Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1870-09-10
For The Register,
TO Teachers.

on their memory. They must iracs out
rro relation Of numbers and the memo.
rizine OF rules aid them not, unless they
can apply each step in the process.
Hence, numerous are The Primary Ari.h-
metics that have been put forth 10 induce
the oungtearners 10 Try the rugged path,
but the most Of them have failed in their
object and made their first lessen, more
dlticsll than the Higher Arithmetic. We
have found the best course 10 be, the in
dlclive method Of the great Swiss teach.
er, Pasialozzi, by which The pupils are
made familiars with the iandsmentai oPe-
rations in numbers, and by observing The
single principle, that in succession OF
numbers, | ., 3, 4, &C., each number Is
greater By than the number immediate
- before il, ikey learn 10 compare num-
bers, as they do other ihings eide by side.
and readily dedpce roles for The solution
OF questions in Addition and Subtraction,
ard BY ltlle extension OF the same prln-
clpe, they learn to solve examples in
Multiplication and Division. The only
ATiIhmetics, that we sre aware Of that
follow ;hs method throughout their en-
ire course. are those Of Professor Yena-
b,e in the University Series. These are
regularly graded, from First lessons in
numbers" "The Higher Arithmetic"
and then Algebra and Geometry, and are
all prepared to suit the capacity and prog
Tess of the pupils and to arouse their al
,enlion by practical application OF the
principles and rules which they learn as
they are advanced.
The next great difficulty, that looms
up mountain high, before pupils is the
study OF English grammar and The writing
OF Compositions. II parents only knew,
or could Imagine, the huge labors that
teachers have to undergo in this depart
men'. they would be more charitable and
less complaining. We were struck with
the expressed inions Of large number
Of teachers in the late Educational Con-
yenllon OF Virginia. Many had abandon
ed the writing OF compositions, and some
even grammer, by the younger pupils.
The reasons assigned were potent and
grave. 1t our opinion, however, that
children are'put into grammar too esIly,
before their minds have been Sufficiently
expanded TO grasp the subject and under
stand its mysteries and distractions, and
by the tine they are of age to compie-
bend At. they become Disguised aud wea-
ned and hate he very name. This IS
our eXpe ieHce and doubtless that Of
many Others. When pupils have teen
sufficiently trained to apply 'heir thoughts
10 abstract subjects, then grammar, not as
mere plrsing exercise. which treats our
Ilnguage'ss It II were nothing but nouns,
verbs. &C., but the relation of words TO
each other and sentence to sentence point
ing out tie main subject and words modl'
flying IL, The verb, Through which the sub
let acts and then The words expressing
wIa, is done. The best English gram
mars, now in use, are Holmes, Of the
UNIVERSITY Series, and Quackenbos'. We
prefer he former, because 1t Is less com
y,,x From Compositions children
shrink with horror. They can not be
made to understand the meaning OF the
word, and ,he teacher can not invent
i'eas and words for them. We have red
every way. short OF severe punishment
To induce them 10 make the attempt OF
putting their thoughts on paper, but II has
invariably ended in their COpyOg The
thoughts and words of some one Else,
which they try 10 pass for their own or
else, making some excuse which the
teacher l. compelled to believe, is false,
though plduslbly stated. We have there.
fore, though, It lar better, to make them
copy short pieces from books, Inserting
every capital, punctuation points, noting
every paragraph, and when practicable,
giving The reasons for their use. In this
way they will scq ire habit of coirec!
spelling, writing and punctuation, almost
ia-ensibIy,
History has been less taught than il
ought to be, from the simple fact, that in
Ancient and Universal history the book 5
written are too costly FIR school hooks,
and in the history of oar own country,
uarl recently, none have been writ EN-
sufficiently catholic in spirit and Tree IRON
sect,onallsm that msniOrms while II
wounds, aud which ignores every thing
pertaining W IHe Puleu'V'i eNS"N'' on"
character Of the Southern portion of our
country. But we are glad TO know that
two volumes Of the History OF the Uolied
States have recently been written and
published. the one. by Messrs. Mcdonald
q Blackburn Of this vicinity. and the 9TH
or, by Prot. Holmes Of the University OF
Virginia, These books are neither pirtI-
san nor sectional, but DO full justice to
the whoie country, and they are getting
extensively used.
The office Of teacher is no sinecure.
and that they often complain Of rnelr lot
is not because they are dissatisfied. but
bscause they receive so little aid and sym
patty from those that should act in con-
cert and harmony with them.
We rave been fnieayorng 10 call at
tenlior to ,oue of The difficulties that be-
set The life OF a teacher and if we have
been able TO remove one obstacle or con-
sole one sorrow, we have our reward.
Let there be more borough union OF
purpose between parent and teacher, and
let each pupil adopt as motto
There's no such word as JsiI ~
TO those who prefer to jog along in the
old heaten mathis. we cannot do better III n