Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1869-02-05
A Model school.

MEssRs. EDITORS III propose the
following as the true method of conduct
ing school, one in accord with the "spir-
it of the age -
Ten or fifteen minutes having been
spent in "methodically" calling the
school to order in the morning, proceed
to business. Omit, by all means, read
ing in the Bible. That book is old
fashioned" Besides, those who wrote it
were old fogies." 1t did very well in
its time for want of something better, but
it is not adapted TO these days of "pro.
gress" Firstly, call the roll. Let each
scholar systematically" rise and place
his left hand on his heart, raising the
other toward the clouds while he res
ponds.
Secondly, call class 10 recitation =
Now let this be done according to the
"adyanced ideas of the times" Don't
block the wheels of destiny and shock
"modern civilization" by announcing
with your voice the class. Only think
of il =! The human voice is as old as
the race! What shame to use it amid
the blazing light of the nineteenth
century," when we can find a substitute.
Some use cow bell, but as that has
been in vogue two or three years, think
we should have something "new." A
dinner-horn will DO. Let the teacher
give three distinct toots. This viii call
the class to their feet. Let them stand
just two minutes and fourteen and half
seconds. Then let the teacher give one
clear, protracted blast, when scholar No.
j will distinctly proclaim his number,
whereupon the rest of the class will res
pond by reportingtheir number. No. l
will then walk to the wood box, take
stick of wood in his left hand and take
his place on the floor, preparatory to re
citing. Let the remainder of the class
go through the same system. When
all are on the floor in order" for reel
ting, the teacher will give another blast
with. the horn, at which the members of
the class will raise the hand, in which is
a stick of wood, to horizontal position
in front, and fold the other upon their
backs. They viii then throw their
weight upon the right foot, holding the
left in mid-air. The scholar at the head
of the class will now sneeze, which will
be regarded by the teacher as an an
nouncement that all is ready for the first
question. Now if the teachers voice is
not fit for calling class to recitation:
the pupils voice is unfit for reciting.-
Here is capital substitute. Let each
pupil be provided with small tea-bell.
Bells, it is true, are getting out of date
for teachers, but they are new in this ca
pacity. The teacher will ask a question,
whereupon the scholar will jingle the
bell, if he knows the answer; whereas if
he does not jingle, the teacher will un-
derstand that he is ignorant of the an
sxer. Let no one say that the scholar
will jingle when he does not know the
answer, for we know right well that when
we call the roll at the CLOSE of the day,
to see if any have whispered, none ever
lie to us.
The teacher having propounded three
or four questions, he would better hasten
TO close the recitation or he will come
short of time TO inculcate system -
Being ready to dismiss the class, he will
do it in the following manner A long
blast of the horn will proclaim to the
school that a class is to be dismissed,
whereupon the entire school will rise to
their feet. Two short toots will be re-
garded as the signal for No. l to go to
his seat. No. l will proceed to the
wood-box and deposit his stick of wood,
then get down on all tours and go to his
seat. The remainder of the class will
follow suit, one at time. The manner
of going to the seat is excellent for de-
veloping the muscles of the forearm -
1t will be particularly beneficial TO the
ladies, as it will capacitate them for
welding the ballot when the political
millennium dawns.
The forenoon will now b. nearly half
~one, and VIC must have an exercise in