The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1855-10-03
For The Ledpe,
I. r. MAGILL, Sec.

For The Ledger.
Mr.. EDIroR have paused for a re-
ply to my broken -emarks upon the sub
Ject Of teachers association beiny formed
in the district for the purpose Of adopting
some mode or plan whereby the present
one could he improved and as none has
been made, 7 have concluded 10 scribe
little more. and endeavour to present some
OF the courses pursued by many teachers
and see If they are not Objectionable
And first, would say to the Teachers,
to turn their attention for few moments
only to the different ways in which they
govern their schools, and then, consider il
there is no objection to the present course
OF proceeding amongst them. What a
variety Of opinions is amongst themi
Some of them permit their pupils to study
out of doors nearly all the time, where
they may engage in many things that
have tendency, not only 10 draw off
their minds from their studies and cause
them to neglect their business, but cor
rupis their morals also, all which Tor
nearly SOY might be avoided by having
them under their immediate eye, in some
way; many confne them within, some
have very little restriction at all upon their
general conduct, and only pay attention
to their advancing in their studies, others,
pay very little attention anyway rs re-
CARDS government.
Some Of them teach the elementary
sounds Of our language accent, pauses,
abreviations Etc, which many consider it
labor lost, from the consideration that
children are not capable Of understand
ing their application. Now is this divided
opinion amongst you the most edifying to
the expansion Of the minds of the rising
generationl Do not all admit tha. the
first impression that is made upon the
mind. the most lasting! Then ifit is not
all for the best, il must lie objectionable
in part at least, and ought to be remedi-
ed il possible. Again, some think that
the rules in arethma,ic should be commit
ted to memory, and recited to the teach.
er rs the student advances on in his
studies, others consider this unnecessary,
and advise, that they be read carefully
over by the student, and let him endeavor
to understand their meaning and sppli.
GATOR, and then explain the sams to theml
while large number pay very little at.
tention to either Of the above rules, and
suffer their students to pass over, and
knew very little more after they have
been through their arethmeticks, than
when they first commenced the study OF
it. Is there no objection. Mental or
oral arithmetick is used by many Of you
and thought to be best from the fact that
It causes the mind to ac, Independent o,
the sight, Others amongst you, consije,
1t unnecessary, and prefer to have the
examples written out upon the slate alto
gether, and are satisfied if the answer |.
obtained with but little (if any) explana
ton Of the work; others again Of you use
black boards, and have the demonstra.
tons Of mnny ofthe examples written oul
upon tFem, and explained 10 the wholt
class believing il TO be the bes. course to
bePursued to cause the mind to retain
the explanation, but many of you believe
all this to be Of but little import, aud per.
mis your students to pursue pretty much
their own way, believing that the mind
Gill sets - things best IN its owr
! way. As se 20 objections hesss