The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1886-10-20
TEACHERS DEPARTMENT.
ARTHUR KIBLER, EDITOR.
Object Lessons.

| the country. Fifteen years ago, 80
far rs we know, there WAS no such
thing known as "objcct lessons"
Now VIC often hear of this plan Of
imparting knowledge being used in
the school room. We arc almost en-
tircly unacquaintcd with this method
OF teaching geography, if we really
know what is meant by "objcct les
sons" We suppose, however, that
the teacher sometimes takes his class
OF young pupils on the school ground
and there draws the outlines of q
natural division in miniature. lie
has elevations Of earth for the noun.
tains, dcprcssions for valleys. wind.
ing trenches for the rivers, and other
means for showing the different
things he may wish to represent.
This may prove q very interesting,
and perhaps profitable exercise for
small children. Those Of us who
have never tried this plan Of INSTRUCT
ing children arc forced to the con-
clusion, may be ignorantly, that it
takes more time than it is WORTH 1t
docs seem no us that 4 child, far
enough advanced to begin the study
Of geography, and with ordinary men.
tai capacity, can understand from
the definitions in the book what is
meant by river, mountain, sea, is-
land and other natural divisions of
the carth's surface. IT. with the
book at hand, and the assistance Of
even very poor teacher these things
arc incomprchcnsiblc to child, he
had better postpone the study Of gc.
ography until Il moro convenient
time.
We would Impress the Importance
Of illustrations on the blackboard,
which is something almost indispen-
sable for the effective teaching Of any
OF the common school branches. If
blackboard illustrations, such rs map
drawing, &C., come under the head Of
"obicct lessons" then we hold that
they should be employed this far but
no farther.
If those teachers who have taught
geography by the first kind Of object
lessons spoken Of will report their
success, if they have had any, we will
gladly publish their methods, and
perhaps they would lead some Of us
into the road to truth and progress.
Why he left the prorcssion.-I
have changed my profession from
teaching to clcrishp. Why? Be-
cause cannot afford to teach school
four or five months in the year, and
then do something else the remain
der OF the time, SO rs TO ckc out an
existence. When the public is
brought to see that teacher, to make
living BY teaching, must have wages
that will support him, then will teach
ing become profession.
j. G. CLEMENTS.
AS we have said before, the teach.
crs have something to do in bringing
forward this time. AS long as trus-
tees can hire cheap teachers they
will not pay more than the market
price. Teachers must continue to
agitatc the subject of proper prepa-
ration for the work, and the wrong
done by those who have not cone
through the needed course Of train.
ing, until public opinion will demand
the wedding out OF Iuack teachers
just as it does that of quacll doctors.
-Icochcr$' Institute AMT P/uctic,h
Icuchcr.
Programme OF Teachers Association.
|. English Grammar A. &.
Noigt.
2. The Public School Systcm--G.
B. Cromcr.
3. Mathematical and Physical Gc-
ography--J. NJ. Henry.
4. The Primary Reading Class
Miss Maggie MoDts.
The association will meet ut 10 80
A. NJ, on the first Saturday in No
vcmbcr, at the Female Academy.
The annual election Of officers, and
other business Of interest will take
place. The teachers Of the county
should remember that the beginning
Of new school year is at hand, and
that they should cndcavor to prepare
themselves better for the work in
which they are about to engage.
The association is Of great benefit to
the teachers if they conld or would
only realize it. In one years time
1t has given ASST rance that uniform.
ity in text books, &C., is a great ne.
cessity, and that new and improved
methods should takc the place Of the
old. Come TO the assoc 20 ion, teach.
crs.
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