Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-06-04

tention-from tendo, or attendc, t0
stretch-brings out my thought. The
attention of which | speak tonight,
NAV be defined as the accomplishment
of the purpose for which the mind
was constituted. 1t is the secret of
all intellectual success. The man who
can do the greatest amount of mental
work is the man who can best hold
his attention to the subject in hand.
[ think it was Button who said, "Pa-
tience is Genius" Newton. when
asked how he was able to think out
such difficult problems, replied "All
that [ know about it is that | fix my
mind on the subject and hold it there
and turn the subject over and over,
until, after a while it is mastered.
The true teacher must learn to get the
attention and keep the attention of the
pupil It is one thing to arrest the
attention and another to fix it on a
certain subject. Tonight / propose
to speak practically. l shall do SO for
two reasons: 1st, | don't know much
about the philosophy of the subject.
2nd, The majority of this audience
will understand me better if | speak
n this way
'1st. Attention must be volunta-
ry; it cannot be coerced or bought.
A teacher promised five cents to every
one Of her scholars who would give at
tention. The scholars seemed to give
attention, but each one was thinking
what he would do with his five cents.
l remember very we'll the old regime,
when the master depended upon the
use Of the rod TO secure attention.
Teachers, nowadays employ much
better methods.
''2nd Attention must be persist
ent, and it must be acquired. 1t is a
fortunate thing in a community to
have teachers in the public schools
who train their pupils in habits of per
sistent attention
Bird. Attention must be inquiring
attention n--attention with an interroga-
ton point after it. Do not wholly
satisfy curiosity. Conceal as well as
reveal. Make the scholar eager for
| knowledge. He is not the teacher
who simply hears recitation. Teach
ing is quickening the mind to think
for itself. That is teaching in the
Sunday School and in the public school
The teacher who can get scholars to
work for themselves will be successful
! in securing attention. There are 9th
cr things upon which attention de-
! pends. Cd Place Of meeting; have
plenty of fresh air scholars will give
much better attention in room where
there is plenty OF pure air CD The
scholars should be free from fatigue.
You can't get good attention from a
tired scholar. (3) There should be
perfect freedom from interruption.
Neither the librarian, visitors nor the
superintendent should be allowed to
interrupt regular exercises.
An old lady with more money than
education, upon being asked how she
had managed to travel in foreign
countries without a knowledge of their
languages, replied q had an inter
rupter along" Too many Sunday
Schools are supplied with interrupters.
18th, The pupil : There should be
personal affection between the pupil
and the teacher. The scholar should
have confidence in the teacher ability.
It is a good thing for a Sunday school
teacher to have a reputation with his
class. Boys expect to learn something
from their teacher. What do boys
like best? I will tell you: knowledge
you can tell boys something that
they would like to know-speak of
something that interests the public
mind. 4 very good way to secure at
tention is to get the scholar to prepare
the lesson at home.
9Th. The teacher: The teacher
should have thorough knowledge OF
her lesson. I say HER lesson, for
when I want to think of good Sunday
school teachers I think Of lady.
Woman is the queen at home and IN
the Sunday school. Sometimes it is a
good plan to make mistake purposely
4 in order to test the attention and
knowledge of the pupils The teacher
should have enthusiasm and a will
power. It was Bulwer who said,
The secret OF success is will power. "
The teacher must learn to say, "God
/ helping me / will do the best | can. "
Don't talk to the whole class at once.
Different scholars require different
teaching. There is something IN
every lesson for each scholar. The
teacher should present plain practical
truths in simple language.
18th. Method l have great faith
in the elilptical method-lea7ing out a
word or thought occasionally for the
pupil to supply. l know it is an artlh-
cial method, but [ believe that IN nine
cases out of ten it is successful. mat
was good plan which bro Byron was
accutomed to recommending two ;
and four d's-these letters referred 10
persons, places, dates, doings. doctrines
and duties. Schollrs will always give
attention to stories. Have some good
stories on hand. Tell only as many as
! it seems necessary to tell in order 70
secure attention. Appeal to the I'M
agination of the child. Use iilustFa-
tions; they like to look at pictures