Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-03-31
Talks with Teachers.

"NoRTHFIELD says: " | have class of
beginners in grammar and have done my
hest to make it interesting for them, but
always detested the study myself, and there is
very indication that the class does and
will continue to do so unless some change
is made for the better. They get the les
IONS in the book, but seem to have little
idea of the meaning conveyed. Can you
suggest a remedy 7" The difficulty is half
removed when you realize the fact that such
thing exists. 1t may be you have ad-
hered too closely to the textbook. Drop it
for a while or occasionally, and in place of
The regular lesson read your class some short
sketch from a newspaper. Let this be
written from memory, as carefully as may
be, by each member of the class and the re-
suits compared, the viol ,tions of good usage
talked over (not criticised), capitals removed
in most cases, etc. In these talks point
out the misapplications of the rules in the
lesson of the previous day, while tits fresh
in mind. Have some such exercises at
least twice week, or every day if prac-
ticable; vary them each day, or abandon
hem for time for something new when
-ver you see there is danger of their getting
TO be an old story. In schools which are
ny some called the best in the country
grammar is not taught from separate text
hook, but is incidentally made part of the
various written and conversational exercises
which occur through the day.
w. c. b. SAYS: al have five scholars
rom an adjoining town. Four of them
come from district which has no school
the other from one which has. a. How
hall answer the question in the register
which asks What is the attendance of
he scholars of the district between the ages
If five and twenty years?' CD Is there any
law touching the point If so, what is
| it? (3) Are women eligible to school Off
ces in Vermont? a. If board of select
men made an error in dividing the public
money, giving to some districts more and
% others less than belonged to them, could
subsequent board rectify the error by with
holding from the overpaid districts an
amount sufficient TO make up the deficit in
| he other class ?" a. The four mentioned
will draw public money in the town where
they attend school, provided they are of
chool age. Those scholars who come from
district where no school is sustained
'hould be counted as public money scholars,
wherever they attend. The other would
draw money from the town where the scholar
resides. (2) Yes. No. 43, p. 1875, Acts of
1876, reads whenever in any school dis
rict, in any town, public school shall not
be in operation, any parent, patron or guar
liam residing in such district, may, by con-
sent of the prudential committee of any
neghboring district in said town, or in an
adjoining town, send his children, wards, or
,uch children as may be at that time resid-
ing in his family, and who are of school age,
TO the public school in such neighboring dis
trict, aud such scholars may be counted as
legal scholars ION the rolls) Of the district
where they attend school, in making up the
aggregate attendance for such term or terms
IS they attend. (3) Yes. a. We think not
"TEAcHER" writes 81 recently made
rule that all grammar scholars should
write composition to be read before the
school on certain day, giving them two
weeks notice. Three large boys refused &c
write, and appealed TO the committee, who
said the law was on my side and advised
me to expel the offenders if they persisted
in rebellion. They have given me NJ
trouble in any other respect, and dislik,
to use so harsh means. What shall do p
Probably your best way out of the difficulty
is to have a candid talk with the boys, whC
will doubtless yield to your request. TIT
course pursued at the outset was calculated
10 produce Just such result as the one you
, report. The word composition has com,
, unnecessarily TO be bugbear in the schools
/, hence it should never be used. We ques
ton the propriety OF fixing day in advance
and making so much uncalled for ado abou
nothing. The fact that teacher tissues
decree" that scholars shall or shall not d
certain thing creates an especial desir
in the minds OF some to do exactly opposite
whereas without the rule disobedience woul,
not have been thought OF. So in rela
ton to composition writing; instead o
making it set exercise, which takes plac
only few times during the term, let you
scholars write every day, or several times
day if occasion calls for it. BE contente
with small beginnings. Commence O
states announce one or more easy sui
jects; give the school afew minutes TO think
and for the next few minutes ask scho
ars, not command them, To write thei
thoughts. These can be read aloud by eac
scholar or by yourself, or perhaps not at a
J at first the work looked over aud corrected
Keep up this practice, either on subject
which you shall assign or on those connecte
with or suggested by the lessons, and you
Q that they as well as you will be pleasant
compositions without knowing it.