The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1878-04-20

WHAT TEACHER SHOULD LEARN.
vi.
At the beginning our pupils show
weakness and slowness OF memory 1of
the Greek aud Latin names, but for
this self-same reason this branch OF
instruction is a good exercise for
their memory A child that knows
a few hundred of these names will
easily memorize words OF the sciences
and foreign languages, tor the knoWl-
'edoe of which iI is educated. Since
the Liunean names are known In
America as we'll as in Europe, those
of the pupils who have studied them
will be qualified everywhere TO use
and to Judge about the knowledge OF
botany, aud if afterwards they resolve
to continue this science as physicians |
or druggists, they will already know
all technical terms. And since the !
number of plants is very great and
frequent repetition is needed, If we
want their names to be retained by
the light memory of the youth, it is
necessary that besides the plant,
which is shown in the lesson, others
Are placed on the desk, to be re-
viewed aud to be called by taeir
names.
IL would be expedient TO divide
this instruction into two courses. In
the first c0ursus we treat the structure
of the plant, which is instantly per
ceiyed, the root, the stalk and the
leaves. the blossom, the callx, the
seed and the fruit. In the second
couYsus we take thorough repetition
of tire first lessons and now we would
look for the more difficult organism
of the stamina and pistillt, and place
the plant in its respective class and
order. A fora of Louisiana, OF the
same size as Dimitry's History of
Louisiana" would be of great service,
aud here is an opportunity for one OF
our rising generation to make himself
useful by writing practical school
book of the wanted quality.
Everybody may judge how great
variety of exercise can be derived
from this nstructi0p-opportuni
procured for the development of see
ing and feeling, of memory and refee,
ton. Imagine, for instance, class O
represent Galeopsis Ladanum (Linnt
xiv, ~, q common weed, which they
can fnd every where.
What is the name OF this plant
Galeopsis Ladanum. Describe it
stalk +? 1t is woody. Furthermore
1t is striped. Nothing else 1t ha
branches. How are these branche
placed 2 Facing each other. What Q
the branches ? They have leaves
OF what color are these leaves The.
are green OF what shapeP Lance
shape. What else of the leaves
They are indented. Nothing else
They are stalked. How do thes
leaves stand Facing each othe
What of the blossoms +? They resen
BILE the shape of jaws. What of til
calix 1t is five times indentet
Describe these indentations !? TheS
notches have little hairs. Now tur
around aud describe Galeopsis Lad;
mum9 GaleOpsis Ladauum has
woody, striped stalk with opposi
branches. Its leaves are green, lal
cet-shaped and stalked, and face eat
other, while the blossoms are jay
shaped with a five-fold indente
calix, the notches of which are co
cred with little hairs.
Yesterday we saw Atropa Bell
donna describe it again and cor
pare it with Galeopsis Ladanul
etc. Now we may call upon pul
that has acquired the most knowled
in botany, aud he. must pronoun
the names of all plants on the des
which names are loudly repeated
the whole class. Afterwards
teacher may call the names of
plants one after the other and t
boys must look for the plant Gale
For a change the teacher may tell
one boy the name of an herb aud t
class has to gness what name it W
Thereby not only the names are
peated, bnt the boys are induced
repeat these names without bel
tired of this monotonous occupati
These exercises can be exceedin,
multiplied. You may tell a boy
look closely at the plants that
spread out on the desk and then
turn around and repeat number
them in the same order as they
laid out. This is an excellent eS
else of reflection and memory. hi
heard boys of eight years repeat
names of forty plants in the same
der as they were on the desk
the boy did not look at the desk.
you may let your boys rise in Il
seats with their hands folded ba
wards and put in each of these Ii
hands leaf of the plants taught
let the young hopeful guess by
feeling from what plant it is take
The engineers and firemen on