The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1823-07-22
COMMUNICATION.
EDUCATION-No. 9.

In our last number we endcavorcd very brief
ly 10 show tie order Of chasing Lancasterian
school," appointment Of monitors. &c. Ii now
devolycs on as, next, 10 explain tie method of
teaching those classes through the agency OF
these monitors; in doing which, we must neces-
sarily con6ne ourselves within circulnscribed
limits A faint description is all that we can
possibly eve through the medium ora ncwspa-
per. We shall treat only, al this time II the
mei'od 81 teaching sPeitiag. reading and rrTfing.
and omit giving an account u the mlnncr ~ IN
structips ari1sRttic.--N would observe. how
ever, that there y a great similarity between
this and writing.
Tie lads having entered school, and each one
IN bis place. the monitors. for the time being,
take thsir stations at the head Of tleir respect
I've classes, 20 a. 10 overlook them, and zee who
Is present, and who IS absent, in order 70 make
their daily rcportn They then distribute The
pencils. During this time, every one sits vi ia
las eye his monitor. iill he hears the command
given - PtEPzre J" be then takes bis sponge IL
las hand and waits Tor the word " cloaa slafes,"
wien every lad cleans his slate as il were in the
t~ink:ing Of an eve. Tie order is then given
: stOr states" when every one raises his slate
IN pcTpcndlcular manner on the edge Of the
desk, with his hands resting on IFS top or corn
ersi each monitor then passes in front Of the
desk OF bis class TO examine the states TO sec if
they are clean; ia this way uniformity COM
mences, and any one who has been idle is imme-
dlately detected, reported, and dealt with &C.
cordingly. Being sensible Of this, they pay at
tentfoa, and attention commands obedience, and
oy obedience they gain instruction. The mont
tors having ascertained that every slate is clean,
of which they give notice to the instructor or
monitor general, as the case may be, BIZ turning
an examination sticlx'' at the head of each
class towards him, he then commands Z Ian down
states" and each slate is laid down with care, so
as TO create as little noise as possible The pu-
pills are now ready to commence actire instead
of passire and solitary study. This is suited to
the very nature of children, as ex perence has
fully convinced every one in the least acquaint-
ed with the instruction of them. They love dc-
thrifty, and they WILL have ii some way. Then
scty not let them enjoy il in obtaining an educ?-
tion, which may be to them Of lasting benefit !?
The word is now given "Prepare," when each
pupil takes his pencil In his hand ready 10 pro-
coed TO writing. The monitor Of each class now
proceeds TO dictate in an audible and slow man
ner, SO that all his class nav hear the words or
sentences they are to write. Each monitor pro-
ceeds TO dictate words and inspect the perform
ances OF hrs class, atsnitable intervals, till each
is then given "Stoio slafcs,'' when the monitors
pass in front of their respective classes, and ex-
anime the writing; if any errors have been
committed in spelling, he marks the words spell
led aorong, of Which these who committed tie or
rors must take notice, in order to spell them
fright at the next trial. If no errors appear he
dictates other WORDS after ordering clear states
If mistakes do occur he dictates the same words
until each one can spell then ALL Proceeding
in thi way till the time limited for these exer-
cises is up. A general command is then given
I" siotc pencils" when each one holds his pencil
up, and the monitors Of the respective classes
receive them into rack TO be deposited for the
purpose. BY this mode, each child is enabled
to write and spell, at least, leo words daily, be-
ing abont 200 words quarterly wear of slate
and cost of pencils, is cents, at most, per quar-
| teri
| We are aware that an objection will be re is
ed against this mode Of teaching writing; for
we doubted. at first view, whether the practice
lof writing ON states was a good one. To con-