Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1870-08-20
For The Register.
To Teachers.

Every class OIL pToiess'o"o' wv"
/ palbize with each other IN ibth lsoors
and desire TO contribute, each one &C.
cordinp TO his ability, TO the aid OF one
another in their respective prolesslons'ano
we have though, lha, it would greatly re.
! lieve The labor Of teachers if they would
communicate more freely and frequently
! with each other on subjects pertaining to
their profession. 1t i. this feeling, OF
learn from The experiences OF others,
{ ,ha, leads US to attempt few briel ar'I.
! cles on subjects Of most interest 10 teach
els at this time, as viewed from our
standpoint.
The frs, and greatest difficulty that
/ stand. in the way Of successful teaching,
in la,e years. is The want OF text books
that come up to The requirements OF The
times and tina, keep pace with the prog.
res. Of knowledge in all lis branches.
We are fully aware ,hs, teachers meet
with great opposition from their patrons
on II C subject OF books. as parents most
" think that the trx, books oil their school
days ale just as good aud even better than
new ones, and complain very much when
! their children are asked 10 get new books.
/ We know too, that their complaints are
sometimes just as rev teachers some
! times change tie customary text BOOKS OF
a school without authcien, reasons. and
! wilhou. regard 10 cost. Its true, that
well informed and experienced teachers
can inslruc, their pupils from any sort OF
books. but il is adding great deal to
! their labors and takes up time with one
pupI that should be devoted Ia fWenfy.
! Moreover, experience has shown that
young pUT,l. learn great deal by rOte
aud mus, have evth thing placed before
,hem IN oder, go as To cunmIt II ,n memo
~. or olheru i.e, "Iearnng lesson Is
I hsrd aud alaosI impossible task, and the
explanation of he lrachrr is breath spent
: III vain and precious time wasted. But
, they, who say any sort Of books will 10
! rrurlfr Of tearheIs and schools what they
, do not acl upon themselves. There Is
: all Improvement in looks as in other
: ,hlrgs aud poor teacher is re who does
( not ,ahe advantage Of it. Experienced
teacher, ale constantly giving TO tie pub
: lie books on vsrlous sui erIs containing
I tie III. provemen's viii b their experience
in teaching aud learning justify What
would be thought Of the farmer, OF tins
day, iIaI cuLtended that the wooden
! rlough " as as good as The best and latest
! patent. and still rod OuI his grain with
cattle ! Would any one eIUpIoy = me-
! chanr that did no. use improved tools
and building material or physician
that JJ not keep himself Informed IN re
gard to new remedies that ale every day
appearing or wha' would be thought OF
lawyer that did not read up the decIs'
ions aud opinlnns on important cases that
occur from lire 10 time ; or OF the min
is,er that did not examine the latest reIIa-
bic Commentaries on tie scriptures aud
other works of leaned dl,ines yet, all
,he.e show how ridiculous is the idea
that there can be no improvement IN text
books and that teachers must adhere TO
The old system Of bali century ago.
We have been very slow TO change The
text books that have been In use IN our
school and have only done II where
decided advantage was TO be gained, both
in pri'e aud quality. though we have la
bored bard TO overcome ihe dihculnes
that lie in the way Of the pupil in many
OF the tex books now in zee. We often
hear parents complain that sbeir children
read so badly and the blame is thrown, OF
course, on their teacher. He is willing
to bar his share, but there is much Of II
attached 10 The pupil himself and 10 the
parent who allows him 10 speak n slow,
drawing lazy tone at home, and much
more 10 The books he uses at school ihsn
is usually t. ougEt. A chi'd cannot, and
will not, read well what is hey ond lie
comprehension. |, must understood and
be interested in what is read, before II
csn be uade 10 read we'll and take pleas
ure in it. We have sbored as hard as
any one 20 make good readers and can
testify to what We have seen and know
hom cxpe ierce. Hence. the great fault
10 most OF school readers, now IN use. ls
the want OF regular progressive course /
Of lessons, from short ones IL words OF
=
Lengthy ones. The peices selected are I,
also OF kind that will no, interest pupIs, !
If the age for which they are intended,
aud Tie bvoAs are rot printed in large,
c,esr, open, lype and illustrated 10 ples'e
The eye. Books should be attractive in /
appearance Tor children and should be .
written in a style To please and smusr. !
This is particularly the case with Young .
children and unlrss 'eschers.csn find such !
books ILry can rarely make good readers
AMI their abNts wi M, be appreciated. |
We shall have more 10 say, hereafter, on !
kindred subjects.
JOSEPH MCMURRAN,
Principal Of Sheprerisln"n Academy. !