American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1866-12-19

tinuance in the schools, to SpeHinq-as
the first grace to good writing to Read
'ng-as the best exercise of the voice
and most pleasant social accomplish
ment to Writing the practical branch
by which more successes in life are com
menced, than by any other; and to thor>
ovgh knowledge of the fundamental
principles of Arithmetic, without which
no permanent success in business is Of
ten effected, Geography, Grammar, &C.,
have their places, and should come early
In the course. But these should precede
them and be continued till the end.
End. That topical study is the best -
A branch of the subject should be ia.
ken. up, as whole, in each lesson and be
reeited and contemplated by itself. If
too long for one recitation, il must be di.
vided into two or more; but when the
end is reached in this way, the whole
should be reviewed together and regards
ed as a whole, and also in its relation to
the main branch or science.
3rd. That the miscellaneous or gener>
al reading of the pupil should be, as far
as practicable, made to take the same di-
rection as his school room studies for the
time being. In all these schools there
should be Libraries; and in selecting books
for evening reading, the pupils can read
lily be induced to prefer those calculated
to throw light upon their school room
labors.
4th. That Dictionaries, Cyclopedias,
Digests and Compends be often and liber-
ally resorted to, in aid of textbook study
These will often save the Teacher labor,
afford much light to the pupil, impart to
him habit of reference to authority Of
great value in after life, and be an aid in
the use of text books, second only, in
value to that of the living instructor.
III. The Glass Examiner shall set The
tasks and hear the lessons, but not, as a
general rule, gise ins'ruction
There are three acts or processes in the
culture of mind : lst. Study, or self
effort by the mind Itself to acquire
knowledge or development by the use of
books and the other appointed inanimate
means; 2nd instruction by the living
teacher. in aid of the imperfections and
insufficiency of the dead book and 3rd
Examination by competent person, to
ascertain whether the study of the book
and instruction of the teacher have eff,
focted the object in view, in reference to
the lession assigned
IF this be the orderly and correct pro-
cess, based on the nature of mind, the
means employed and the end desired -
then there is neither time nor necessity
for teaching in the class room. The bu-
siness of that depart rtment is to ascertain
and report the progress effected by the
Joint action of the two other agencies or
processes. And all who have closely
watched the proceedings in recitation
room in which both instruction and ex>
animation are attempel, will probably
acknowledge that neither is satisfactorily
accomplished. A few pupils at the head
of the class probably make good recita
tions; but soon falling off is perceived,
and long before the end of the class is
reached, the allotted time has been con-
sumed in an attempt, on the part of the
teacher, to make up by his own instruc~
tions,-which are forgotten as soon as
uttered.-for the neglect or ig Dorance of
the rest. Now, such recitatons are a
severe but useless tax upon the teacher,
aSthe same time that they injure the
pupil by using him to this neglect Of
study and failure in recitation. The true
mode is, neither to attempt to add to the
knowledge of The pupil making good
recitation. nor to patch up by useless be
cause not remembered instruction, bad
one. Let the exact state of the class be
aseertained, and reported to the Teacher
the Master of Study; and day after
day, under the impulse of his aid and
supervision, an improvement will be
visible.
1t may and generally will happen in
the class room of good examiner, act
ing on this principle and with classes
properly prepared, that time will be left
at the end of the recitation for general
PURPOSES. Perhaps the best use tbatcau
be made of such creditable moments, will
be to make some remarks explanatory oi
The general principles involved in the
next lesson, or to present some view OF
the topi of the last, not found in the
book Such aid is legitimately within
the sphere Of the class examiner and will
be of the greatest value to his pupils.
Gro BE coNrINUED.)