The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1874-10-08
A Letter to reache1r.s,,I 1.,I

Many of you are; commencing a
work thatis entirely new to you.
You will learn a great many things
by experience. A Ifsome n one would
tell you such things as you wiz learn
after years of trial ,wfst. a 2 iieat saving
of time it wou4a bes But as every
one expects to do little better than
those who have lahored before them
in the same calling, it is hardly pr0ba-
BILE that many of you will read my
letter. Reading Is an accomplishment
Of the greatest importance and should
receive the most attention in a school
Of small scholars. Ifthey don learn
TO read we'll when young it is doubt
ful if they ever do, Other studies
crowd too heavily upon them after
they have been to school awhile, and
they must use the different readers,
whether they can read easily in the
second reader or not Reading is
some like music, il can be learned
best by following the example set by
the teacher. 1t is very much neglected
i'll the district schools of the present
day. The lesson should be studied
by the scholar, so as to know every
word readily by sight, and call it
without any hesitation; and give the
sense Of the reading at the SINE time.
A familiarity with the spelling
book aids much in knowing words at
first and probably is essential in be-
coming. good reader. knowing
words by their shape and not entirely
by the lettePsathey contain Is an act of
memory, and can be learned from the
spelling book in conjunction with the
reader. The lesson should be studied
with the intention of reading it in a
ready, easy and natural way. 1t
should be studied with the expectation
of understanding it aud delivering it
so as to be understood by all who
hear it read, Preparing a lesson by
copying it down on a slate is only an.
obstruction to the scholar. 1t divides
the attention on two subjects: writing
or reading when it ought to be col
lected on the one. Again scholars
should contract such habits as will be
most useful to them in active life.
Many lawyers, physicians, and minis
ters read probably three or four thou
sand printed pages annually; with a
desire to understand apd remember
what they read. But il would be an
impossible task to copy it eff before
luHy Gull 2Gb IL luIO Lu0lI llllHuS. l16J
each scholar study the whole lesson,
and that it may not be too long let
three or four read the same. The
teacher may read half page and the
first and second scholar may read the
same. The teapher may then read
half page and two or three scholars
read the same, and the balance of the
class may read one or-the. other of
these lepsons on the teaoheI, may read
new lesion as8tlIe size of the class
may require. Reading verse about is
not of much account as it does not
give scholar time to make fair start
and each one will be getting over his
verse while the Others are reading.
Reading till one makes mistake is
not the best way to improve in read
ing for either small or large scholars.
Reading in concert does not inprovc
any one in reading as mgGh as reading
alone. 1t may learn some to drawl
and some may have to hurry more
than is natural for them in order to
keep along with the others. Like the
preceding exerciseait may to
show what scholars can do. 1t has
been said that schools and College do
not make scholars learn; they only
give them an opportunity to learn.
The best teacher is the one who ar
ranges plans for scholars to learn use
full lessons with the least superGuity
and idIeness, RADICAL