Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1872-01-18

teacher, in Nebraska, explaining the man
ner of giving object lessons III school. En-
closed were two of the lessons as he gave
them to his pupils-as samples-and
thinking there might be something learn
ed from them by teachers hereabouts, |
send them to you for publication in the
HERALD AND Tribune. 1 had heard
and read much about this way of teach
ing long ago, but never could understand
exactly how the lessons were conducted,
having spent most of my life in back
country places. where if children were
taught to read, write and cipher" they
were considered to be educated % And
now as | learn new facts and new modes
of teaching as the years come and GO, |
always feel an impulse to give to others
what L CLEAN, that they may partake of
the good which God has given unto me
An Object Lesson for a Primary
class:
LEAD PENCIL.
Teacher-What shape is a lead pencil ?
Pupil-Round.
What shape is a ball?
P.-Round.
T.-What shape is an egg?
Round.
T.-Then you see "round" does not
describe it. We call it a cylinder; can
you give the name of other cylinders ?
Look around the room.
P.-Stove-pipe, broom-stick, pencils,
p~en-holders, curtain-rollers, &c.
What color is a lead pencil?
P.-Black.
T.-Are they ever any other color?
P.-Yes,-blue, red and green.
Then if the scholars are old enough tell
them how these colors are produced.
That light, heat and sound are nothing
but motion, and that as the motion is fast
er the colors change from red to orange,
yellow, green, blue, violet, ETC., to black
or absence of color. Make them mix
paints. Show them prisnls, put different
colored papers on a swift spinning top, etc.
T.-What gives the black color to the
pencil?
Paint.
What is paint? and how is it
made? etc.
T.-What is next below the paint.
P.-Wood.
T.-What kind of wood?
P.-Cedar.
Scholars explain what I cedar tree is.
Why it is used in preference TO pine, etc.
It's the wood whole or joined to-
gethcr? Split Il pencil, notice the differ
ence between the pieces. What makes
the mark? How is it put inside the pen
ell? You say it is lead, here is a piece of
pure lead, doehe two look alike? mark
with both do they make the same mark ?
cut both do they cut alike? which is the
harder?
Teacher then explains that the lead is
made out of plumtago, lead. etc., etc.
The object of such u drill is to make the
scholars enquire into things-to examine
and compare-to reason-to know and
reflect. This is the true royal road to
learning.
"OBJECT LESSON" on RATS.
Teacher.-To what order do rats be-
long?
Pupil-To the order of Vertebrate.
T.-What do you mean by Vertebrate !
P.-Animals with q back bone.
T.-Which IS the highest class of Yer
tebrat9?
P.-Nlammals or animals that suckle
their young.
T.-Is the Rat a manned?
P.-Yes.
T.-Into what are the class of animals
divided?
Pinto families.
After some questions en- families that
they have studied the teacher asks if rats
belong to any Of these, then tells them
that mammals that gnaw are called ro-
dents, which means, that which gnaws.
Give me the names of some other
rodents?
P.-Mitc, gophcrs, squirrels, etc.
The teacher then gives the names OF
other mammals which they have previous
ly examined, and requires them to point
out the difference between, and the like
ness to, other mammals. For instance,
both have back-boncs, ribs, five senses.
skin, four extremities, and warm blood.
They arc omniverous, grow gray with age,
possess affections, ie-lovc, hatred, desire,
etc. They differ from man by being not
only quadrumona but quadrupeds. The
hair is more fully developed, they have a
tail, and are more acute i'll some senses.
They have LttcrS many timesa year, their
teeth constantly groao and arc worn away,
their whiskers are more sensitive than our
eyebrows, their organs of speech are differ
| ent, their species differ in a much greater
degree, VIZ: the musk rat, brown rat,
black rat, etc, etc. These are all brought
out as far as possible by questions fixed
upon the mind by the Uisib!e rat, and re-
curing the scholar to tell again every
thing that is told him. Dissection is al
ways made when practicable, and the
scholars are always required TO name each
part with it's uses, etc. OF course this is
not brought out all in one lesson. The
scholar is shown that the whale is a mann
mal-not 4 fish the bat a mammal-not
a bird and he is especially encouraged
to notice their habits, food, intelligence,
etc.. and thus cultivate his powers of OBJ
srrvation and comparison. f.. d.. ;.
FACTORYvILLE, Tenn, Jan. 1872.
Current Publications.
A good sign Of the times is the grow
ing number of Educational periodicals,
as we'll as the growing number of news
I'LL. -. oil,