The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1886-03-24
Colored Teachers Department
BY W. 3. WEST.
HOW TO TEACH.

whose result IS u Ia!luIT w 1H@'hS i'0
recipients thinkers. The aim Of all
mental culture should be to train pn-
Dds to think for themselves. Bear in
mind that to think is not merely to
sit absorbed fer hours. forgetfui OF
surroundings; is not to waver from
one subject 10 another. leaving
no connection between them-Eo
logical arch by which the space be-
tween can be spanned. TO think IS
to be able to grasp a subject IN any
Of it's phases, to trace step By step It's
parts, to analyze its elements, to 60
by logical laws from one point t" an
other. all forming q Chain Of facts,
the one depending on q preceding
truth, the other following from q pre-
established fact. 1t is said the world
Of thought is inhabited by a few
our mightiest men. These give forth
in brilliant scintiiiations the fire
which they have snatched from the
celestial realm Of thought These
guide the helm Of States, carve tue
destiny Of nations, direct the ciriIi-
zation and culture Of the world,
which looks on with ease and indif-
ference, knowing nothing of the pain
and trouble.
The aim of all teaching should be
to draw forth an effort from the pupils
to see hoac and erhy thing is done.
We know a child learns to walk by
walking, and teacher learns to teach
by teaching, and so does a child
learn to think by thinking. We
can't 60 down to the brook and drink
for horse, but we can gradually lead
him down to the fountain and he will
drink for himself. Neither can we
think for a child, but we can gradu-
ally lead him into that great world Of
thought, and he will think for himself,
which should be the aim Of all teach
ing.
Try and get your pupils into the
habit of asking why a thing is so.
Whenever q pupil comes and asks
you to solve a problem for him, ask
him for his reasons, why you multi
ply, subtract or divide. Always
make your pupils understand that
success depends on an object in
view. When you have pupil to
explain an example to the class don't
let him stop with what be knows,
(which he will naturally do) but give
his avhys. A slight change will 81
ways bring about thought. find an
Santord's Common School
1etic, page 2l4,No.4, which will
SoI a strong thought to 8 pupil.
1--WE have gone through with hind.
next to 1916 GAL, in that
o gwill get 3 quarts and 4.l6 over.
5Sow, from the preceding examples
under the same heading, we would
certainly get pints, but we will soon
sec that in 4-l6 we can't get pints.
The first question will be, why is this?
I see how but not why. There you
have a chance to lead him to that
great fountain Of thought, and re-
joice to see him drink for himself.
After he sees you have cotton g!lls
he will certainly want to know all
and why about it..
We all are not born teachers. but
We all can have some method and
stick to it. Always convince your
pupils OF facts, reason with them.
Let them know there is reason why
a thing is so. The pupil in coming
to Socrates is q fine model how he
(the pupiD was not as wise as lie
thought he was. The pupil came to
him, feeling strong and wise, and
when he left him he felt helpless
and ignorant. The question with the
pupil was, why is this? Socrates, i
will show you Calling the pupil to
him, he made line in the sand, and
said, hoy, how long is this line?"
Boy, sit is foot long, sir Making
another, he (Socrates) said, "how long
is this line?" Boy, 1T is two feet
long, sir" Socrates, "how much
larger would be the square construct
ed on the second line than on the
first line?" Boy, lit would be twice
as large, sir" Under the direction
of the boy, Socrates constructed the
two squares. Socrates, ''how much
larger than the first did You say the
second square would be?' Boy, Il
said it would be twice as large"
Socrates, but how much larger is
it?' Boy, 1t is four times as large
Estes, ''thank you, my boy, you
may go. That boy came to me, full
of confidence, thinking himself wise,
l told him nothing. BY q few simple
questions I led him to see his error
and discover the truth. Though
really wiser. he goes away feeling
humble" That same ,rbg principal |