Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1862-04-18

ing be able to recite his lesson SO as to
pass, but it soon fades from the memory.
1t is bad practice, and should not be
allowed in any of our schools.
In fact, the teacher may help his schol-
ars too much 1t is point of no little
consequence to know just when, where
and how far, to aid them in their studies.
The success of the teacher may depend
on this; and the pro6tableness of the
school depends on a just observance OF
this principle.
The mind can never know its own pow
er, unless its own strength is put forth.
The teacher should aid his pupil; but he
should leave something for him to do
He should aid him only what is necessary,
just enough to put him in possession OF
the means of dong; and thea the scholar
should be left, feeling that he can 60
alone, that he has been aided but little,
and that, if he had been more careful and
inquisitivc, he might have succeeded with
out any assistance. Nothing will give one
a consciousness Of his own mental power,
as viii its cXertion in overcoming some
difficulty. The tull strength exerted to-
day, is essential to its increase tomorrow
| refer to this subject, because | believe
the public sentiment is too strongly in
favor Of bcstowing too much aid on the
scholars. And they by this sentiment,
are led to their own detrmcnt, to expect
and to seek for too frequent, and for too
much assistance and to depend too much
on the teacher to think for them. They
should be as isted in their studies but
they should be taught, and made to feel
that great part Of the education of the
-eho1-room, is to learn how to study,
how TO think. how to learn; to gain the
power Of doing, Of learning, Of oycrcom-
inc difficulties unaided.
Another defect to which | will call
your attention, was in the mode of in
structu1. 1t was evident that the in
structiJa had been, in many Of the schools,
very imperfect and superficial The
scholars had been confined too closely to
the text books. The wines and where
tores were passed by. This mode tended
to make every thing merely mechanical,
dry AMI meaningless, 1t taxed the men,
cry, limited the thoughts TO i few partcu-
r,. go. anil the nrineinIg, were not
an.la#.,asl In this way the reasoning
faculties were not cultivated, were not
eailcl into exercise; were not developed
al strengthened TIE most important
-, ~ J.. NIL Va. nnalucatrd the
as,assl Nm. If the scholar eTamned.
md =. nraafie.l benefit of the stu IL
5y,,ta,sz#i
/ b,ya# ,',arri the na-t wear. 10 change
If,,;. o,.lrr Of thjB,,; 10 have the instru5,-
t;su az..- -en,y e54reat. bat thorough, and
nm. tn. teacher, r,.n;re of The sehol.
-. ~. ra,.,o.-.hs wbic, and where.
~ :, tb.fr studies 10 call out the
.sz..,,i7;o i, 4,,rnf,i,,. IN rive fnIl scope to
H.. .stioI IN nrae the scholar, 10 think
,nl r4,-a8 G,r themselves. and to make
.,s..r=stn,lfs, ~ practical 4, possible.
Al t,Iieyr = mod le,ree Of success,
h4. '.,.to-.-l,l the rHsrt. rs n general
,,.a.. the scholars Soon understood the
,rprtit. resulting from this mode and
a., N .5ns,.,nsu.e. = deeper interest in
Mir s,nl,.,.
W-,b ,b,.., remarks 7 come to renort
,r ,La Gov. .j;,ion Of the schools | have
~, limo nor s,aee here to rive YOU a
definite and minute account of each school,
- oh tsa,b.r and Of his success.
4 yap7rk here in General, that the
-ebool. - = whole. have been as prosper
aus ami ,u.ea.,ful as could be reasonably
.x,.,..sl nm Ter the circumstances. There
b,s been a decided Improvement in them,
Jnrinr the pa.t year.-a growing DISPOSE
,.ou To he more thorough in the studies,
and \ hi.Aer apnreciation Of the priyil-
njocs which the school room affords. -
i Anil tbc teachers have been. as class,
IsG,r;oo. anl interested in their work.
Tbare b.Yo been bat few cases, where
,Lcr, I'm. bean GROUND for serious COM
nI,in+ ouite n number of them have
bsen ,Iaeel under yery unfavorable cir
cn,a.tanr.s G,r success, vet almost every
s..S1oI may he said to be very good, and
.o,nc bayc reacbed 4 GOOD dtrrcc OF cx.
,sIIspee
Tba school in District No. ) is noted
c..,,.;r;t ,ct;yitv and mental ENERGY
Tsa yarian. rs.;tat;ops we're performed
,lly'anJ CORRECTLY. This is one of the
III, .:,ools IN town in the progress made
The mast wear