Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1884-03-05
Communication.

| Mr.. Editor On a previous occ,
sion letter frcm my pen found it
way into your Office, and was pub
lished in the columns Of your worth
paper, the SENTINEL AID REpUBLIcAN
therefore / am again obliged to asl
you for a corner in the same As
teacher within the limits of the coun
ty of Juniats. it has been INV lot II
be among company of boys ant
girls, who are like the steam engine
I. :. they are a power for good sc
long as they are kept on the right
track. And 1 would rather have BOYS
and g iris who would fall into mis-.
chief, if not kept proftably employ
ed, than those who have not life O.
nough about them to participate in
the games of the same. 1t was but
q short time ago that it was suggest
ed to me, that we would have a de-
bate on Friday afternoons, in the
form of compositions, by the pupils !;
thinking the suggestion wise one,
the plan Was accordingly adopted
Two of the more advanced were ap-
pointed as chiefs, and they chose 9th
ers to be their assistants. The sub
ject was, viz: Which is the most
useful, the cow or the horse 7" This
whole matter was gotten up in the
forenoon, instead of recess, to
which all consented, SO you see there
was none of the study time taken
from the pupils for. in our part of
Juniata, We must be on the guard,
for some citizens are ever on a look
out to get hold on the teacher By
noon, of the same day, all was e1-
and all who could, wanted
to write, and, of course, most did
write too. This was Tuesday, and
as the days rolled on towards Fri
day, all were inquiring for the best
facts on both sides. Friday after
noon finally came, and matters were
brought to a crisis. You may imag
inc bow the eyes of these contending
sides sparkled when they were being
read. 1t would have done the citi-
zens, who arc opposed to compost
ton writing, good to have heard
them. 1 venture to say that some
OF them were as good and better,
than those who oppose composition
writing could have written them
selves. / do not wish to be under
stood that this subject, simple as it
is, is of much value in itself, but it is
a beginning and therefore there is a
hope, yes, promise of an end, and
that is more already than many who
have left school ere this ever done.
Small beginnings make great ends,
as large oaks from little acorns grow.
l would say to my fellow teachers, if
compositions are considered great
bug BEAR" by your pupils, try this
plan and 1 am assured you will have
little more trouble in this line. We
who are grown are aware OF the fact
that without practice it is very hard
to even write any article almost
This desire for writing in school is
on the increase and am satisfied that
great good will yet result from this
seemingly small beginning. 1t gives
exercise with the pen, enables pupils
to collect their thoughts and express
them in words, improves the mental
faculties, promotes the ambition,
gives strength to the whole mental
mechanism almost, and makes fit men
and women of grand and glorious
republic. These exercises are to be
continued evely Friday afternoon,
and will be of inestimable value to
those who take part in them. 1t was
part of the advice that the Fathers
of State Normal Schools of America"
gave to q teacher who asked him
"What shall I teach my pupils :" To
think comprehensively, and to write
dramatically. Now, by this meth
cd pupils are made to think and by
writing their thoughts they are gain
ing strength to cope with greater
and more useful subjects.
A TEACHER.
GREENWOOD TWP, Feb. 26, 1884.