Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1879-07-30
OUR EDUCA TION.

A correspondent of the New York
Gazette, in alluding to the scope and
wide range our educational system
has taken, appropriately remarks
No doubt in our public school too
much is frequently attempted to be
taught by teachers. The primary OBJ
Iject Of our public school system to
teach every child in the State reading,
writing, and arithmetic is being dis
carded, and new studies are now in
troduced which do not rightly belong
to what might be properly termed a
sound elementary public school educa.
ton. Common school pupils are dis
tracted by too great variety of
studies, instead of their attention
being kept to the elementary branches
until they are first thoroughly acquir.
ed. Many of the public schools of our
country have an annual winter term
of five months and, since this is all the
time allowed during the entire year to
some pupils for mental improvement,
the conscientious teacher will take
care that none of it is frittered away
in the vain endeavor to acquire even a
rudimentary knowledge Of what can
not possibly be of much practical ben
eft TO the scholar in after life. The
best that the teachers Of numbers of
our public schools in the rural districts
can do for their pupils is to instruct
them well in the three essentials refer
red to namely: reading, writing, and
arithmetic. Older and more advanced
scholars can be taught grammar, but
it should be omitted altogether rather
than have the frst-named branches
neglected and the thorough acquire
ment slighted. Although it is very
important to have good knowledge
of "the art of speaking and writing
the English language correctly" at the
same time it ought not TO be forgotten
that Shakespeare wrote before any
English grammar was published and
we have bis friend Ben Jonson's au.
thcrity for stating that "He (Shakes-
peare) had small Latin and less Greek" !"
Merely technical knowledge of En-
glish grammar will never make fine
writer, or speaker, there must exist a
mind active, excursive, and well-stored
with large amount Of general infor-
nation obtained from many sources.
II follows, il the above be true, that
a good public school teacher should
have the power to awaken in his
scholars disposition to supplement
the requirement of the elementary
branches of learning by future investi-
cations in science, literature, and art.
EVERY child has an aptitude for some
special study, this aptness discerning
and intelligent instructor will discover
and encourage. 1t is teachers best
attainments to be able to awaken in
the mind Of a boy or girl love Of
knowledge Tor its own sake; such q
love will lift its possessor into the clear
and pure atmosphere Of scholarly in
vestigation and present such varied
and beautiful sources of delight as to
affantnally onrh oil inolinatinns TO on
gage in such vicious indulgonces as are
ruinous to spiritual worthiness.
Our County Superintendent has ex-
pressed, at his recent examinations OF
persons wishing TO teach, an earnest
desire that they should endeavor to
gain not only suitable knowledge OF
the branches taught in tho public
schools, but also in addition as much
useful general information as possible
, This is right Because a well-iDform-
cd teacher can make q recitation far
more instructive and entertaining than
one who knows little excepting what
) the school textbooks contain. The
principles in the books can be admira
bly, illustrated by a welliniormed
teacher and in this manner indellibly
impressed upon the plastic minds Of
pupils. One mistake too often made
in the examination of teachers consists
in asking them puzzling questions and
problems which they are unable, al
the moment, to answer, but which, i
they had reasonable time for investi
cation and reference, they could intel
, ligently answer and solve. Questions
, OF this character are really not fail
test of ability. II the teacher is in
formed respecting oil the fundamental
, , rules or principles of the branches
which he is expected to teach, thi
= surely ought to be sufficient; the vari
GUS applications of such rules or prin
y ciples are generally under such cir
cumstances at least satisfactorily mad'
: by him or her in the school-room
, Moreover the children in our publ,
schools are best taught not by arith
metical, geographical, and other puz
= zles, but by plain, lucid presentation
/. Of the facts and principles OF practica
1 value.
D We have said that above all els
J. reading, writing, and arithmetic, shoul'
} receive attention in our public schools
! Tho reader must, however, understan,
B that we would not have by any mean
J, the very necessary art Of spelling wei
! neglected. The most neatly writer
0 letter is terribly marTed if the word
0 in it are incorrectly spelled. The fol
= lowing incident, which we copy fron
4 an exchange, illustrates the import
Q ance OF thoroughness in the arts Q
Q spelling and writing A beautiful an
Q talented girl had completed the cours
J, of study in popular college. He
/ share in the public exercises of CON
}. mencement day was received with en-
i thusiastic admiration by large pre-
y miscuous assemblage. The Prcsiden
Q took the earliest opportunity to cor
!, gratulate the father upon bis daugl
Y ter's brilliant success, and the plair
Q blunt, but sensible old man replied
Il "Now, sir, | would be glad TO bav
Q you recommend some good school I
: which | will send my daughter this
Il she may be taught TO spell and writ
}, for her letters home are simply di
Il graceful.
!, A FALSE EsrIMATE.-Somc yoal
J. ago as Missouri river steamboi
II came to a landing,a a tall ,ungainly ,gawl
Q ish looking fellow, leaning against