciioor.aPß-" No person having the legal custody of children of school age should fail to send them each day pf the term, and visit the school in person once each month. Nothing will do more to awaken public sentiment in favor of schools and science. BOOKS. Let officers, teachers and patrons al! strive to conform to the school regulations as *0 books. Buy no new books unless sure y 0» get the right kind. The trustees determine •the question. roNcY.usioN; Our school law is a good one.— The common schools are the “people’s colleges,” holding, as it were, in the “hollow of their hand” the destinies of the nation. Let us all grow wiser as we grow older and by the Mossing of Ileaven v, e will greatly prosper.

S. P. THOMPSON,

— 7 School Examiner. Gen. Lee said of 'Gen. Mend that lie was the most dangerous General lie had yet faced. This was just before the.; bat tie of G ettysburg, Gen. Mead never received adequate consideration for his pondnOt on that memorable day.—.V. Y. Observer.