Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1869-09-10
4 School Examination.

J phlsliak enotice some time since, ola Wis.,
It to Miss Virtue Towards school IN Beth.
ell, have thought that a report of my
visit d ib close will be Of interest and
profit, TO teachers especially. Experienced
teachers aye always glad to catch at every
new method of imparting instruction. To
such teacher nothing istrivial, while the
Young teacher, who would be successful,
must take advantage Of the experience
of others. 1t is forthis reason that shall
be rs minute as possible in my dcscrip-
tons. The subject will lose none OF its
interest by this method. -.
Miss Towards school has been in ses-
sion eleven weeks. A public invitation
was extended to teachers 10 visit her
school in the tenth week when twenty
1--WE availed themselves of the privilege.
The final examination was attended by
the parents who filled the house. | shall
describe the exercises in their order.
The scholars were all taught to read
and speak in clear ringing tone ofvoice
The smallest child could be distinctly,
aud easily heard all over the room. They
learned this simply by initiating her. Two
of them read piece in concert on the
same pitch oftheyoice, Then another two.
Everything throughout the reading exer-
cises was talked out, not sung out, as is
too often the case Great attention was
pail to emphasis and all nice shades Of
sentiment Easy pieces were selected,
even for the advanced scholars, and ex-
tracts from newspapers were selected and
read.
The meeting was held in pine grove
near by where seats were arranged tor
the occasion
The spelling exercise excelled anything
we ever witnessed. and can only par
TALLY describe it. A class OF small children
was called out They selected words at
random which they pronounced. and
sometimes spelled singly, and sometimes
in concert; this was done with great rap
idity. Their mode of giving their own
definitions in their own language, was
admirable and worthy Of imitation by all
teachers. will give familiar illustra-
ton of their actual definitions. spell
sugar; what rs il definition'" answer :
what we sweeten our tea with 'Wood?'
'What We put on the fire" 'Cheese?'
what mother makes Yes replied the
teacher, 'and she makes excellent cheese.
.Bread'' something to eat LADY, "A
very good woman
In this way the exercise went on in the
most rapid manner, the children having
acquired the admirable habit of express
ing their ideas in the most ready manner.
She then gave list of words where sew
eraI are pronounced alike. When she gave
out word they exhausted the list For
example. "spell CAIN Cain, Cain, q
mans name. Came Cane, something
to walk with, and so on through long
list. Sometimes she would throw in biz
ofinsmuction while spelling. 'Spelltea.
Tea tea. something TO drink" "Do
little children drink tea? mo, they
drink water "Oh yes, was the reply,
"because tea curls up their checks. "
This was better than an hours lecture on
tea drinking spell knock. KNOCK
knock. Which letter is silcntY' k.
"How ridiculous 10 have silent letter.
II will be remembered that this exercise
was with the youngest children of the
school. She then made them recte the
multiplication table in concert. and then
gave them bag of marbles and told them
they might 90 out doors and play while.
A feature of this spelling exercise worthy
of note is, that each letter must be dis
tinctly pronounced. and in this way the
organs of speech become strengthened.
She then called for declarations. The
scholars arose in their seats at once when
called upon, and repeated their pieces in
that clear, ringing voice which they
practiced in reading. They were requir-
ed To talk oat their declarations. and not
sing them. One little girl read a piece
when she had learned to peep like bird.
Single declamations were given through
ont the day. They also sing in concert,
so that every pupil, even the youngest,
seemed TO have the organ of speech well
developed. Little verses are repeated
and a running commentary is sure TO fol-
low from the teacher.
They now sing the multiplication table
to the tune of Yankee Doodle, which was
followed by brilliant exercise which she
called quick addition. Each scholar
makes his example on the spot. recites 1t,
gives the result, and then analyses it, to
see if 1t be correct lgive one example
out of many.
The square Of 6 is S6, add 20 and it
makes So, add 80 and it makes So, sub
stract so and is left. Square and we
have twenty five for the answer. They
performed their mental exercises with re-
markable facility All the school from
the oldest to The youngest who could on
ly say two and two make four, were en-
gagged in the exercise.
C0nciuded merit tCect.
NOr1cdy items.
Dull as the times are said to be, there