River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1876-06-08
Educational
III. y. BAKER. A. H., Editor.
County SUPERINTENDENT

TExr BooKs.-Beware of a teacher
who thinks that there is but one good
text book upon given topic. The
smallest books upon a given subject,
are the best text books for common
school use. 1t is Of the greatest i'm.
portance that they should be uniform
in the same school. A good teacher is
more desirable than a good book, as
he can supply or omit, as seems best.
We may, in this department, from
time to time, notice various books,
sent by the publishers for examina-
ton. We may speak well of two
readers, or a dozen spoilers, and do so
with good reason. For example,
there are many good sewing machines,
religions, reapers, and mowers. He
is bigot who says one is by far the
best. So of text books. But there
are poor books, and poor machines.
We hdNC A1NOlAtCss bdL WITH OlNeT
methods, and other teachers, our IA
vorites may not be what is needed. A
good teacher will do well with Barnes,
Swinton's, Yenable's, or Anderson's
history; but we never saw class do
ing well with Goodrich's. Of readers,
the National, United States, or Ameri-
can, are good enough. Browns or
Harvey's grammars win do. Greene's
or Kerl's, also, if one-half or two
thirds is omitted.
PERIODICALS. The Kenosha Tele-
graphs educational department was
very interesting, last week.
The New England Journal of Educa-
ton, has some questions for oral drill,
and almost anything else that is need
ed by teachers. Take it. Weekly, So
per year.
The Undergraduate, published by the
students of Middlebury College, vt,
is more newsy than ordinary college
papers, and very interesting to alum
nj. It contains many familiar names.
1t is really astonishing to see how
indignant people become when their
neighbors' children behave improper.
ly in school, or on the street. We
never met person who said his own
child was ugly, Sometimes they may
be little playful, but the teacher will
have no trouble with them. Besides
they have good minds and are anxious
tolearn. Whata mystery this is, the
place where bad children come from.
0yE school clerk very properly told
the teacher to instruct the pupils in
the manners Of ladies and gentlemen
Do parents have no duty in that direc-
toni
The Patterson district, River Falls,
No. 3, has invested $50 in a district
library. A good move. Their present
teacher, Clara A. Healy, is vigorous in
discipline, and rapidly eliminating
the turbulent spirit.
RECENT scientific experiments prove
that the sunshine beats down upon a
square mile with force Of over two
tons. Also, that bodies weigh less up
on the water than upon the land
JOSIE HADLEY, Forestyille, is a very
strict disciplinarian She makes her
power felt on the playground, to re.
strain roughness. No talking even, in
the school room, at intermission.
Initiate.
Do NOT allow pupils to whisper in re-
plying to a question. They should
speak distinctly, as well as audibly.
TIE warm weather brings out flies,
book agents, snakes, washing ma.
chine peddlers, and other yermin.
" EVERY lawyer could fill a peda.
gogue's chair, with as much credit to
himself as James II. Wilkinson, in the
Bailey district, Clifton, we should be
glad to see the legal fraternity alb.
sorbed by the educational.
WE are Disguised with the twaddle
and sentimental nonsense about cor
poral punishment in school. We have
seen schools improved very much by
its use, and shall continue to believe
in it. Moral suasion is a good topic
upon which to say soft nothirgs. The
state supt. states il very mildly, when
he says, There ID squeamish notion
in some quarters, that the rod is a rel.
ic Of barbarism," and speaks Of the
futility Of the Grass pellets of moral
suasion." Let the topic rest. Take
human nature az il is, not as il should
be, and waste weak eloquence on some
newer chimera
TIE Ellsworth school, under the
guiding hand Of Miss ;. G. Thomas, is
on the road from chaos to system.
Per your grammar classes at cor.
recting sentences as soon as posi-.
BILE.
Is the last No. OF this column, in
the 9TH question. istE should be IBsth.