The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1884-03-07

20 $50 "SA~S ""S~sA AnoAS VIZ tua|
language.-In case the teacher fail.
to show his pupil the purpose, the in
fluence of his work is likely to cease
with his effort instead OF going viii
them to stimulate their exertions ir
after life.
1t is the awakening ofinterest in the
investigations of important, practical
every day subjects, and of training
pupils in such thoughtful work, which
distinguishes the teacher from the
keeper of the school.
The true teacher is the one who is
capable of leading the mind of the
child on step by step, creating that
desire for thorough pratical know
ledge which leads to fruitful and
satisfactory life. h is, therefore i'm.
portant that the business of educa-
ton be so organized that those who
are intursted with its interests will
find in il motives for life long con-
secration to it.
The tax payers who may desire ade-
quate returns for their money cannot
afford to look on with indifference
while the work of educating their
children is tossed from hand to hand
among the students of other callings,
and whose transient relations to the
work forbid any effort toward perma-
nent affiliations with each other.
Again we need better furnished
school buildings. Much of that which
has been learned by boys and girls in
the country has been learned in many
instances under numerous existing
disadvantages.
Most country schools simply fur
nish place for boys and girls
to study, and teacher to conduct
recitations while those aids such as
globes, maps, charts, books of refer
ence, cubical blocks and other nee
cessary conveniences are entirely
wanting.-How many teachers have
found their capabilities limited
through the want of apparatus.
More attractive school building are
needed. Very many of the school
buildings of our rural districts present
by no means an attractive appearance;
they are often situated on small piece
aground near the street corner, with
out a tree to shelter them from the
summers sun or the winters blast.
AS we enter the building, we find the
walls dingy ornamented only by
school.boy heroglyphics. No curtains
are placed at the window. No notices
or pictures are hung upon the walls.
If the children are to spend a large
part Of their time in the school room,
why not make the place
pleasant for them'p Parents, the
more home-like you make your
school rooms the more work will your
teachers be enable to do.
School.rooms should be properly
heated and ventilated. How often
have we seen school.rooms in which
it was impossible to maintain an even
temperature, the headache and
drowsness which result from sitting
in badly ventilated room, and the
want of energy which results there
from is dependant on slow poison
ing of the body by the transcription
of the poisons eliminated from the
lungsi in previous aspirations. Venti-
lation does not always mean draughts
OF cold air, as is too often supposed,
which are so injurious, but rather a
means of furnishing a constant sup
ply of fresh and pure air.
1t is fact much to be regretted that
in our country schools there are no
exercises which take into considera-
ton the condition and circumstances
of country life. This the most fun
damental of all the laws of mental de.
velopment, proceed from the known
to the unknown" must ever be recog.
nized. Children fresh from the farm
with an extensive, but unclassiied
knowledge Of farm customs, are set
to. tasks which have no relations to
their accustomed, labors and which
tic,tallx, ra I'm ptaract;,c, 80 tla,o.