Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1888-12-13
PRACTICAL LESSONS.
How History is Taught in One of Washing
tons Public Schools.

How History is Taught in One of Washing
! tons Public Schools.
History is taught in novel way in
Washington, and the pupils are taught
in practical way that seems worthy
of emulation. According to a gentle
man who recently went through a
school in that city, the following plan is
pursued:
The other day he visited the room of
DR.. Roush, the principal of the school
in the Henry building. He was
motioned to a seat and the work of the
school proceeded without interruption.
1t soon became apparent that some
thing of unusual interest was taking
place. The face of every member of
the school was ablaze with interest
and enthusiasm, and frequent points
of ORDER and constitutional refer
ences" were suggested. The visitor
saw that an election of some sort was
taking place, and in due time the bal
lots were cast, tellers appointed and
the votes counted. The result was the
nomination of two presidential tickets,
at which point the hour for closing had
arrived and the school dismissed.
That" said Doctor Roush, answer
ing the visitors inquiry, sis prac-
tical way we have of teaching history.
We have just finished the study of that
part of the Constitution pertaining to
the election of the President and Vice
President, and now we are doing the
practical work. The balloting you
have just witnessed was in the conven-
ton, and we have now nominated our
tickets. l divide the school into two
factions or parties, and each party is
allowed to nominate ticket. The can
didates are members of the school, and
no little interest is taken in them The
pupils do the practical work, and
when they are at loss to know how to
proceed, the constitution is consulted.
After the electors are chosen they vote
and send the result to the proper body.
In case of tie on either President or
Vice President we resolve ourselves
into the House or Senate, as the case
may be, and decide the contest. We do
the work as nearly as possible that is
actually done in our National elections,
and instead of merely reading what is
usually dull constitutional matter, we
take up the real work and study be-
comes one Of intense interest to the
.'Do you find that the scholars have
much of an idea of an election here in
the District of Columbian
mo; not as much as those who live
where they may witness several cleo
tions a year, and this fact alone makes
it doubly interesting to them. To-
at the history hour, the cleo
tors will be chosen, and the manner of
choosing themis. the subject for study"
81 emphatically believe in teaching
those under my care the practical ap-
plication of knowledge. knowledge
that can't be applied is useless in the
majority of cases. There is too much
useless book lore taught everywhere.
Girls and boys too frequently leave
our public schools, with their brain |
with impracticable rubbish |
and data. They should be taught to
think and reason, to- develop and ap-
ply, to analyze and construct. Such |
minds are in demand in practical life. |
Such men and women become the great |
and stanch motor powers of our land
N. Y. Mail and Express.