Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1883-01-20
Watch the Schools.

To the Standard:
1t is well that the inexhaustible sub.
jects of school instruction and education
receive more than usual attention in
our weekly papers, both domestic and
foreign, and that great many things
are said which are really sensible and
beneficial while, on the other hand,
some men and women make sweeping
assertions concerning schools which
they cannot prove to be true.
In this country we have several pa
pers devoted entirely to educational
purposes. As these papers are taken
by few people, our local papers should
lend their aid TO improve our schools.
Teaching itself, and were it but the
merest instruction without any regard
to moral and intellectual education, is
very difficult art, for which there are
no scientific or universally applicable
rules, and good schools are not separate
establishments under the sole control
of teachers, but they are institutions in
which teachers, parents, superintend-
ents, school boards, and officials, public
or private, have a share and voice,
whether these are direct or indirect.
Young teachers may receive much
benefit by listening to the advice Of old
and experienced teachers; but if they
pattern after them exclusively, they
will sometimes find that they are like
Gen, Braddock, who was well skilled
in the science of war as then taught in
Europe, but he did not seem to know
that his mode of warfare was totally
inapplicable to the wildwoods of Ameri
ca. Many medical students who have
graduated at some renowned medical
college in Pennsylvania or New York,
have learned that they must know
something else before they can practice
medicine in the swamps of Arkansas
and Louisiana. Teachers must. re-
member, that, in many parts OF Ten
nessee, they have to teach children
whose parents never take newspaper
and who have very few books tha
children can read. Such teacher,
should collect all the suitable old pa
pers and books that they can find, anC
encourage their pupils to read them a
home during these long winter even
ings, and on Saturdays and Sundays.
Teachers should be very careful t
teach their pupils the Roman Notation
| have met great many men and wo
men in Tennessee who cannot find
chapter in the Bible, if the number
greater than fifty.
Teachers should be very careful i
their use of the English language. L
many of the Northern States a super
intendent would refuse to give a Gel
tifcate to any applicant who makes
blunder in the use of language in hi
conversation. In order to cultivate
habit of accuracy in pupils, teacher
should select from papers, any error
, which they may find, and either Gu
them out or copy them, and give then
to their pupils that they may find th
errors and tell what rules Of gramms
they violate. As an illustration of NJ
f meaning, l here present a sentenc'
taken from the speech of Mr.. Alexal
; der. on taking the chair when he Wa
elected Speaker of the State Senat
I. Here is a gross violation of one of tt
rules of Grammar. Let your pupi
find it:
Il hope and trust, however, that
4 will receive the hearty and earnest c
< operation Of every member of the Sci
ate."
!. have always observed that pup
I who were anxious to examine any G
rors that l gave to them, were the mo
accurate in their compositions.
In my next article, l will prese
o some hints on the manner of teachir
Grammar to beginners.
j. p. CLARK.