The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-04-10
THE QUINCY METHOD.
A Now Departure In tho Style OF Teaching


tho supcrintcndcncc of the schools in
hands of Col. f. w. Parker, giving
him sbsolutc control us to all methods
and manner of tcaching, courses Of
study, examinations, books to be used,
and appointments and removal of
teachers, and telling him that he would
be sustained II his efforts, and h
work should be Judged by results. In
his selection Of teachers he sought |
those who could do more than simply
hear lessons, and gave them the same
freedom us to use Of methods, WAYS
and means that he enjoyed himself |
pied their efforts. Quality. not guam
tity, real moral development and the !,
attainment ofreal skill were demanded. !
The principal work of the supcrinten-
dent was to instruct his teachers by
lessons, lectures, private interviews,
books, and by teaching classes of chill
dren III order to show how work
should be done, his main effort being
to lead the teachers to understand tho
Principles ofteachiny.
"Fhe individuality and freedom that
were secured to superintendent and
teachers were shared by the pupils.
They were t&rght to observe for them
selves, and t" express freely the results
OF their OBJ ;rvation. Primary read
ing was first reformed by leading the
pupils to the thought they were to cx-
press, and next, to II correct express
sion oft; their range Of reading was
enlarged by giving them variety Of
textbooks, Juvenile magazines, and
other matter in abundance. Arithmc-
tic was carefully and Systematically
taught by tho objective and inductivc
| fr,p ,l,tH
the textbook. ut least to nall chill
dren; but training in correct language,
both spoken and written, was made
prominent at every step Of the pupils
progress. Geography was taught by
observing the forms of nature in the
vicinity, and by modelling with mold
er's earth on u horizontal board. Pen
manship and drawing received thor
ouSh and careful attention, from the
first step Of the child's progress to the
last. srhc children were taught to
observe, to think, and to express their
thoughts and to use their hamds skill
'JuUy."
"Thc results arc good. The chill
drcn learn to observe, to think, to talk,
to write. The principles and meth
ods used have been taught in our nor
mai school these many years. There
is nothing specially new or original in
the work, but a sensible use Of we'll
known principles and methods bv a
superintendent who has the power and
the ability to adapt them to the schools
OF the town. Colonel Parker is doing
a good work, and is sustained by the
committee in doing it; and the people
results accomplished as to appreciate
the methods and the work Of the super
intcndent and teachers. The same
might be done in other towns, by q
good superintendent sustained by al
Intelligent committee. Such super
intcndcnt and committee are needed in
; every town."
From the foregoing facts, the cduca-
tional world proceeds to read the fol-
lowing valuable lessons:
l. The highest work of school COM
mittccs is to employ and sustain an
earnest and efficient superintendent
and teacher, giving him absolute con-
trol in all things pertaining to his
work, and waiting for the results by
which to Judge that work.
2. a wise supcrintcndcncc of schools
by thoroughly competent teacher, is
the only way of giving that Intelligent
direction wi IN alone insurcs their
success. The pcrmcating, brighten
ing power Of one mans intense indi-
viduality is necessary to the perfection
ola school system.
3. The freedom of teachers to use
their their own methods in obtaining
results when they understand the
principles Of teaching, is essential to
their highest success. The narrow
opinion Which binds the intelligent
teacher to follow the prcconveiycd
plans Of school committees and SUPER
intcndcnts. destroys individuality and
cripples his cndcavors. Give tie
teacher his work and the time required,
and abide the decision ofrcsuGs.
: 4. Keeping children busy and hap
py III nsing their powers for their own
progress in the natural way, making
use OF their natural rcstlcssncss and
curiosity, rs promoters OF mental
growth. is the trucst way to the ends
and aims Of tie %c:iool. a ncwsral er
correspondent relates the following
conversation between himself and the
teachers:
"Does it not exhaust you to be Civ
ing out SO much to your classes instead
OF hearing rccitations? 'On the con-
trary,' they seyerally answered, it is
not half so wearing as keeping up at
tehtioii 10 inc oook, ana going over the
recitation by rotc.' do you have any
difficulty in keeping up discipline by
this systcmr Not nearly so much as
by tho old. The children are busy and
interested. They have their chances
: to talk out what they are thinking
about the lesson. There is room for
their activity; naughtiness in school
rooms comes moro from ovcr-rcpres-
sion than from anything else. iIero
the child is free; it is not afraid to talk
to me, and it is too busy to whisper to
It's neighbors. 1t is much easier for
us to keep order than it used to be-"
CULTIVATE RosEs.-Nothing adds so
much to the comfort and beauty Of
home MS the cultivation of flowers.
! Nor docs anything add more to tho
beauty and comfort Of man or woman
than the roses on the cheeks of those
In good health. DR.. Gilder's Liver
Pills will always impart this roscate