Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1836-11-29
A PARENT.
TEACHING.

L 90 little dleNtiOll Is gwen 10 iiiS itii-
portaut art. The following directions for
teaching were handed in to us by friend
number of months ago. They are from
an experienced teacher, and may prove
useful to parents and teachers:
In beginning the education ofyour children.
do not depend too much upon books in their
hands, particularly if they are under nine
years of age. Commence ins ruction by
exercises in mental calculations, drawing,
geographical figures, and merely the oul-
lines of maps; introduce spelling particular.
ly, by using large letters. AS soon as n
child can spell word of three syllabies there
is no difficulty in teaching him to read.-
Do not continue one exercise so long as to
fatigue or tire the child; but let them be
varied so as to become pleasing.
Take care to illustrate to the eye when
possible, any thing you wish to communl-
cate; and if it is an exercise of judgment,
let yonr explanation be plain and easy, and
simply illustrated by some little s;ory.
As soon rs your child can read, CON-
mence geograp phy by using maps. Let his
lessons in arithmetic, geography, and in
fact, every thing you teach, be made a
part of his reading.
Let his writing consist of something he
is studying. You can teach a child Of five
years Of age spelling, drawing, writing, CAL
cuation, reading, geography, all at tine same
time.
Children soon learn to draw outlines of
maps correctly; then let them proceed to
fill them up by placing the towns, and
drawing the rivers. This gives an exercise,
continuing the drawing, spelling, writing
and geography.
When child is advancing beyond what
he understands, retreat, and present what
you wish him to understand in some other
form-few children relish the same thing
over again. Whenever you fail TO arres;
the attention 10 one study, try another; in
this way always get my scholars to study
attentiyclv. Never show yourselves angry
if possible. Do not ever speak IN a louo
tone Of voice. By no means admit punish:
mcnt Of any sort. Appeal to reason, and
Won will never fail. Grammar and the
hiohest branches Of mathematics should be
reserved 8 for children over II years OF age.
The elements Of philosophy by question
and answer is an interesting study for young
children, if you can get suitable books
Little Philosophcr.) Do not require them
to commit tasks to memory in the ordinary
way; depend upon it that is laboritus to the
child, and in my opinion serves more to
weaken his mind than to improve it. | de-
pend upon illus rating to the eye; and IN TINS
| 90 almost beyond any one | have ever
met with. find no difficulty in teaching
elementary calculation by visible objects;
and in fact, almost every thing | do teach
children under nine years of age. il 20"
teach a school, let your school be so arran'
gcd that YOUR pupils can be always engaged
This prevents all the mischief common In
schools. Give one hour in the morning 10
arithmetic, one hour to natural history, by
nsino pictures, and one hour to drawing
mars and filling them up. In the evening
give your first lesson in writing; let tit con-
sist of something they are learning; never
write for writing sake only. Use slate
with Young beginners in writing. Give hall
an hour to reading bv classes. Let tbs