Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1869-02-11
SCHOOL ADJUSTMENTS.
An Essay read before the Teachers In
titute Of Tama County, at Its last SEES
sion by Mrs e. l.. DlLLMAN, of To-
ledo


The object of Amusem ,nt in school.
=. is, first to rest the body from the posi-.
tionassumed during study, and second,
{ and most important, to rest the mind
from stud,; both to be accomplished
10y change OF action, and not by idle
ness.
; "Somethingto do is the great want
ot' children. But that something must
be short and give place to another
something. 1t is we'll understood, by
tea hers, that young children are not
al. to keep the body in one position
OF the mind intent upon one subject
long at a time; and the younger the
child, the ottener change is required,
Leaving the out door recess, at the
middle of each halt day, TO take care Of
OF Itself | will speak Of indoor amuse-
ments, OF such exercises As may be
thrown in between recitations and
times tor study, to rest the body or
mind, or both. For the first system
OF gymnastic exercises may be introdu-
cea into every school,, and engaged in
by large and small.
The only objection l have overheard
to tins exercise IN school. came from
young ladies who wear snug fits, and
have the side ache in consequence OF an
energetic movement Of the muscles
| about the chest and shoulders, or from
their mothers who object to mcnding
the dresses apt to he torn, in the vain
attempt to raise the arm over the head
To their credit be it said, boys don't
object to gymnastics, but enter into it
with life and energy
\ short military drill can be given
once in while, by way of variety
The whole school can be taught to I'M
derstana the more common movements
in short time. Let me sugg est that
this is an excellent substitute tor out
door exercise on RAINY day; much
better, as we'll As more pleasing to the
scholars, than a general play in the
| house
But | wish to speak os those amuse-
men,s, which, while they are pleasing
really advance the pupil in the knowl-
edge OF the very things he is studying,
or chat he will be required to use in
after life.
The slate should be considered an
essential part of every pupils outfit,
and the younger the pupil the more es-
pecally is this true. Better have
child under eight years of age, come to
school without book than without
sla;e, for he can make book of his
late. but cannot make slate of his
book
What is called inventive drawing, Is
an eNnaustiess source of amusem ent to
children. large or small Let each pu-
pill Of a class, be required to draw
straight line, on his slate. Do not ask
him to do what you cannot do
yourself, draw it without rule.
for l think very few of us can
do it, but let each be furnished with
short rule, marked into Inches. These
can be procured without any expense
Ask each one to bring you stick with
one straight ed &c, and mark the in
ches by your own rule with a knife
say ask the class to draw straight lines
and then other straight lines. in all pos
sible directions. Atterward let them
combine two straight lines in as many
ways as possible. They viii now show
a very plain form of the capital letters
I. l.. Y and X, and many other com.
binatlons. After this let them com
bine three straight lines, when they
will show you the capitals, \, (, Ii, X,
n and Il, and a variety of shapes that
would astonlsh one not acquainted
with chlldren's minds. Give them four
lines, five, &C., and with every additional
line you have greater variety Of forms.
Of course all this will done at several
short lessons, and not all at once. Our
motto should be in this, rs in many
other things Make haste slowly
After a practice of this kind for
some time, ask them to make lines of
certain lengths, measuring by their
rules. Examine states, and state
who has made them correctly. When
accuracy S secured in this, teach them
to bisect these lines. The n have lines
drawn not with the rule but withthe
edge Of a book. the pupils guessing at
the length. Measure and announce
who is correct.
After they have learned to draw
square which most will do without help.
let them draw lines from corner to
corner, or in some other regular way,
giving them little by little the idea of
inventing beautiful forms in a square.
Your pupils will soon interest them
selves, as well as you, by the symmetry
and beauty of the figures they draw.
Let the best OF the drawings be copied
on the blackboard Tor init alton by the
class.
A fer uSinr Strarht lines and RIGHT