Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1889-02-27
EDUCATIONAL.
C. D. BELDEN, EDITOR.

SCHOOL are alreduy numerous.
Fine new desks haye been furnished for
school house in Dist. 7, Adams.
Prof. McCleary's new book on Civil !
Government has been introduced into the |
Lyle village schools.
Miss Emma Lamb, of Frankfort, has |
been teaching school in Illinois during
the present winter.
A. w. Brown, of Pleasant Valley, since
he completed the term in Dist. o., is |
giving attention to teaching penmanship, |
painting and drawing.
James E. Brown finished very success.
full term of school III district No. 60.
Pleasant Valley, on Friday last. lie
commenced this week short term in
Dist. 81, Racine,
The following is the program for the
Teachers Association meeting, at Ian
sing village, next Saturday, March I'd.
School Etiquette, Mrs. Soule.
Penmanship, r. L. johnson.
Object Lessons. Mr.. w. H. Palmer,
Primary History, Nellie Mccormick,
Language Lessons. Mr.. Harrison.
All teachers in the vicinity are request
ed to be present.
Supt Belden was visiting schools last
week in Adams, Nevada and Lyle.
Trustees and teachers will please take
notice that our Spring State Institute will
be held during the week commencing
Apr. /. The commencement of all Spring
terms should be deferred until Monday,
April 9Th.
Object Lessons.
The benefit derived from object les.
sons IS becoming more and more apparent
in our schools. They are the means of
lmpressing and retaining upon the mind
the subject matter taught, and are there
fore important factors in melting the
curiosity, awakening an interest and
creating a desire to obtain knowledge
from the various avenues which lead to
a liberal education. One may read of
the grandeur and beauty of Niagra Falls.
and picture in his mind what it may be,
but 60 and gaze on the turbulent waters !
of that tremendous cataract, an impression |
is made upon the mind that cannot be
erased. Seeing is believing. A teacher |
may describe to his class the beauty |
system and wonderful mechanism of a
watch. The mind picture thus drawn,
though of the most interesting character, |
will leave on the minds of the class but a
vague idea Of what the object really is;
but let the teacher produce the watch and
show them the beauty of its construction
and the intricacy of its works. It's use, its
value, etc and they at once comprehend
clearly the facts stated, and the lesson
thus taught leaves an impress on the
mind which is not easily removed. AS
many text books do not contain object
lessons, have used this method, and
found it interesting as we'll as profitable.
At the commencement of the term pri-
mary geography class is organized, in.
Guiding all those who do not study geog-
raphy from text book. This comprises
mostly those from the first, second and
third reader classes. Each day, after the
usual recitation in geography, few min
utes are spent, and sometimes more than
a few, in talking about some object,
Those generally found IN the schoolroom
are taken up first. For instance, a boy
in the class wants to know the names of
the different kinds OF wood that the floor,
desks, shelves, tables, etc., are made from.
take his question for an object lesson
for the next day. Each one is requested
to bring in to the class pieces of as many
different kinds of wood as he can find,
and we will talk about those and that
viii CHI is found in the schoolroom also.
The next day after the wood question
is satisfactorily answered, Willie, whose
turn comes next to ask question. wants
to know if the isin-glass in the stove
door is like the glass IN the windows.
The next day piece of mica and an
ordinary piece of window glass are
brought before the class, and by compar
ing the two they can readily see at once
the differe nee. A talk is then had about
the mica; how obtained; how found; use,
ETC., and also of glass; how made; from
what and of the different kinds and their
uses, and so on during the term. Many
questions are asked and various subjects
talked about, such as chalk, blackboards.
broom, bell, states, paper, corks, metals,
cloth, pens, and many others
too numerous to mention. How
they are obtained from what; how made;
their color; size; use; value; etc., are
some of the outlines of thought. By
these object lessons pupils are made to
observe, think, apply and understand,
and lessons thus taught become a source
of pleasure as we'll as profit.-Delaware