The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1886-08-11
For tho Teachers Department.
What Should be the Character OF
School Exhibitions and What
Are They Worth?

lst. The subject suggests or rather
takes it for granted that there should
be some public exercises in the
school.
But in order to get full view Of
the subject it may be well to suggest
few reasons for school exhibitions.
This will make it necessary for us to
partially consider the second branch
Of our subject first as the question of
what exhibitions arc worth depends
in part upon the necessity for them.
Now what arc some Of the reasons
for them? Parents arc generally i'll
different to the schools or ut any
rate they arc apt to neglect to visit
the school or show any interest in it.
| J. would like for all the teachers Co
give their experience in the matter.
| have been teaching 10 or II years,
and rs q general rule parents have
manifested very little interest in the
education Of their children am
proud to say, ut st. paurs, where |
am teaching this year, there has been
more interest shown by the parents
and community than usual. | con.
slider some manifestation OF interest
in the school by the parents of meal
culablc value to the teacher and pu-
pills. 1t shows them that others are
interested in their work. And rs
there is something in the human
breast instillcd by divine inspiration
that makes us love praise, any public
interest shown by the parents stimu-
latcs the child to act we'll his or her
part. llcncc the necessity arises for
some opportunity for the patrons and
community to show their interest.
Nothing is better than at stated and
convenient times to have some pub
lie exercise which all can attend.
W hat it's character shall be We will
consider after awhile. Then cXhi.
bitions arc valuable advertisement
OF the teacher and the school. EXhi.
bltlons show the people that we are
proud or our work, and that we arc
willing for them to sec and know what
we arc doing. But now we come 90
consi,,cr the first branch Of the sub.
jccC. What should be the character
Of school exhibitions?
School exhibitions should be of
two kinds. lst. 1t should consist of
speeches. dialogues, essays, &c. 2nd.
1t should consist Of thorough ex.
animation OF the work gone over. In
my humble Judgment the two should
not be mixed. AS it would be cx.
acting too much Of the pupils at one
time, especially thc smaller ones.
think some teachers consume
more time than necessary preparing
Tor these exhibitions. Two or three
weeks taken from their regular work
is sufficient. do not think all OK.
aminations should be public. be-
llcve the patrons should meet at least
once every three months, and sec the
school examined, then have one pub.
lie examination every year. do not
believe that an examination is always
fair test of the pupils progress. The
length OF an examination depends on
the number Of pupils, and the differ
ent branches in which they arc exam
ined.
Now. haring briefly given my idea
OF what exhibitions should be. will
resume the consideration OF the sec.
ond part OF the subject, and inquire
more fully what such exhibitions as
| have suggested arc WORTH
There arc three parties to bc con.
sldcrcd, the teacher, the patrons and
public, and the pupils.
have already suggested some OF
the advantages to the parents and
public. The next is their worth to
the teacher. 1st. They train him in
organizing and training men. 2nd.
They encourage him in his work and
stimulate him to use every means in
his power to make his school grand
success. What are they worth to the
pupils? 1t encourages them because
they see that parents and the public
arc not wholly Indifferent to the work
they are doing. They are valuable
as mental discipline SO far rs memory
is concerned.
Speeches, dialogues, &C., learn
the pupil to make his articulation
clear and distinct 1t learns them
to observe the stops and mark the
proper pauses, to pay strict attcn-
ton to accent, emphasis, and cadence.
1t learns them to express their scnti.
mcnts,accompaniod with proper tones
and gestures. BY this means they be-
come more habituatcd to expressing
certain sentiments, such as GRIEF,
love, anger, etc.
When these exhibitions consist Of
oral and written examinations it is
an excellent method Of training the
mind 10 rcten,ivcncss. 1t gives the
pupil confidence in the presence of .
an audience, and we all know the i'm. !