Helena weekly herald., 1879-01-09
GOING TO SCHOOL.
I'M. Quad In Detroit Free Press.l


his hands before the fire.
II want to show you that you are al
wrong" he said, as he sat down, land hav'
therefore brought James along. You Cal
ask him any questions you see tit. Perhaps
you'd better test him in geography little"
"James what are the principal products ol
Louisiana 2" asked.
''Sugar, molasses, cotton and rice," ht
prOmtly answered.
"How do we get sugar? What is it before
it is sugar p
Il don't know, sir"
"Does rice grow on trees, or how?"
ION trees, guess
"What is molasses, James p
''It is sweet stuff, sir"
How does cotton grow ?"
II don't know-we never had that"
! "What are exports 2"
II don't know, sir"
| ''Why do you ask him such questions ??
put in Mr.. Old Fogy, getting irritated righ,
away.
''Simply to see if you have really taught
him anything. You have been teaching him
for several years, and yet he can't tell whether
molasses is dug out of hill or picked from
| an old knot-hole. When you first mentioned
the name Louisiana to him you could have
| explained all the rest in two minutes. Now,
James, what is our system of government ?"
Republican, sir"
"And what is that of Russian"
''Monarchial, SIR"
''Very we'll; what is the difference between
them Name any one point"
1T is awful cold in Russia!" answered the
boy after long wait.
''That isn't fair-indeed it isn't!" exclaimed
Mr.. OLD Fogy as he rose up.
''Isn't it? You have, as a teacher, asked
these same questions week after week for
twenty years, and yet never explained single
point The boy now believes that the weather
makes the difference between free govern
ment and despotism, and he'll keep on be-
lieving until some one outside of school en-
lightens him. Now, James. take this slate
and pencil and draw me cape.'
'Why, how singular!" growled Mr.. Old
Fogy.
Eyes, very" replied as James gave it up.
'For years this boy has been told that cape
is point of land projecting into the water,
and yet he can't mark out one! Well, does
he know anything about arithmetic p
HE can do any sum in the first half of the
book, sir"
'Can, eh James, if you kept store, and
woman bought ten yards of dress goods at
forty cents per yard, but returned the goods
and wanted factory at five cents per yard,
how many yards would you give her ?"
James figured. He bit his pencil and figured
again. He pushed out his tongue, wet his
pencil and finally replied:
so can't tell"
Very singular-very singular!" growled
Mr.. Old Fogy.
so it is. Now let me hear himread"
James took the school-reader and began
"a farmer whose poultry yard had suf-
fered severely from the foxes, succeeded at
last in catching one, etc.
''Is your book right side up, James?"
eyes, SIR"
"And yonr eyes on the lines?"
''Yes, sir"
swell, now, wait moment"
Half dozen children were playing up
stairs, and calling them down selected girl |
eight years old. handed her the book, and
said:
''Now, Lily, turn the book upside down |
md read US about the farmer and the fox"
She held the book away and repeated |
whole page without hesitation.
"You see, Mr.. Old FOgy, your boy has |
'ead that article and heard it read hundred
lines. It was long ago monotonous to him.
BE simply repeats it parrot-like, and his mind
8 not whit interested, as it would be if he
cad something new and different each day.
Now, I'll show you how would teach school.
Children, stand here in q row, and all answer
ogether. If I ship goods into any other
country what are they called?"
sExports, sir"
eff 1 buy good of any other country?"
''Imports, sir"
''Now, Henry, I give you the word iron"
''Iron, sir, j" he began lis dug from the earth
, the form of ore. 1t is melted, purified and
len used in the manufacture of thousands of
rticles. Iron ore is found in several States
, the Union, and in many countries across
,e oceans. Without iron we could have no
lilroads, steamboats,, street cars or machine
s.What book did he learn from ?" asked
II. Old Fogy. Il.
'.From none. Two weeks ago I showed
i'm a piece of iron ore and explained what
. now knows as well as you or 1. He isn't
n years old yet and he can hardly read at
|. Now, little Susan, here is newspaper" 8
Eyes, sir. In the first place the paper is
ade of rags or straw or wood. Then men
lied printers arrange metal letters into
ords and words into lines, and when there 9
e enough to fill the paper it is printed on t
hat is called press.
s'singular- singular" coughed Mr..
ID Fogy.
sis itS Your 12-year old pupil couldn't !
we explained single point. have repeat. '
that twice to this 6-year old child and che !,
as well posted as you are. Let me ask :
ur pupil what q conjunction IT," y
A word connecting two other words, cir. o