Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1872-09-05

nv THE COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT.

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number of teachers made their frs
: attempt at teaching this summer
There must be beginning in teach
ing as in other professions. There
: is reason to believe that a large mum
Der of these beginners will not be
come professional teachers. lie this
as it may it is plain duty while in
this work at all to do the best work
possible in the best possible manner
1t is quite desirable that our teach.
crs should learn and practice the
best methods of teaching. In the
successful practice of these q large
part of educational progress consists.
The drill OF an Institute, under com.
petent instructors, will do something
in this direction. l will here say
that l have not yet made definite ar
rangements for the Institute during
the coming Fall; it is my purpose,
however to hold it during the month
OF October, beginning either the first
or second Monday, the It'll or l4th.-
l am persuaded that this time will
be more favorable to those living in
remote parts Of the county, than in
the latter part Of November. But
few OF our schools are then in ses.
sion. Although, as our law stands,
l believe 1t equitable that teachers
leaving their schools should receive
pay for time actually spent 1t an In
stitute, I believe no one will deny
the harm OF closing for ono week
school lately begun. Teachers to
whom l have mentioned it have gen
orally favored the plan OF holding the
Institute in October. AS l desire to
accommodate the greatest possible
number, and secure the greatest ben
eft to all. shall thankfully receive
any suggestions from teachers or
school officers.
There is, it seems to me, no point
in which the methods OF our teachers
need more change than in that OF
reading. Let us begin at the begin
ming" and mark how the rudiments
of reading are taught. In tho pref
ace to his late excellent little book
First Lessons in Language and
Drawing" MIR. J. Il. Webb says That
the teaching OF letters first and words
after, has 'passed INTO history" being
superseded by the Word Method
1t is history in the present tense in
lama county. The majority Of orr
teachers use the alb c method and
know no other. Let them know the
advantages OF teaching words first.
and hnop hoW to do ii, and they
would abandon the inferior tradition
al method.
Passing to the more advanced in
structioa IN the art Of reading, | tin.l
among our teachers little that de-
serves the name Of system. With a
large number O. our teachers little
moro is done than to hear the pupils
"read over the lesson and spell the
words placed at the beginning
Careful drill in pauses, infections,
tones of voice and manner OF rcadin.
is given by only minority of our
teachers. Hence, it comes TO pass,
, fear, that the most OF our scholars
are not in the way Of becoming good
readers. That really good reading
is a somewhat rare accomplishment
fully admit. And see not how our
pupils are likely to become good
readers, when taught 10y teachers
who know little of the science or al,
Of effective reading. l do Mt say
this for the sake Of fault. finding, but
to indicate where large degree q
improvement is very desirable
Many of cur teachers, trained in the
common school, are themselves as
poorly taught as their pupils are like
ly to be. But if they have the true
spirit OF teachers, they will try tc
supplement by diligent study and
self discipline their defects III carly
training. Let rules be studied and
! tried by practice, let there be the
constant cndeavor to secure the ap.
propriatc, natural expression OF tho
thought as presented by tho writer
: In her own and her pupils reading
: the observing teacher will have con
slant opportunity for practical train
ing in good elocntion; and knowl
edge thus practically gained will be
in the form fitted Tor imparting to
others. Il. HURD.
: Aug. 31st, 1872.
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