The Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1846-1852, 1847-12-03
miscellaneous.
Theory OF Practice and TeacIlin,,.

Hhecry OF PHlCttce and Teaching.
! A young man was employed 10 take
charge Of school for few days, during
a temporary Illness Of the regular instrnc-
Tor. He ewas a good scholar, astlIe world
SAY, and was really dcsirous to answer
the expectation Of his employers. After
the regular teacher had SO far recovered
his health as 10 leave his room, no walk
| ed, one pleasant day,to the school, 10 sec
what success attended the labors Of the
new incumbent. A class was reciting IN
natural Philosophy. The subject under
consideration was the obstacles which
limpeded the motion Of machinery The
attraction of gravity as one of these, was
pretty easily disposed Of; for the class
had before been instructed on that point.
Friction came next Here, TOO, the pu-
Ipils, having had some practical expert
ence of their own, in dragging their sleds
lin skating, or perhaps in turning grind
stone, found no great difficulty. The
book spoke language sufficiently clear
10 be understood. Next came the ere
sistance of the various media to use the
language of the text book. yes" said
the teacher, as one Of the pupils gravely
quoted this language, THAT has no in
considerable effect"
The resistance Of the various medal
repeated one Of the boys inquiriugly; 81
do not know that | understand what me
|dia means
"A medium is that in which body
moves was the ready reply which the
teacher read from tho book.
PupH "a mediumW
Tracher-"Yes, we say medium when
we mean but one, and media when we
mean more than one"
/ P.-"When we mean but oue!"
T-"Yes, medium is singuIar--media
is plural
After this discussion, which began in
philosophy, but ended in grammar, the
teacher was about to proceed with the
next question of the book. But the schol.
ar was not yet satisfied, and he ventured
to press his inquiries little farther.
P.-'Is this room a mediuml"
! T.-'ThiS room?"
P.-"Yes, sir; you said that medium
was that in which any body moves, and
we all move in this room"
/ T.-'Yes, but the medium does moi
mean a room; it is the substance in which
| a body moves
Here the lad seemed perplexed andnu.
satisfied. He had not clear idea of the
meaning of this new term. The teacher
looked at his watch, and then glanced at
, the remaining pages of the lesson, and
seemed impatient to proceed, SO the pu.
pill forebore toinquire farther.
The regular teacher, who had listened
to the discussion with no ordinary inter
est both because he admired the inquis-
tiveness of the boy, and because he was
curious TO discover how far the new in
cumbent possessed the power Of illustra
ton, here interposed.
John, taking his watch in his hand
would this watch continue to go, if
should drop it in pail of water!'
II should think it would not long, said
John after some little reflection.
why not, said his teacher, as he open
ed his watch.
Because the water would get arounc
the wheels and stop it, should think
said John.
How lwould it be if I should drop
into quart of mOlassesl"
The boys laughed.
"Or into a barrel Of tarl"
The boys smiled.
Suppose should force it, while open
into quantity Of lardl"
Here the boys laughed heartily, whil'
John said, "lhe watch would not go in an
of these articles"
! articles SAID the teacher, why no
say medal
J Johns eye glislened as he caught til
idea. "Oh understand it now"
His teacher then said that many ma
chimes worked in air-then the air wa
the medium A fish swims in water
water is his medium. A fish could hard
ly swim in molasses or tar. "Now," in
uired he, "why not?"
because of the resistance of the me
dunn" said john, with look of satisfac
!, ton.
Nov, why will the watch go in al
and not in water?"
because the water is more dense,
said John, promptly.
"Then, upon what does the rosistanc
! of medium dependl"
4 Here the new teacher interposed, an
= said that that was the next question
: the book, and he was just going to ask
himself.
The regular teacher put his watch
d his pocket and became spectator agall
h and the lesson proceeded with unwonte
vivacity. The difference between thes
!, two teachers mainly consisted in the fac
9 that one had the ingenuity to devise a
e expedient to meet a difficulty wheneyt
occasion required, the other had not
a Page.
a DA young angel of distinction beir
{ sent down to the earth on some busines
for the first time, had an old courier spi
d it assigned him as guide. They a
10 rived over the sea of Martinico, in Il
middle ofa long day ofobstinate fight b
n. tween the fleet of Rodney and Degras