Mexico weekly ledger., 1879-05-08

1 HNT TO TEACHERS.
The president of the Chicago Board
of Education very wisely suggests
that something may be done to coun-
teract the effect of sensational-story
papers, by calling the attention to
parents to such books as would be
beneficial to children, and through
the schools melting children to read
Them. This last is most necessary;
young people will rarely read a really
good and useful book which their
taste does not demand. The right
sort of teacher,-one full of tact, Gull
tivation, and judgment,-will know
how to inspire the proper taste. The
ten-minute-talk which has interested
a bright boy in some suggestive and
valuable look, may serve to bend his
mind for life in a noble and uself di-
recticn.-W. Virginia Jour. of Ed.
READING.
A good reader is not n who has
been drilled in a few selections till he
can initiate somebody's tones and in
fections, bnt he who can first take in
at sight, and then express with his
voice, the thought of the author.
After the first steps, no finical cor
rections ought to be made while q
pupil is reading. If he has so grasp
ed the thought that he unconsciously
substitutes an appropriate synonym,
this is ain excellence. II is often
treated as a blemish. In the more
advanced stages, no child a really
become a good reader by porting
over his exercise a long time before
reading it aloud. He ought frequent
ly to practice reading at sight. In
this way the eye learns to read q line
or so in advance of the voice. -Supt.
A. p. Marble, Worcester.
THE NORMAL SCHOOLS.
Illinois is preparing to abolish her
normal schools that is, to tap the
root of her public school system. A
public school system without we'll
educated teachers is like an army
,watheut educated offers. If the schools
are not true normal schools, reform
them do not abolish them. Eternal
vigilance is the price Of public educa-
ton |; and there are so many politi-
clans in this country who have no in
terest in preserving public education,
and SO many people that are sensitive
to taxes and insensitive Of ignorsnce,
that we can afford to be watchtul.
Christian Union.
PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHERS.
/ hold it as true, that of all th e
schools In our midst the primary
school requires not only the highest
teaching power, but the rarest per-
sonal fitness. Since the teaching is
mostly oral, and but few books are or
a be used, it Is absolutely necessary
for the teacher of such a school to be
thorough in the primary branches,
but to have a mind richly endowed
with choice knowledge. l assert,
without fear Of successful contradic-
ton. that there are very many facts
relating to geography, English gram
mar, history, arithmetic, and, L may
add, of the natural sciences, that can
be simplified and beautified as to be
not only readily understood, but be
made wonderfully attractive. The
position Of the primary teacher is
the most important one in eur entire
graded system. The youthful mind,
tender and susceptible, is placed be-
fore such . teacher for the impress.
sions to be made that will tell upon
coming society.-Supt. j.. FL. Groves,
Delaware.
TEACHERS QUALIFICATIONS.
We a imagine some of the profess
sion getting FESTIVE on the subject of
the qualifications of the teacher, con
ceiving that they hear too much of
the matter, and see too little of e c
onpcnse Tor any high qualifications
with win Il they may seek 10 endow
tbemselyec. Nevertheless, IL must
be apparent that IT, prizes Of the
profession arc apt TO fall into the lap
Of h. deserving and that he who
best fits himself t. his work is the
raan who il most >ten successful.
The getting OF