Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1884-10-23
EducataonaI Column.
JOHN B. SCOTT, EDITOR.


We shall strive to make this column
of some interest to parents and teach
ers. We expect assistance from one or
two able teachers. Parents seldom
read educational journals and yet the
subject matter of such periodicals is
worth nearly or quite as much to them
as to teachers. Almost every subject
relative to the physical. intellectual.
and moral education of the child is of
mutual interest to the parent and
teacher. Especially is this true of all
those means used in character building
Character building. let us repeat by
way of emphasis, is the great work,
after all, of the parent and teacher in
the training of children. IF there is
anything in which we should be en-
thusiastic it is certainly our schools.
We can not expect much enthusiasm
on the part of pupils unless there is
active interest manifested on the part
of the other two factors of scholastic
parent and teacher-and if only the lat
ter exhibits an interest the child is
likely to think that he, the teacher,
does so simply because it is his BUSH
ness. We parents sometimes wonder
why our children do not show more
interest in their school work when we
exhibit none ourselves. Under such
circumstances we might reasonably
wonder at their taking any interest at
all. We trust that this column will to
some extent serve to increase inter. st
in our schools.
"Be thorough" should be the maxim
of every teacher and parent in refer
ence to the school work of children.
The contemplate but common practice
of measuring children's progress by the
number of books they study and the
number of pages they go over in a CIV
en- time has done and is doing much
to make our schools inefficient. We
would rather our child be required to
spend one week on reading lesson If
necessary to its thorough understand
ing and proper reading, than to pass
over dozen or more pages without
thoroughness. We would rather he
would spend whole week on one
problem in mathematics if necessary
than to mechanically solve hundred.
When we say "if necessary" we do not
mean that such isnever the case, for it
is. The idea is that the pupils work
should be thorough regardless of the
time required. No teacher can accom-
plish this without the cooperation OF
his patrons. Often he is compelled in
his efforts to secure thoroughness to
meet counteraction. Thoroughness
means slow progress when measured
by the pages passed over. Patrons fire.
quently complain that their children
are learning nothing simply because
they are required to do thorough work
Hence superficiality even among good
teachers.
.Dr. Dusty, once the master OF a
| high school, was celebrated for his Sc.
we're discipline; but, though severe, Inc
was not ill-natured. It is said that one
day. when he was absent from his
study, a boy found some plums in his
chair, and at once began to eat them
first waggishly saying: 4 publish thu
banns of matrimony between my mouth
and these plums. If any here present
know just cause for impeachment why
they should not be united, you are now
to declare it, or ever after hold your
peace ThelDr. heard the proclama
ton, but said nothing till next morn
ing, when, calling the boy up he grasp
Ell his well known instrument, saying
Il publish the banns of matrimony be
tween this rod and this boy. If any
one knows any just cause or impede
ment why they should not be united
let him now declare it or ever after hole
his peace The boy himself said: =
forbid the banns' For what cause?
asked the doctor. Because said th,
boy, the parties are not agreed Th,
boys ready wit pleased the Dr., ant
the union was indefinitely postponed
PUBLIC EXAMINATION.
Next Friday all day at the IrontoI
public schools in each department will
be held public examination. w,
hope to see patrons manifest some o
that interest mentioned In this column
by coming out
| TEACHERS MEELING.
/ We have thought that instead o
having a teachers institute as we haC
last year monthly, it will be better t.
have teachers meetings once or twice
a month. We suggest that on mex
Saturday week the teachers meet q,
the Ironton public school building al
2 o'clock for the purpose of effecting an