The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1878-06-06

lege bred, possess amiability, power to
| govern, but unless he comprehend the
mysteries of the common school studies.
MS place Is not in the country mixed
school. If these subjects be understood
the knowledge can be shown at an exam
nation conducted fairly and honestly.
| Capacity for common school work can
| not be more accurately measured than by
| written answers to questions properly
| covering the subjects that must be
| taught. One cannot understand Gram
mar and not be able to give fair EXPOSE
| ton of it i'll answer to carefully graded
questions. Neither IS he fit to teach
arithmetic and not be able to exhibit his
skill in the working of problems and in
the discussion of principles. The doubters
OF the testing power of examinations, as
well as the caviler, at the appreciation
given to their work, are to be mistrusted.
They may earn cheap regulations with
the unthinking, but are properly gagged
by the thoughtful.
The schools of the County have all
been visited during the past winter and
spring, many Of them twice. The large
number of districts, the shortness of
time at command and the uncertainty of
the weather necessitates short visits.
District officers and patrons can by fire..
quent visits to the schools act as incen-
tives to pupils and teachers. Several
schools have been visited the past winter
in which not another visitor had been
present during the pending term.
The schools are believed to be in
fairly progressive state. Teachers are
preparing themselves more carefully.
Better accommodations are being provid.
ed, and effort is being made in the direc-
ton of procuring better furniture and
larger amount of apparatus. Pupils are
being more generally provided with text
books. Much needs to be done yet, and
much will be done in the course of few
years.
In many of the districts but five months
school is maintained. The money spent
for the support of such schools is not
advantageously used. The term is too
short. The interval between the close of
one term and the commencement of an
other is SO great that little is remember
ed by the pupils, when they enter school
of what has been taught them the pre-
vious term. Material progress cannot
under such circumstances be made by
the pupils. One terms work is repe-
tition of what has been done before.
Seven months is as short time as school
should he maintained in any district.
Summer schools are not as a rule well
attended, and are very seldom attended
by the larger pupils Of the districts.
Schools should open as early in the fall
as possible, as early as October, and
continue in session until the years
school is completed, if possible, without
change of teachers. Many districts of
the county are adopting the above plan
with gratifying results. There are dis
| tricts in the county that can and do sue
cessfully maintain summer schools, but
1t is believed that the plan recommended
above would work advantageously in
every case. Districts maintaining long
| terms of school must of course have
| summer sessions.
| Young and inexperienced persons
constantly enter the business of teach
ing. That they do not meet with i'm
mediate and eminent success is not at all
strange. Desire to do well accompanied
with education, go far to insure success
at an early day, but experience is need
! ed; the judgment must be cultivated.
This class of teachers frequently create
antagonism. The opinions of school
officers and intelligent members of dis
tricts are not given proper consideration.
| Harmony must exist III a district if the
full benefit of the school is to be derived.
! 1t IS sometimes better to attain results
by methods considered secondary IN eff
/
whole is enhanced. A persistent and
dogmatic advocacy of single line of pro-
cedure is often as glazing an evidence Of
ignorance of methods of teaching sit is I'M
. fortunate IN securing posi-
tions. Tact and proper and timely presen-
tation of the why's and wherefores should
mark the teachers course. If district
boards and the patrons of the schools are
not considered up in school matters, per-
haps suitable endeavor may enable earn
est teachers to impress proper ideas up
on them. Prove capability to lead be-
fore assuming to dictate, and remember
that independence does not consist in
ignoring the opinions of those who have
the right to suggest and the power to
control
The teachers meetings during the past
winter were productive of much good,
and in spite OF the unfavorable weather
were very successful. The energetic
movers in the matter deserve credit for
the good work perfor med.
Application has been made for an
Institute, to be held in August. If we
are granted one all that can be asked is
that it may be as successful as the one
last held iii this city.
W. A. WALKER,
Co. Supt. of Schools.
| MANITowoc, June 4th, 1878.