National Republican., 1880-01-06
MISCELLANEOUS.
HINrS ON EDnCATION.

study of Geography in the Public Schools
Superintendent Parker, of Quincy, in re-
cont address on geography In the primary
schools said that the form, structure and char
acter Of the continents should he taught first
and as firmly fixed In the child's mind as a
farm or scene about its home. He ad dvised
teachers to begin TO teach certain forms Of
geography In the first year of school.
He had seen children in second and third
year recite the names of all the States
with capitals; this was utter nonsense.
In fourth and fifth year begin by teaching
about plains and level lands show IL on mold
ing board, and draw IL. Ask tho children
questions. Tell them all land is soping, and
ask what would happen if 1t was all level
Ask where rain comes from, where IL goes
how far 1t goes into the earth. Let them
take shovel aud dig down-they will
thus learn the soil. Mountains are made too
important Tnko away the Rocky mountains
and there Is a slope of 1000 feet. Ask where
water comes out of the ground Teach tho
river basins and how much land they drain.
Tell them the difference between a canal and
river. Where is the most water, in the river
or in the basin2 How is bay formed? BY
wearing away of the land. Massachusetts
bay was formed in this way. Use molding
boards in preference to maps Begin by
building continents, show the Importance Of
slopes After molding them Let children
mold them. Draw maps in squares is tho
best way Teach them incidentus, such as
forests, travels or history of localities Then
test them by questions. He cited IL school no
visited whore the scholars wero sixteen
to eighteen years old aud knew moth
ing outside of books Teachers should COM
pose continents; tell how they are adapted TO
the life Of man. Then describe the soils aud
the vegetation Do not teach vegetation by
States-such us Maine raises SO and so-but by
nj Ipip
own country first, an outline of the United
States, aud then mix history with it. If you
tell the history Of the Bunker Hill battle,
mold it OH the board. In reading history
locate everything with maps or moldng
This will teach geography quicker. Geog-
raphy is the foundation for physical science
Huxley says that you can hang moro
on that peg than on any other. IL is very
strange that air aud water, things that we cat
aud drink and come constantly in contact
with, are the very last things taught in the
common schools. Bring the children to study
nature. In this way you will awaken an un-
quenchabe love for birds and rocks and trees
In this way naturaists are made.
EVERYTHING good in man leans on some-
thing higher
THAT civility is best which excludes all
supertluous formality.
MANNER is one of the greatest engines of in
huence ever given to man.
The veil which covers the hand on futurity
is woven by the hand of mercy.
CONSCIENCE is the voice of the soul the pas
sions are the voice of the boGy.
THE coolest bodies warm with opposition
the hardest sparkle in collision.
FLATTERY is q false coin which has circu-
lation only through our vanity.
MEN seldom improve when they have no
other models than themselves to copy after
THE shortest life is long enough if it leads
to II better, and the longest life is short If it
does not.
LOVE never reasons, but profusely gives
gives like thoughtless prodga its all, and
trembles then lest il las done too little.
KNOW, against all appearances that the
universe can receive no detriment that there
is a remedy for every wrong, and satisfaction
| for every soul.
DoCToR-"Ycu must drink claret to build
up your system" Patent-"O don't ask
me to do that, doctor; | am wine merchant.
know how it's made"