The Red Cloud chief., 1883-11-30
tEruoD orscnooI REc7rxr7oy

Nov. 10. 1858, by Miss Eva J. King. Of
Blue Hill.
Perhaps Il would he well 10 consid-
er some Of the objects Of recitation be-
fore speaking Of methods, for methods
are bat means by which We seek to at
tain desired ends.
We have many children, and i.
might be well 70 add many grown peo-
pie. believe. that the only object in
sfudying Is TO acquire the ability 70
make . good recitation.
We teachers do MOI believe this.
therefore We should teach the children
that they do not study merely to re-
cite.
We ought tn consider any recitation
which merely tests a pupil's prepare
ton Of IN assigned lesson. a. failure.
What then are the objects OF recitation
They may he classcd as primary and
secondary Urinary objects: ]. In
struction impaired by teachers and pu
pills. 2. Mental. physical, and moral
training for the pupil.
Secondary objects: To induce study,
to test preparation, 10 cultivate Ian
guage, to correct mistaken ideas, To
awaken inquiry, TO form habits Of at
~tention and self.possesion.
The method. by which these objects
may he attained are the best methods,
are the methods We wish to employ.
This subject is so broad that In q few
minutes talk one can but touch upon
NJ Of the leading features. There
An illions Of methods. The task for
the hcbers Of to-day il, 20 sift these
me- DDS. to separate the wheat from
cha Every teacher should have n
gen plan OF procedure for each Tec-
itssi( OF course the details Of this
plan (lll vary from day to day, as the
tact skill Of the teacher dictates.
Tl general plan might be As fol-
lows l. Assignment OF next days
lcssoG If this he left until close OF
krec1 pm, it is often given so hurriedly
+ of the pupils do not under
ss1nd e work required Of them. 2.
Gene class work, such NJ discussing
questt IS left over from previous days
lessoft<y hen a talk concerning the les.
son fe43he day. If anyone needs rs
ssista have 1t, if possible, given by
the pu Is, if not, by the teacher. At
this pj . let both teachers and pupils
give o the additional infor nation
which by have CLEANED from sources
other n the regular text book. Such
. talk this, if properly conducted,
gives & b~rrnation, cultivatcs express
sion. &C fects ideas, wakens
thoug]s6tn md helps TO form habits OF
atten6u4 Five of the desired objects
for whi1 We are seeking.
Next order is a recitation Of text
iearned This recitation may be in
any ma CT desired. Many teachers
and, ~ rs my experience goes, a
majoritss3f pupils, prefer to outline
their NC. We will not pause here
to enusn rate the reasons why this
method in SO many studies. \ pre-
| ferable of recitation If this
method employed, part Of the class
should bS3ent to the board to outline
the lessp NO or three given special
topics, r. either advance or review,
to write 1 pn, and if the class is large,
two or IN may be retained for oral
work. Te oral recitations might
sometime4 e conducted topically, and
sometimc4 y means Of questions and
answers. he pupils ut the board will
| by this tir1 have finished their work.
Now we hd Rotations from the out
lines, both asses and teachers to crit
icise each pill after he is through re.
citing. Item work next read and
closely 81 Used with regard to spell.
linss -ess1 p6sition and punctuation.
II time allotted for each recitation is
of sufficient length. ii is we'll to close
with q hasty concert review of topics
previously passed over. Such a review
should be upon main facts only, and is
: valuable as u means for fixing them
firmly in the pupils mind.
W. spoke Of physical and moral
training in recitation. They are both
important factors. 1t is not difficult to
fix upon a mode Of physieSsddr con.
at 1eGfofdcrIy, systematic movements
while going to and from class, and a
proper attitude while in class. Loung-
ing should never be tolerated, but
each pupil taught to sit erect, to stand
alone and in an erect position.
A method for moral training i'm reci-
tation is not so easy. Can there be any
prescribed rule for moral training! /
know OF none. II seems to me that it
should be given only as the exigencies
Of the situation demand. 1t can al
ways seem to come in, incidentally, in
such a name as not to lea.l the child
10 suspect YOU of lecturing or nreach.