The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1885-12-18
Science in English Middle-CiasS schools
-Tenaci,y of Educational Traditions
Higher Education.

METHOD OF TEACHING LITERATURE.
How TO make composition writing
and the learning end reciting of selec-
tons of verse or prose interesting,
have long been among the most trying
of the teachers many tasks. 10 add
profit TO interest is simply to make the
work so much the more difficult. If l
repeat some of my W experiences, |
suppose | shall give a fair showing of
the trials of tho average teacher.
For several years it has been the GUS
tom in a certain school of Middlesex
county to give up Friday afternoon to
general exercises. At this time the
pupils acclaimed, rccited, or read, ac-
cording to the choice OF the individual.
The teacher commented on the compo-
sitions presented, criticised the modes
of rendering the several selections, and
then tried to interest the school in
readings or recitations Of his own. He
early remarked the desire of his pupils
to select the pieces whose rendering
should excite mirth on the part of
those listening. Mark Twain and Pc
troleum V. Nasty found much more
favor than Longfellow and Whittier.
Coming to the high school in Wor-
cester, l found the rhetorical exercises
in a very peculiar condition, Monday
was the day devoted to singing and
these exercises. Necessarily it was a
broken day. Pupils did not like the
exercise. and the teacher dreaded them.
Frequently their recurrence would be
seized as an excuse to remain away
from school. Ii a visit u of town was
contemplated. the pupil would often
arrange TO protract the stay over Mon.
day, thus avoiding compositions and
reading. Not II pupil in twenty con-
sidered the exercise otherwise than q
bore. The ultimate good to be derived
therefrom was so far in the future that
it was practically invisible.
After a time. to obviate the desulto-
~ selections that were commonly
made, Professor Hudson's two books,
Textbooks of Prose and Poetry, were
introduced. but these proved to be
quite too heavy. Few boys u appre.
ciate IA years study OF Burke and Web
ster, and, as for the poetry, ii was bet
ter adapted to those who have acquired
"A taste for reading than those who are
in "A formative state. To sum up the
matter, il was difficult for the teacher
To arouse an interest in the work with
these books in hand. | frequently met
boys who, having gone 10 college, said.
"in college we ask no odds of our as
sociatcs in the classics, mathematics,
etc. but in writing essays and kindred
work we are far behind
This was not II pleasant thing fol
one TO hear, and early decided, if
ever had the opportunity, | would try
to remedy certain defects. The time
came. What were the appliances III
the hand oil the pupilP The old range
of school readers, such books oil
declamatory selections as had passed
down from generations of brothers,
sisters, and parents, with CARROTS 10C
Choice Selections, all OF them, partic'
ularly the latter, well enough if 8
teacher had only Il half-dozcn pupils tc
direct and oversee.
A word at this point on the old,
familiar expression, Speaking pieces
| am N who claims to have derived
permanent benefit from committing to
memory the words of famous men, and
rendering the same, before my fellow.
pupils, to the best of my ability. In
common with others OF my W day,
and with the children Of y Later time