The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1875-08-25
A TWO HOURS LECTURE
COFD ENSED
TO ONE OF FIVE MINUTES.
BY JOHN COLLINS.
Editor Of the n1orrigtown eazette:

Education is the art Of bringing |
out ideas, not examining them into
the heads of the young. Its object
is the cultivation of the physical,
intellectual and moral faculties.
1t begins in infancy-the mother
is the first teacher, but the child
learns much beforehe instruction is
Of any use. We acquire more valu-
able knowledge in the first Eve years
OF our lives than in all the rest.
Our senses. properly employed, are
the most reliable means Of obtain
ing information Hence the neces-
city that, with the growth Of the bo-
dy, they should be carefully trained
and never stimulated to oYer-exer-
ton.
intellectual education at home or
ut school should be commenced at
the age Of six to ten years, accord
ing to the temperament and consti-
tuition of the individual. Three
hours Of study and recitation every
day is sufficient at frst-and the
time may be gradually increased to
i've hours.
e. Teachers would do we'll to go out
at recess with their classes. No child
should be forced to memorize what
it does not understand. Assistance
in learning a lesson is often as i'm
Dortant as the recital. Morals should
be taught more by example than by
precept. Never give up to the will
Of a child, unless the child is right,
which is sometimes possible. The
obstinaey Of some children should
be broken, just as certainly and eff
fectually as the refractory nature Of
q colt. The less corporal punish
ment the better, but when it is ne
cessary, las the wise man says,) "let
not thy soul spare for his crying" ]
Solitary confinement will generally
result IN a cure, when reasoning fails.
,- No one should teach without
gift. (Note.-This cannot be bought
with money! Every teacher should
have good sight, hearing, feeling.
smell. taste and health, When worn
out. thew should leave the business,
and be supported at the expense Of
the community, as they seldom lay
M money for old age. Equal quail
fications and services should gener-
ally receive equal pay, without re-
gard to sex. Those who pretend to
teach only for the salary deserve
very small one. The love Of money
in them becomes q fruitful root of
misgovernment and neglect of duty.
For all teachers three P's are requi-
site = Patience, Perseverance and
Prayer-a three-f fold cord, not easily
broken, though it may be severely
tried by disobedient scholars.
"None are fit to govern others,
who cannot govern themselves" is
an old saying, known by everybody,
but kept in mind by very few. The
! fewer rules for q school the better.
Plenty of aoorb is the first, second
and final requisite for the school
room. Give your commands by ges-
ture as much as possible. Don't
watch for disorder. If you begin,
Won may have to go on. Hide the
whip If you have amy in a desk or
dark closet. Never bring it out for
exhibition. If you have done wrong
TO pupil, apologize for it. You will
feel better and the injured party will
think better of you. The feelings
of children are just as sensitive as
your own, and perhaps little more
so. Never promise without perform
ing. Strive to elevate the tone Of
morals. Avoid every improper hab-
it of.spealzing, standing, walking or
sitting. Never spit, yawn, snecze or
assume any attitude that would be
out of place in the most genteel so
eiety. Be always punctual in call
ing and dismissing school. DO not
let the time appropriated to one les
son encroach on that of another, eX-
eept for some very urgent reason.
Teach as much without the book as
you can. Make the scholars use
their own words instead Of those in
the book, if possible. Lend a word
at times, when the pupil has the idea.
but not the expression. Enforce
the necessity of taking good care of
books by proper handling, &C. Post
up, where every one can see it, the
motto, " A place for everything and
every thing in It's place" Read,
practice and teach it.
An able Principal of a Normal
School lays down the following max
inns, viz:
s= Never attempt to teach what
you do not fully understand.
Never tell child when you can
make it tell you.
Never give a piece Of informa-
ton without asking for it again.
Never use q hard word If an
easy one will convey your meaning.
Never give an unnecessary COM
mand, nor one which you do not in
tend to see obeyed.'
Take care of your health-on it
must depend, in a great measure, the
success of your teaching.
Leave the school neighborhood
during vacation for q change of
scene, thoughts and company. Let
each returning year find you more
devoted TO your Professionalism
DESTROYS Of studying how to teach
more anxious for the improvement
Of your scholars
Trustees should visit schools far
more frequently than they do-to
encourage the teachers, TO assist
them by advice and use every influ-
encc to make. the school successful
Parents should also visit the teach
ers, to talk a0ab them, inside, instead
Of at them outside the house.