The silver state. [volume] (Unionville, Nev.) 1870-1903, 1885-12-05
OPPOSED TO CRITICISM.

A motion was made by Mr.. bray 10
appoint critic whose duty it should
be to report at the close. Of each session,
the report to have especial reference to
errors ia expression and pronunciation,
the idea of such criticism being to di-
rect the attention of teachers to the
little inaccuracies of which most teach.
ers are guilty. The motionswas opposed
by Superintendent Young and Professor
O'Connor on the groundithat it might
deter some young teachers. from freely
expressing their.yiews. This idea PIE.
vailed and the motion was lest.
Professor o 'Connor then delivered his
address on
MISTAKES IN REACHING ca. BEADING.
He found one mistake att Ahe outset
with beginners. they were. allowed to
read drawlipgly; words being read and
not ideas. Reading is mainly an art
q matter Of imitation, and, the teachers
reading is model Tor the. school. She
should look carefully to this fact, and
practice daily in her own Ireading.
Children should be taught TO TO, m
sentences about, common objects, almost
immediately after 6rstentering. schools.
Sentences should berresa ~ wholes-as
units. Words .mast be usdesstood.
Don't hs~eehildrsa 60 to the dictionary
for their meaning, nor have them take
the defiaitiou given IN the book. Chill.
dren only understand words when they
can use them in sentences. Children
in many cases are allowed to read in
distinctly - abe eonsosantS are ,srot
struck properly. Watch this. ,Again,
pupils are allowed TO read too siou;
strive to omescome this. tHspe he gase
suggestions .as to how this saight ,be
done. la answer to B. question by Mssc
Madigan, be said that he uwonid print
words on the board for pupils If there
not teach pupils the alphabet;.it is now
an obsolete method. In reading do not
point out the separate words to pupils.
DISCUSSION.
Mr.. c. II. Groves read a prepared
paper on reading. He would have
. children notice the beauties and ..com-
parsons which may be foEnd an good
+. compositions. Teach children to assad
> naturally; avoid stage tones.
Miss Madigan had no rrsmarks to
present, but had been edited by what
4, she had heard in the address.
Mrs. Shepard tboGght a grest mistake
was made by many teachers in giving g
child the book too soon.
Miss Cutting found the lessons in the
text books often too difficult for the
pupils. Scientific terms were often
sused which the child could not Rnder-
stand.
Mr.. Herrod would train the eyes
get children to observe qsickly.
Mr.. Smith found tendency for TOO
rapid advancement.
Superintendent Young would not
teach the alphabet, nor would he ever
allow spf,szing Of words. Teach them
to write from the outset. Printing
words 10 not resorted to in practical
life. and tjme should not be wasted by
children in that direction.
Mrs.. Rardnass had been pleased by
the addresses made. She would teach
by the word and sentence method.
Mr.. Groves then read his essay on
''coRPoy1L PUNIsHMENT."
He was opposed to it in our schools;
we should try to develop the angel in
human nature, not the devil. We
should prepare the world for moral
government; but this reform must come
gradually. Love should rule in the
school room. The pupils are the best
judges of teachers. What a change
would be wrought in the school room
itself were corporal punishment done
away with The parents should lie
visited and their co operation secured.
This is most powerful agency, and
should be used freely by the teacher.
Detention after school, suspension and