The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1858-07-08
TERMS. --sI.25 FER ANMUM.

ty and assumes what properly belongs to
teachers, and with whicn the author has
40 right to interfere There would,
probably, be great differences ia the plans
of teachers, though each might be formed
with much care and thJughtfulness. In
proof Of this, notice the vast difference in
tle entire plans ofauthorS. Compare for
moment, ii you please, Browns and
lowers Gramnars. Brown states an ab-
Stract principle in the Tewest words pos
SibIe. Such definition contains one
prominent idea and many times there arc
clauses which are suggestive Of equally
important ones, but which 1t require;
some ail to trace out and understand. A
work made Oh this plan contains a vast
amount of matter in little space, it has at
least one virtue, II Is Jriet Towers, be-
fore giving a definition asks series OF
what may, perhaps, properly be called IT,
crOductory questions. Before defining 4
part OF speech he explains the Offices that
arc performed by that class of words, and
then says that TO words possessing such
and such qualities We Will give such a
name, and thus in everything the stu.
dents nind is associated with the nature
and use OF what they are learning. Osh-
cr authors have been equally successful
III btInging Gram mar to the comprehen-
sion OF young students, 50 that instead of
! few terns spent in irksome stu ly before
students have sufficient real knowledge of
G.anmer TO b. interested in pursuing it,
they can see and know from the first
}u~t whit they are dDing, and can learn
tieti instead OF acor,iS.
Again, as You take your place before
your class, you will perhaps discover that
they are mirthiul and unmindful Of their
t4sG. then ask question that will turn
their already aroused thoughts to diff
icuit point III the lesson; perhaps they
are drow.y, then ask lively playful ques-
ton and Il they laugh heartily do not con-
sider that you have Us: time, but rather
feel encouraged. II. after an unsucc2ss-
tul ebert they come to the class dsheart-
enel, hy . few words OF encouragement.
anl cleer bring them to 4 better state OF
mind. And thus from any mental mala-
1y Whatever, the first thing is to effect y
cure and give to each wide-awake. en-
er@etic and earnest countenance which
bespeaSs mind strong enough to grapple
with any intricacy.
TleI endeavor to draw out the scholars
thoughts; make THEM do the talking and
the explaining, the teacher meantime
looking on; ana if the scholars are entire
y wrong set them right by showing them
their error, anl occasionally become cx-
tremely ignorant and ask questions with
out numbsr,-;n short, possess a Yankee
inqulsltiveness, i'll order to have the schol-
ar explain just as much as possible con-
sidaring it an object to have them talk
aud illustrate. Ii they will 90 this, rest
assured they know what they are about.
There is another thought which though
80 newlat disconnected from the subject
under consideration yet is so analogous to
it that perhaps passing notice will noe
be out OF place. This is, that while
persoa is possessing themselves Of ideas
they want at the same time to procure
the habit and ability Of communicating
their thoughts intelligibly. Of what use
IS the mser's cold to the business world
as 1t lies in his chest boarded from the
general circulation? Supposing the
brightest intellccts in our land were to
produce essays on subjects of present and
great interest and then should deposit
their productions in an old library known
to exist Only from memory OF previous
use, wau!d the world be benefited by their
lab)rs! No. indeed. Do not then trans
form persons head into miser's chest
Or an unread library bat rather make it
= radiator Of lite and knowledge.
Ifyou have MT, [ would ask you when
You are again teaching, to try the expcr
tn4nt Of teaching b. questioning. Let
'hls BE- your constant work teach every
thing il this way; and il you cannot by
any course ofquestioning bfiag the schoi-
ars to see the point anI explain it them
selves, then as deraicr resort, consider
ing that You have failed II gain vour OBJ
jeet. tell tIt@ne, expecting that at least hall
OF the tlme you will have the privilege
OF tepeatlng il at the next recitation
Oae more question | would always have
You ask, 1t is that question which little
bows should never ask their mothers, and
except III study scholars should never ask
their Teacher Yet [ would have it fol-
low every answer Oh O.thography, Geo
grapay, Arithmetic anl every other study
pursued. Repeat 1t just as many times
as you repeat all other questions together.
1t Is, Why?
This course pursued will make man
Of reason-the man who will stand first in
every battle OF reform. not the BOOK man
bat the INDEPENDENT man-the man in
whose hands we should dare to trust not
not only the silver and gold that passes
throusA our treasures, bat, 50 far as in
teilectual qualifications are concerned, we
should dare ID entruSt to him the far