The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1869-08-19
For the TRIBUNE.
TEACHERS AND TEACHING,
No. 4. By FINNEY

| ANOs LII l. 1NANEIs
The theory and practice of teaching,
like the theory and practice of dealing
with mems minds may often be found to
| deviate from harmonious circuit When
We have found the mystic word Tor
style) which unfolds the secrets of
Arithmetic, or Grammar, to one pupil,
we may be very sure that if we adopted
| that style as especially ours, it would
prove a failure. In short, [ mean that
| We can not adopt any system of explana-
ton which like some great medical
panacea, will prove efficient in all cases.
Yet of course every teacher should
make himself thoroughly acquainted
with many of the excellent works UPON
the theory of teaching; for then he may
be compared to the medicine of the Co
manches who from his great bundle of
medicine was prepared to meet disease in
any form whatever. There is no fear of
our having too many resources from
which to illustrate, but we must consider
which one to adopt under the circuL-
stances as they shall rise. The theory
should be, study all you can-and apply
as your judgment shall dictate, under
each peculiar circumstance. Let us tor
instance take two classes in composition,
one is very youthful class, the other
Someuhat advanced
give my first class in composition a
subject, for instance: tell me in your
compositions the differences, and similari-
ties, between the horse and cow" Here
my first duty is to assure myself that y
class fully comprehends the terms differ
ence and similarity; then the class pro-
ceeds to point out that both are quadru
peds define quadruped) they each have
two eyes and ears and are graniverous
(explain term), and thus they continue
to explain until they exhaust either the
subject, or their own ingenuity. All Of
this may be done upon the slate-after
which land tie following) the pupils may
be required to write composition on the
subject for the following Friday. Now
for differ ences:
The COW has horns, cloven feet, long
slim tail, dew lap, (under throat, and
chews her cud. These are peculiarities
belonging to the COW; others of the horse
are, that he has name, whole foot,
and graceful form, etc. If such
a course be pursued with children, no
destiny is surer than that it will develop
the faculty of discrimination, of compari
son, and finally render the mind practical
and analytical.
This exercise forms the school drill
according to the writer's idea) in the
school room; after that the work should
be expunged from states and the pupils
should originate to a second for public
reading. We now call number two. Among
other exercises for advanced classes let us
try the following: Select some nice piece
of poetry and ask your class to write in
prose as you read in poetry, explain to
them some of the rules of transposition,
and let them exert their ingenuity there
upon. When they have finished, cor
rect-and finally let them write compo-
sition somewhat after the style of the
transposition. Whoever doubrs the eff
cheney of this method, let him transpose
a few verses of poetry and then form his
opinion,
The teacher may often help the under
standing and memory Of his school by ex-
planning the meaning of terms in the
language from which they are derived.
Great care should be exercised by the
teacher however in all cases cf this kind
to avoid appearing pedantic. For the
purpose of calling to this subject the at
tention of those who may think dead
languages unnecessary in schools let US
instance the facility with which things
may be taught with little of this aid
For instance, a consonant( says the teacherl
is g letter which can not make a perfect
sound of itself; will, first, ask you to
remember what the word consonant
means. Sonus, is Latin word signifying
sound, con, signifies aoith and con sonont--
sounding together; the consonant there
fore sounds not alone, but with vowel.
You may understand dissonant sound,
by the word sonus, already explained, and
DIS, which signifies apart, or asunder, or
Phonology,a treatise on sounds, from the
Greek, Phone, sound, and LOCUS, dis
course. Now I submit that it would be
a very queer mind which could not retala
or understand these definitions better
when then are explained in this manner.
But sec am making number 4, too
long and perhaps tedious l will there
fore bring it to close.
Friend o. r. Bacon kindly presented
us with sample of his roasted Java COT
! fee which he has inst received We