River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1877-12-06
Educational.
III. :. BAKER. A. B.. Editor.
COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT

ADRiANA MCORAf, IeJuIilS 10 the Dldho
district, Hartland.
THERE is nothing in the law to pre-
vent board from adopting part of
two different series of readers.--Sfate
SUpt.
DOES not it concern the ladies who
teach, to spend, at least, as much time
in reading the latest fashions in edu-
cation as those in dress
THAT education may be speedily TAX
EN- from the dark and devious ways of
politics, ought to be the devout prayer
ofevery educational man.-Stdte Supt.
THE law precludes the superinten-
dent from granting anything but linn
tied certificates at private examina-
ton, even if the applicant has the
wisdom of Humboldt.
WE believe that those holding first
and second grade certificates In the
county have had little trouble insecur-
ing situations, fact which reflects
credit upon the district boards.
WE have mailed monthly and term
report blanks to all teachers or clerks,
accidents excepted. We ask but one
term report at the close of the winter
term, instead of two, as last term.
CORES of the Alexandria (Minn. Post
now before us, containing an educa-
tional department by Chas. A. Carson.
show that he is working with his usu-
al enthusiasm and vigor in that which
makes a country all that is desirable
education.
ONE evening per week spent in com
pany with friends who meet to read
selections from standard authors,
and essays of their own, il lyceum
cannot be organized, is not waste of
time. If there is anything which few
can do well, it is reading aloud.
WE believe that many teachers are
more interested in their work than tire
parents. How can the parents be
awakened, is problem demanding
solution. Will not each teacher strive
during the winter to interest the par
ents in his work! Experiment. Praise
their children to them if they show
talent i'll any direction. Convince
them that it will pay to educate that
child. We fear some poor teachers do
not court too much interest in the par
ents.
THERE are probably more people
mistaken in thinking that there are
two things which they can do better
than any one else, viz: teaching
school and editing a newspaper. than
in any other item of self-judgment.
of those who have tried either, a
smaller percentage feel at all satisfied
with their work than of any other
occupation. Inference: that the diff
ficulties, qualifications, and acquire
ments Of those callings are less under
stood, than of any other. Think twice
before you criticise bitterly the editor
and teacher. They usually know
enough of their own failures and
shortcomings to keep them humble if
they know anything.
DoCroRs are not the only people that
donot agree. We learned from the as
ISOLATION lately held in River Falls,
that geography should be made the
backbone of common school work, and
could be made of great value to the
learner i'm very many ways. And
from the Kenosha Telegraph we clip
brief article which disposes of the
subject very easily. Both views can
not be right. Supt. Hosea Barns, of
Kenosha county, wrote the article. Is
either view right. or are both wrong
Is geography as it is taught, entirely
different from geography as it should
be taught 2 Find out what is meant
by geography before adopting and act
ing upon either view. Mr.. Barns
says:
The study of Geography is the least
satisfactory of the studies regularly
pursued in our common schools. IL is
unsatisfactory.
First. because the time devoted to it
is very much greater than the import
ance of the subject demands.
Second, because a wide knowledge
of the subject is of comparatively lit
tie value to the student in his dealings
with other men.
Third, because as a means of ment-
al discipline it is useless.
EVEN if teacher believes that the
educational methods ard aims of the
schools which his grandfather attend
ed are superior. intrinsically, to those
of thepresent. before adopting them he
should decide which give the pupil
the best preparation for the battle of
life as it is fought to-day. Admitting
that society is not what it should be,
we must prepare to meet the world
of people upon their own ground. If
they say that they will trust those
who know only dead languages and
mathematics less readily, to do their
thinking, than those who know the
laws of nature as revealed in the
movements of mind and matter. then
| it is our duty to teach the latter and
let the former step back. Find out
whether a memory filed with the
knowledge of an encyclopedia, or the
power to think commercially aud reason