The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1885-08-05
EDUCATIONAL.

II is undoubtedly true that most people
are better pleased to hear other people
| speak of their excellencies than of their
faults. Once in awhile a to-be-ptied in
dividual of warped mind and unbalanced
judgment may be found who prides him
self upon, and makes boast of possess
sing, and exercising, attributes that are
not, when properly viewed, found to con-
tain anything excellent. But such cases
are almost as rare as they ought to he.
1t has been suggested to the Supt. that it
might be well to speak more of thu excel
lencies found in the schoolroom and less
of the faults met with there, in the arti-
cles prepared by him for publication in
the local paper.
The suggestion deserved some consid-
Grafton. But it must be considered with
reference to the inquiry as to whether we
can better remedy the defects found in
our schools, and build them up, by call
ling attention to these defects and to the
| faults committed by the teachers, or by
holding up the better sides of the schools,
and the better qualities of the teachers as
educational factors.
1t may not once appear to the mind of
every person interested, but it seems to
be true, that no matter at which side of
school work we look the other side is i'm
piled; that if we speak positively of the
excellencies of some schools or some
teachers the defects and faults of other
schools or other teachers are considered
negatively. We say, seems to be. For if
some piece of school work done by some
| teacher be commended will not the teach
er who does the same work in an entirely
different manner feel himself condemned? {?
While it is true that there are many
ways of doing the same thing in the line
of school work and all these ways equally
good, does not one run the risk of being
misconstrued into condemning other
ways of doing school work if he COM
| mends one way of doing the same? or,
may he not be construed into commend
ing all the ways of doing the same work I?
Now, undoubtedly there are ways of
doing school work that are very injurious.
And it is a fact that teachers sometimes
fall into such ways. Now, how shall we
seven different ways of doing the same
piece of school work, each of seven differ
ent te achers using one of these ways, and
but six of these ways at all good, the sew
enth being really injurious. Then one
teacher is doing work that is harmful.
Other teachers are found doing the same.
Communities are deluded into believing
ployed by some teacher of prominence.
Shall we remedy the matter by speaking
| of one of the six excellent methods. or
by speaking of the wrong one? and, if
necessary, coupling with our criticism a
suggestion of improvement?
The general object to be accomplished
| by the publication of educational articles
in the local papers is the Improvement OF
the schools. Schools are improved by the
| employment of better, say the best, meth
DDS of teaching by the teachers employed,
and by the arousing of better public ed
ucational entiment. Our schools are
constantly turning out new teachers.
The employment of poor methods by the
| teachers now presiding over our schools
means the transmission of these same
poor methods down to later dates, for
teachers teach as they have been taught,
at least for a time. The Supt. should
speak out against these methods and ways
of doing school work that are harmful,
and that belong to past educational ages,
their place now being supplied with bet
ter things than these. And the Supt. and
the teacher should work hand in hand as
fellow laborers in upbuilding and main
! tanning a sentiment favorable to better
schools. 1t is not enough to say OF a
Supt. or teacher that he pleased the peo-
pie unless that means that he led them to
look for, to expect, and to realize better
things within the sphere in which he and
they were conformity interested.
Your Supt. has thought that il might be
productive of good results to present oc-
casionally specimens of work as actually
met with in the schools. And yet it seems
like treading ON hallowed ground to do so.
The question is how, how, how, how
shall we go about this matter in order to
accomplish better things. But let it be
understood that every drop of ink spilled
by the Supt. in these articles is spilled in
the cause of the children; your children,
good people of the county of Forest.
HILLARD, Supt.
j. 7. Brennan has now for sale
J26 aoraa of ,uarront EO1o and 6O1d