The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1864-02-26

no suspicion OF sectarianism against the tea cher
IL IS thought to afford the teacher, if he is SC
disposed, an excellent opportunity OF propaga
ting his peculiar sentiments among his pupils
1t is admirably adapted to sectarian schools, AM
TO any school, if the teacher is prudent in tht
Use of it. ~
III. READING BY TIE PUPILS
This method requires each pupil to have
Bible, and the whole school to read, BEGINNING
with chapter, each reading q verse, till al
have read, and SO On through tte chapter or les
son. This, however, has but little more value
than a common reading exercise. But few D.
the pupils take interest enough in it to know,
leven what chapter comes next, ,.or was read last
lhet realize not the momentous import of the
words Of eternal life, and may not the prac.i.
cal ELECTS OF such an exercise create criminal
indiherence to the Divine teachings, is ques-
tion for prayerfu consideration.
! ". RECITATION by THE PUPIIs.-A lecture
| 6y tie Teacher.
Ibls method consists in requiring the whole
school, or section of it, embracing not less
than twenty, to make voluntary selections of
| such texts, verses or paragraphs as they NAV
choose, memorizng them perfectly, and reciting
every morning as a class. The sections NAV be
| increased or diminished, in number to suit the
size OF the school. If there be two sections.
let each recite every other day, and If three
eve.y third day, &c. Each pupil should select
such verse or number of verses as will state
some truth or proposition, or make good sense,
and the same pupil ought not to be allowed TO
repeat the same scripture in two different reci-
taiions. The teachers lecture, only few min
utes long, follows the recitation, and is designed
to give an extempore, practical exposition of
such OF the scriptures recited, as the teacher
may choose, and apply them to the conduct of
everyday life.
To illustrate: Suppose in the recitation, the
following scriptures have been oiyen bv two of
the pupils: "Enter not into the path OF the
wicked, and go not into the way CT evil men
"a false witness shall not go unpunisled. and.
he that teileth lies shall pctish''
The first of these passages will afford the
.eacner text "a and sa1nRn an iR,,,n, In, ss I and
consequences OF falsehood, and warn them a.
aainst lying. In this way the teachings of the
Bible are so interviewer with the daily labor OF
the pupils, and SO applied to the solutions OF the
various problems that may come up in their con-
duct, as to supersede the necessity OF what the
master of the ''Bireh" and his ''feruled" sub
ecls were wont to call the "Ru.es of School"
The influence CT this exercise when properly
conducted, in the formation Of character aud
conduct of life, cannot be over-estirnated. Dur
ing common pupilage, tho mind is filed with
the most beautiful and instructive passages from
the word of God. They warn us against eve
ry vice and inculcate every virtue. II the snares
OF vicious society are set in our pathway, we
hear the warning, "Enter not into the path of
the wicked" ani we shun them. If the temp
, tations Of ialsehood are upon us, we remember
that "fIe that telleth lies shall perish," and we
| resist them.
The fourth article, thus briefly described, is
my fayorite one. have used it for many years,
with unfagging interest. 1t involves the labor
of both teacher and pupil. My advanced pu-
pills generally took great interest in the exercise.
Among them existed q generous emulation, as
to who should select the most sublime and beau
tiful passages, and have often been touched
With their impressive elocution. With hecom-
! ing distrust OF the correctness OF my own judg-
ment and experience, respectfully submit what
| have said to the attention of teachers and pa
! ltrons.--Ep. MONTHLY.