Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1877-03-14

" 1t can't be done" said |, positively.
lit can be DONE" said my friend; and
what's more, if you will come down TO
my school on Monday, you shall see it
DONE
"Tll come what Iime?'
Eleven o'clock"
"I'll be there"
We had been discussing about the best
method of teaching geography. | had in
sisted that it could not be taught TO child
rem in such way that they would be both
interested and proiited. Either end might
be attained-not both. My friend had
Joined issue with me, and the discussion
had ended in the words given above.
| was on hand promptly ut eleven
o'clock, on Monday. My friend Clark
was the principal of flourshing private
school. lie met me cordially, and took
me into his recitation room.
so you keep up the custom of sending
classes to the teachers?'
Yes; we like il much better than the
modern plan"
The room was rather small. 1t con-
tanned circular table, a side stand, and
and several chairs. On the central table
was circular tray, diameter of which was
some six inches less than that of the stand,
1t was filled with fresh clay. On the side
table was covered wooden box.
| had scarcely time to notice thus much,
before the class entered. There were four
girls and two boys. At the word of com
mand, one brought from the box half Il
dozen tin spatulas and distributed them,
"What country do we take to-day"
asked the master. Every hand was raised.
CLARA" " Africa Right. Fred
may begin" :.
A roguish little fellow began marking
on the clay the outlines of the northern
coast.
s" What lies north of Africa, Rosie?'
Mediterranean Sea-"
Fright. What is north of the Mediter-
ranean Sea, Charlie?" Europe
Right. Mamie may 90 on, Fred"
Mamie took the instrument and finished
the coastline, the master meantime ques'
tioning the rest of the class regarding the
boundaries, position, &c, of the country.
The outline marked, all took their spatulas
and began pressing down the clay outside
the line.
Mention some mountains"
All hands were raised.
"Right;" and in IN instant the children
were busily heaping up clay in the centre
to represent the .able-land.
" And now what mountains shall VIC
make first, Erthilda?'
The Mountains Of the Moon"
Where are they, Mamie?'
While Mamie replies, ErthiIda heaps u
the Mountains OF the Moon Soon t"t
hands fly up.
Charlie"
She hasn't made them right"
Erthilda, not she"
"Erthilda hasn't made them right"
You may change them.
But Charles attempt is hardly mort
successful, and finally Rosie has to MAKE
them right. The other mountains arc
formed by another pupil, in much thu
same way; thus lakes are dug and rivers
drawn, and the spot covered with sand
Forests are represented by clumps of higl
moss. Next they come to the towns; ant
here they have much difficulty. A larg
wax headed pin represents large city; !
smaller one, II city less popular; and 50 on
Then there is more trouble about placin!
the cities on the right river-bank, or tn
proper distance from the coast. Whel
this is finished,
q" Where shall we put the lion?" askc
the master, holding up one,
After much discussion, he is placed OF
the southern part. Other animals follow
Finally the lakes, rivers, and oceans ar
filled with water, and the class is dsmisse
dirty but happy-to the wash-bowls.
/" And is that aIl?"
Z" BY no means. could have give
YOU II show recitation, but thought yol
would prefer this, which shows our metho
better. This is the first day they hav
spent upon Africa Tomorrow they vii
do the same thing in much shorter tim
and II little leisure will b. left for them t
reproduce it on the board. Then the
will draw without the clay model, an
finally will describe the whole without III
of any kind
Then we shall spend little time ON aC
counts of tile history, &c, of the country
Livingston and Stanley will come in an
Du Chaillu, the Carthagenians, and III
Punic wars Cleopatra and Caesar, who's
acquaintance they have already made
Then we shall take, in the same way,
detailed study of two or three countries.
! "Do you oblige your pupils to learn II
the rivers, cities, lakes, &c?"
mo, indeed. For example; you 81,
to-day what they took in Africa-liv
rivers and eight or ten cities, two noun
tain ranges, three lakes
BY this time another class had come in
to the room, and detained my friend onl
TO ask one more question.
Is this plan original with you9"
Il have never seen anything of tn
kind elsewhere. 1t grew out of the need
of my pupils. l should like sometime I
give you its history. Good-morning.'