The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1883-02-24
Educational Topics.
Want of a System in Teaching.
DosALDsoNvILLE, Feb. IS. 1883.

Want of a System in Teaching.
DoSALDsoNvILLE, Feb. 1S. 1888.
EDITOR CHIEF:
PART II.
System is requisite to the perfection oi
any business. When success attends the
efforts Of an unsystematic workman, it
we'll deserves to be called an accident
Order is the first law of nature. There
is beginning and an end to everyt thing,
and there are intermediate steps. Every
calling should have a plan by which to
accomplish its desired end. When this
is not the case, 1t is difficult to determine
the progress made, and perhaps there is
no profession which demands from its
members more system in doing their work
than that of teaching. The advantages
where it is observed are great, and the
evils where it is not observed are serious.
But notwithstanding such is tho fact, as
all must admit, we find many, very many
engaged in the profession, who have no
plan; and the profession, to say the least,
is very much divided i'll regard to
method; every member having his own
opinion as to the best mode of governing
and teaching a school. This condition
of things, this want of harmony among
teachers is q serious drawback to the
prosperity of education. And especially
is this the case in our parish districts,
where every new term brings new
teacher. What may have been the course
pursued by his predecessor, the new
teacher knows not tand cares not. The
school is for the time placed under his.
care, and he will take care Of it accord
ing to his own views of propriety, with
out regard to the fnrner habits Of the
scholars. Perhaps the former teacher
used a blackboard and the present one is
opposed to its use; aside goes the black
board and states become fashionable.
Perhaps the former teacher governed his
school with the rod aud the present one
prefers moral saasion Thus we might
run over the whole process of teaching
and find a complete revolution brought
about at the introduction of every new
teacher.
Now it can not be otherwise than that
the scholars will wonder and be .son-
fused. All is new; @ new teacher. i new
plan of teaching and n new set Of rules
much time is consumed in becoming ac-
quainted with this new teacher, this new
plan Of teaching and this new get of
to no profit. But the most
trying and serious evil attending q want
Of system among our teachers is the
of a standard. AS we have
already limited, teacher is living
commentary. As the tBeologian looks to-
his commentary that he may ascertain
The meaning of a passage of scripture, SO
looks the pupil to his teacher that he
may learn the meaning of the author
before him. And perchance an explana-
tion is given differing materially from
the one given by his former instructor,
be is bewildered, he knows not which
theory to adopt, he can not toll whether
The former OF the present teacher is
tight and he remains in doubt, or in
'ther words, he has only learned that
doctors differ" For illustration, sup
pose one teacher says that the word labor
should he written labor, another that it
should be written la-bour; or suppose
that one says that the is a limiting adjec-
tive, another that it is a definite article
and take into account that tile pupil
Enjoys but three or four months tuition
from either, and you will have some idea
IT the confusion attending a want of
system among teachers.
We have now referred briefly to several
evils which we think hinder our school
system i'll accomplishing that amount of
good which its founders fondly expected
rom it. These evils must be removed
before the cause of education will ad-
vance among lis. Competent teachers
must he employed; our schools must be
Kept open for a longer period; a better
ceiling must he aroused among the
people; system of class books must be
adopted as the standard in our schools.
md our teachers must have more uni
ormity in giving instruction and govern
ng schools, or education will remain in
tats quo.
In our next we propose commencing a
eries of suggestions under tile head of
Remedial Suggestions" with the hope
hat we may at least awaken spirit of
inquiry. C.
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