Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1883-05-26


of parent toward teachers, has very
greatly changed. Insubordination to the
authority of teachers is rare, and fights
among pupils, which were formerly of
almost daily occurrence, now seldom
occur.
Prof. Ames has adopted no method of
teaching, without first understanding the
psychological law underlying it, and the
methods tried have invariably been sue
cessful.
With regard to spelling, he believes that
the ability to spell we'll depends upon the
formation of the habit of noticing the
form of new words, and has abandoned
the old practice of requiring pupils to
memorize columns Of words from the
spelling book, and has sought to compel
the formation of the above habit, by max
ing the correct spelling of every word one
of the tests Of q proper knowledge of each
lesson.
The word method has been adopted in
reading, pupils being taught to recognize
words as objects. The results prove that
this method is based upon true psychology
ical principles, pupils learning to read
much quicker and becoming much more
fluent and natural readers than under the
old alphabet method.
In arithmetic the object has been to
avoid all purely mechanical work, and to
give the pupils rational conception of its
relation of numbers. The great object of
instruction, which is development of mind
and the imparting of knowledge, is rem
dered imperfect when tho pupil merely
goes through study in a mechanical
manner.
Tho motto of the public schools now is
not how much, but how WE'LL" and the
object aimed at is the development of the
power of thought and the power of ex-
preston. Thought power is developed by
avoiding all rote and mechanical work,
and compelling pupils to think, and the
power of expression by constant practice
from tho beginning, in the expression of
thought, both orally and with the pencil
or pen.
The superintendent has devoted
almost his entire time to primary
instruction in tho schools as the
basis of the entire system, and has
| sought, first of all, to secure absolute
thorougLness in the elementary branches.
IIo believes that pupils now graduating
from the department arc better prepared
to grapple with the problems of lifo than
those who graduated from tho secondary
department ten years ago were. They
think better and express themselves with
greater facility.
During the eight years that Prof. Ames
has been connected with the public
schools of this place perfect harmony has
characterized the relations of school
board, superintendent and teachers.
by the adoption of strict system Of
economy, the incidental expenses Of the
schools have been reduced over so per
the provision OF books for INDECENT pupils,
crayons and blackboard erasers. The cur.
riculum which was adopted for the high
school has been attacked several times
through the town papers, but the superin
tendent believes that it is entirely suitable
for high school, and that tho studies
there taught are neither too numerous nor
OF useless character. He thinks the
adoption of 4 lower standard would be
the virtual abolition of a high school in les
truest sense. Too many schools are called
high schools, when they are really only
secondary schools. He is we'll satisfied
with the curriculum of the Columbia high
school, with it's undoubted excellent con
dition, and with the teachers in charge
of it.
In conclusion, it may be safely said that
the public schools of Columbia have never
been in better or more fourishing condi
ton than they are at present, and these
results may DO attributed to the untiring
and constant devotion of Prof. Ames in
charge, assisted by faithful and efficient
corps of teachers.