Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1885-02-05
4ron Gnllutp gegi5ter
EDUCATIONAL Column.
JOHN B. SCOTT, EDITOR.

ers that the latter part of our schools is
not well attended. In March and April
pupils begin to "drop" off. This should
not be. Children, like many of the rest
of US, become afflicted with "spring
fever,n go home from school, and say.
INA, / want to quit school. am SO
tired of going. I have been going SO
long," II we allow our children to quit
work when they become "tlred," what
kind of men and women can we expect
them to become? Children should be
made to feel that going to school is
their business; that it is as necessary
for them to observe regular, seasonable
attendance during the session as it is
for the merchant, the lawyer, the ply
sician, or anyone, to prosecute his bus
mess in order to be successful. How
can parents expect their children to be
kept with their classes when they allow
them to stop school a month or two
before the close of the session? Next
week we shall state the work laid off
for the pupils of the Principals De-
partment and the intermediate for the
last two months of the Ironton Public
School. Of course pupils who by their
non-attendance fail to complete this
work should not, in justice to those
who do, as we'll as their own good, be
allowed to continue in their grades
when school reopens next fall. Their
non-attendance should place them in
lower class. All should remember that
the latter part of a school is, to those
who attend, the golden part. The rea
sons for this are obvious.
SIT is not what people eat, but what
they digest, that makes them strong.
1t is not what they gain, but what they
save that makes them rich. 1t is not
what they read, but what they remem-
Der that makes them learned"
"Money will make us work but mon
ey will not make US give our hearts to
the work-nothing but love for the
work, or real good principle will make
US do that"
real politeness, in the greetings of diff
ferent men and women! The genuine
courtesy of one is exhibited by the
pleasant tone, emphasized by the coun
tenance, in his daily salutations; the
rudeness of another is shown by his
growing tone and bulldog counte-
nance. This difference is to some ex-
tent the result of difference in naturaI
tendencies, but more than anything
else it is due to a difference in training
Duke of Wellington was sick the last
thing he took was q little tea. On his
servants handing it to him in sau-
Ger, and asking him if he would have
it, the Duke replied, yes, if you please
These were his last words. How much
Kindness aud courtesy is expressed by
them. He who had commanded the
great armies in Europe, and who had
used the tone of authority, did not de-
spise or overlook the small courtesies
of life. Oh, how many do? Life is
made up, not of great sacrifices or
duties, but of little things, of which
smiles and kindness and small obliga-
lions, given habitually, are what win
and preserve the heart aud secure the !
comfort" Let us as parents and teach
ers see to it tina: eur children and pu-
pills receive that training which ought |
to make them exhibit politeness.
LITERARY EXERCISES IN SCHOOL.
The old-time custom of having
speeches" on Friday evenings, was
certainly All excellent custom, and
worthy of continuation. Some teach
ers talk as if they thought the time
lost. Rather should exercises of IL lit.
erary nature be looked upon as source
of relief from the monotony of regular
routine.
IT is a popularity of the mind that it
seeks new thoughts, new conceptions,
bodies forth new forms of Imagination,
at every opportunity.
Nothing seems to present any better
variety i'm school life than few litera-
~ exercises occasionally.
I can refer to my past school days.
Society days" were always hailed
with pleasure, and their exercises talk
ed ofafterward with satisfaction. Not
only do pupils enjoy these days, but
most teachers hail them with antici-
pations of profit and pleasure. AS
teachers we must assist pupils in MAX
ing their selections and in preparing
them. IF teachers prefer them every
week, select for each time four or five
pupils and assign to them such work
as they are capable of performing well;
insist on thorough preparation and
punctual performance ofeach duty thus
assigned
Custom seems to have selected FRI
day afternoons for literary work; Ipre-
fer Monday or Tuesday afternoons, but
the question of time can't make ANY,
material difference Practical educa.
tion is SO much clamored for, this SUBJ
1ect would be entitled to such claims.
1t is 3 culture which is of benefit to
any one. How often do we find grown
men and women. who can't speak
three successive sentences correctly, be-
fore an audience; these same men ard
women might have Jared better, if