Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1870-03-31
Hints TO Teacher. No. II.
OPENING SCHOOL.


It is simple process ito open, Tor
take up as it is generally called)
school in pleasant, interesting and
business like way; and yet very few
teachers have any regular form for
the operation. They ring the bell, ii
they are fortunate enough to have one,
and, If not, they pound on the window
with fc-ulc or the broom stick, at
nine o'clock, and their scholars come
rushing in hurley hurley making
great deal Of unnecessar. noise, and
in their haste to get seated often come
in with mud on their shoes, making
the school room floor very uncomfor-
table and unsightly, and knocking
pown the little ones who fail to get
out of their way.
A better way would be to heed the
maxim LET all things be done decent
ly and in order This, OF course, can
not be done as it should be unless the
teacher be provided with some articles
that I find lacking in very many OF
our common schools. I will mention
three articles which / deem necessary,
absolutely necessary, in order that .
teacher govern his school as it should
be governed, and would here sug-
gest to teachers that they urge the
purchasing of these articles on the
sub directors till they are furnished
with them. First on the list is good
that will not run eighty OF
more minutes in an hour-and 1t
should be so placed in the school
room that all the scholars can zee it
while on their seats. The next is
large hand bell-one that can be heard
distance, SO that your
scholars need not have to say they
ibid not know it was school time,n
should their play take them few rods
from the school house. The third
article, and last OF the three is small
spring bell, for use in the school room.
Now for their use. AT precisely
ten minutes before nine o'clock each
morning ring your large bell aud lie:
your scholars understand that it Is the
signal for them to get ready for school,
as some OF them may perhaps need to
wash their hands which have become
so,lel by playing, and you will thus
teach them habits Of neatness. Re-
quire them all to be in their proper
places by exactly nine o'clock. at
which time let one stroke of the spring
bell call them to silence. A second
stroke of the same should call them to
their feet while they sing the opening
song. Be sure to not forget the sing
ing. Music is great power for good,
in .the school room, when properly
used, and its frequent use will make
you and your pupils feel better and
happier. Let another stroke of the !
bell seat your scholars, aud, as soon as
they are seated, if your own heart has
been taught by the Great Teacher,
and how can you teach unless your
heart has been thus taught?) spend
Two or three minutes in prayer, asking
!, blessing to rest upon your days
abor. There is no way in which you
,an convince your pupils that you are
working for their interest, no way in |
which you can get such control over
hem, nothing that will inspire SO
much respect for yourself as by send
ng earnest petition to heaven for
hem and yourself IN their hearing.
This done, let another stroke of the
,ell be the signal tor taking books and
hen you are ready tor the regular |
essons.
BY the use of the spring bell, your
,upils acquire uniformity Of action
hat can seldom be attained in any |
,ther way. TOLAD.