Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1869-12-17

The teacher has to pass an examination
in history, yet in how few schools is this
most important branch pursued. Nothing
becomes more necessary than that the child
should be taught the history of his own
country, and by commencing early the child
forms a love for the study of history and
lightened citizen. Geography and history
are closely connected and should not be
separated. When the child learns histor-
ical event concerning place it is more apt
to treasure up its geographical knowledge.
The two studies are a help to each other,
consequently we should organize classes in
this branch 10 all our schools, for in a re-
publicaggovernment no one should grow
up in ignorance of the history OF their own
country.
Literature is another important step to-
wards advancement. A few well selected
books should belong to every school there
is no branch Of education that gives SO much
refinement as literature. Is a good part of
the human family to always grovel in the
dust, or shall we arrive at a high state of
refinement? What can be richer treat
than to listen to a well prepared lite .ry lee
ture, delivered ina graceful manner, by
person whose voice is rendered sweet and
melodious by cultivation. This brings us to
subject Of reading. What care should the
teacher take in the cultivation of the voice
in reading, for poor piece well read will
attract attention, when good piece miser-
ably read will not be noticed. AS reading
is key to all written knowledge double
diligence should be given to the teaching of
this branch. Men graduate from colleges
and are sadly deficient in this branch, when
we come to consider their lack in fullness
and purity Of tone. Even our best eduea
ted ministers produce discord to the critical
ear, which mars the effect oil th.ir sermons
and inj@res the sensibililies or finer feel
llgs.
Essay writing should be early practiced
by the pupil to far greater extent than it
is. The pupil should be taught to express
himself in his own language, in a concise
and elegant manner.
The success Of teacher depends very
much upon the power 20 teach orally. The
teacher that has to be confined to the text
book resembles machine that needs an
operator. The teacher is the machine and
the book is the operator. We do not wish
to be understood to embrace the humbug
idea of discarding text books from the
school room, but there will be monotonv
about teaching where the teacher is closely
confined to the text book, which will be
clearly percepfible on the faces Ct the pu
pills and also in their general department.
The teacher must have interest enough in
the work to enlist the interest of the pupil.
A live recitation is mutual talk between
teacher and pupils. If we believed in the
atrical plays we would like to see play in two
scenes; the first scene the curtain would
rise on spiritless, dull teacher, and conse-
quently disinterested pupils, while a vacant
tare would be depicted on the faces of
some; others would be playing amusing
pranks while disorder would reign around.
The second scene would be live, conscien-
lions teacher, with pupils deeply interested
in their work.
D. J, Z,