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

mon practice to let the school march
about the house singing some exercise
to the tune of Yankee Doodle. This ex-
ercise, in itself excellent, is frequently
abused. In the first place, number of
scholars, if not all, are allowed to per-
form at once. This is wrong. If it will
make confusion" for a whole class to
come together to recitation, it will make
a 5edlam for whole school to march
about the house at once. So let one
perform at a time. This will promote
" order," and I" order is Heavens first
law"
Again-as was suggested, they are ac-
custemed to march to the air of Yankee
Doodle. Now that is too old. Better
make use of "Dxie," or "John Brown,
The teacher having ammo need with
all due formality the next scene, No.
will come to time by placing pail of
water on his head, taking Webster's Ia
abridged under each arm and marching
about the school room, while the rest Of
the school will stand and whistle. A
little extra pains must be taken in the
physical culture of the girls-to teach
them the Grecian Bend" When all
have performed seriatin', it will be time
for recess. Now don't let more than one
90 out at time; it would not be " or
derly." The teacher will duly toot,
when No. l will rise, proceed to the
stove, travel round it six times, turn face
to the teacher, and 60 out of the house
backwards. When fairly out doors, he
will bow three times toward the East
and three times toward the West, and
return to his seat in the house, hopping
on one foot. This having been accom-
plished, the teacher will hear another re-
citation after the manner of the first if
he has time before noon. At II o'clock
the school will be methodically" dis.
missed-the scholars having first been
exhorted to eat their dinner "systemati
cally."' The afternoon exercises will be
similar to those of the forenoon.
I confess that 1 am new convert to
this theory. Heretofore, l supposed that
if my scholars made rapid progress
in their studies, learned to love books
and obeyed their teacher, l had good
school--but I now see that those things
are of miuor importance. / supposed
that when my pupils met me in the morn
ing with smiling faces and sparkling
eyes, and "went for" their books as if
study were their delight, my school was
a success. When at noon / listened to
their merry laugh and saw their rosy
cheeks as they "rode down HILL" l
thought they were getting good "phys:
ical education. Twas blind. l now
see that the hills are "old," older than
the school house, hence tho school house
is the best place for physical education"
The air out doors is pure, but pure a;r
existed longer ago than impure air, ergo
impure air is the better. Rosy cheeks
were IN fashion in our grand parents
day, SO let them now go out of "style."
We arc to educate" the Children
We must develop their patience by
" binding burdens grievcus to be borne"
We must develop their loyalty by COM
pellng them to obey under tho most
nauseous, silly and tyrannical disci-
pline." 1t is lamcntable fact that none
of these progressive ideas have been
introduced into our seminaries and col
leges. 1t is reserved for us district school
teachers "clothed in a little brief au-
thority," to conduct this reform. All
hands to the sublime enterprise
CHAs. SMITH.
CLIFTON MILLS, Feb. 2, 1869.