The Litchfield County post. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1826-1829, 1827-12-06

ken that in the beginning too much be not
attempted. The first week may BE- spent in
getting them in order, without thinking Of a.
nv thing else and should advise that not
more than sixty children be admitted the first
week, and reduced to Order.in some measure
before any more are admitted; as all that
come after will quickly initiate the others.
should not advise visitors to come 10 see an
infant school for some time after it is opened
for several reasons first, because the child
rem must be allowed time to learn, and there
will be nothing worth seeing; secondly, it
takes off the chiIdren's attention, and inter-
feres with the master; and lastly, it may be
the means of visiters going away dissatisfied,
and thereby injure the cause intended to be
promoted.
"In teaching infants to sing, have found
it the best way to sing the psalm or hymn
several times in the hearing of the children,
without their attempting to sing. until they
have some idea of the tune, it prevents those
who really wish to learn, from catching the
sounds.
You must not expect order until your little
officers are well drilled, which may be done
by collecting 'them together after the Others
are gone, and instructing them in what they
are to do. Every monitor should know his
work; and when you have taught him to
know bis work, you must expect it to be done.
To get good order, you must make each
monitor answerabe for the conduct of his
class. 1t is astonishing how some Of the little
fellows will strut about, big with the import
ance of Office, and it will Require some caution
to prevent them from taking too much upon
. h., i'm tho r.
Hest years to attach too much importance to
self The way which we teach children
hymns, is to let one child stand in the rOs-
trum, with the book in his hand; he then
reads one line, aud stops until all the children
in the school have repeated it, which they do
altogether he then repeats another, and so
on successfully until the hymn is finished.
This method is adopted with every thing that
is to be committed to memory, catechlsms,
and spelling. If twenty words are to be COM
mitted to memory, it is done in this way; SO
that every one in school has an equal chance
of learning.
"Ihave mentioned that the children should
be classed: in order to facilitate this, there
should be a board fastened to the wall per-
pendicularly, the same width of the seats,
every fifteen feet all around the school; this
will separate one class from another, and be
the cause of the children knowing their class
the sooner. Make every child hang his hat
over where he sits, in his own class, as this
will save much trouble. "Have place for
every thing and every thing in its places" this
| will bring them into habits of order. Do not
do aught for child that he is able to do
for himself; but teach him to put his own
hat and coat on, & hang them up again when
he comes to school. Teach each child to
help himself as soon as possible; If child
falls down and you know that he is able to
get up himself,never lift him up, if you d" he
will always lie until you come to lift him
up. Have slate or piece of paper. prop
erly ruled hanging over every class let eve
ry child's name in the class be written on it.,
with the name Of the monitor. Teach the
monitor the names as soon as you can. and
then he will tell you who is absent. Have a
semcircle before you every lesson, and make
them keep their toes on the mark bit Off
ron hoop nailed TO the floor is best. When a
monitor is asking them questions, let him fix
his stool in the centre of the semi circle and
the children stand around him. Let the mon
itors ask what questions they please: they
will soon get fond of asking questions, and
their pupils will be equally fond of answering
them. Suppose the monitor ask, What do
sit on? Where are yourt toes What doyou
stand on? What is before you! What be-
hind you AT first children will have no j.
dea Of this mode Of exercising the thinking
powers. But the teacher must encourage
them in it; and they will soon get fond of it,
and be able to give an answer Immediately.
1t is pleasing sight to see the infants stand
arOnnh the unOnitOrs and the Monitors asIe-
ing them any questions they think Of l
have been delighted at the questions put, &
still more so at the answers given. Assem-
BILE all the very small children together as
soon as you can. the first day or two they
will want to sit with their brothers and sisters
who are little older than themselves. But
the SOONER you can separate them the bet
ter, as the elder children frequently plague the
younger ones and have always found that
the youngest are the happiest by themselves.
:Borftgn fmtelltgemre.
Fran the Gazette de France Oct IA.