The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1865-12-01
For the Bedford Gazette
SCHOOL REFORM---NO. 4.
CA

CLAssIFICATIoN-A WORD TO TEA
CHERS.-Our common schools can new
er reach their full measure of useful
ness, without thorough classification.
Nothing is 50 necessary totheirsuccess
yet, nothing has been so much neglect
ed. This neglect, up to the present
time, has been mainly the fault Of di-
rectors. Teachers were pOWerless. The
variety of books used made classified
ton impossible. Now, however, Os-
goods Spoilers and Readers, Brooks
Arithmetics, Mitchell's GeOgraphys,
and Browns Grammars, are adopted in
nearly all our districts, and their eNclu-
sive use will be enforced as soon as the
schools begin. The schools leNcept in
a few districts where directors, in def
ance Of law, stillrefuse to establish uni
formity) can now be classified, and, if
they are not, it will be mainly the fault
of the teachers.
The classification of a school requires
skill and firmness. The task is both
delicate and difficult; and many fail in
its performance. If the teacher lacks
judgment and knowledge Of human
nature, we can say but little here, that
will aid him. He must read works on
teaching, and study the subject as he
finds it in the practical details Of the
school-r0om. Even when he knows
what should be done, and hoWhe should
proceed, his task will not be without
difficulties. Parents will refuse or neg
lect to get books for their children; or
they will buy without consulting the
teacher, and thus frequently get the
wrong kind. In this way books by the
wrong author, or Of too high a grade,
have been put into the schools. 1t is
true they have sometimes been bought
by the stupid adviceof the teacher him
self; but they have generally come i'll
to the school without his knowledge,
and contrary to his wishes. Once in
trOduccd, they can not be got rid Of.
Glasses are multiplied and the teachers
time is wasted. Pupils can not get a
long because they are using books too
difficult for their compensation, and the
school is interfered with and injured in
every way, for many years, perhaps,
! byWhat at first seemeda trifiing and un-
important event.
Three fourths of the pupils in the
county are using higher readers than
/ they require. They Use the Second in
stead of the First, the Third instead of
the Second, the Fourth instead of the
/ Third, and the Fifth instead of the
/ Fourth. Nearly all are a step too high
for their age and capacity. Nor are all
content with being one step too high.
Some aretWo and even three steps: that
is, some who are only capable Of using
the Second reader, actually use the
Fourth or Fifth. \ pupil WHO'S using
the proper reader, can hardly be found.
Almost every school has class in the
Fifth Reader; when, in truth, there
/ should not be dozen such classes in
in the county. We have no use for
them, and they should never be formed
unless there are too many in the Fourth
Reader for one class. The Fourth, if
properly used, contains enough t0make
first rate readers, and far more than our
pupils will ever learn in the common
schools.
What has been said Of Reading, is al
50 true of other branches. There seems
to be kind of mania for big books.
Pupils begin the study of Mental A
rithmetic with the advanced work in
stead Of theprimary. Dozens are study
wing Greenleaf's NATIONAL who will
never comprehend half that is i'll his
common school" Pupils begin Gram
mar with the biggest book they can
buy. MitchelPs Geographys are used
and nearly all have his large Geogra-
phyand -Atlas-the largest and most
comprehensive work, probably, that
has ever been used as Il textbook, in
this country. There should not be one
of them in the county. No one ever
learns half that it contains.
1t is time that we puta stop to these
evils; and the present is probably the
most favorable time to do this, that we
shall have for several years to come.
New books are being introduced, and
care should be taken that each pupil
gets such as are exactly suited to his
age and capacity. OF the new readers
introduced, very few, indeed, require
anything higher than the Fourth. OF
the Geographys, the primary" and
intermediate" are all that we need.
OF the Grammars, few require more
than the First Lines. The Institutes
should be introduced, only where there
are good classes, and thereare atpresent,
few really good Grammar classes in the
county. OF the Arithmetics, Il few
will need the intellectual and the Com
mon School, but far the greater number
will do better to study the Primary
Mental and the Primary Written.
J. w. DICKERSON,
Co. Sup't.
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