The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1889-10-18
EDUCATIONAL COLUMN.
Programs for the teachers association are

Programs for the teachers association are
out.
G. II. Brandt was in the county last week.
Miss Mary Cooper, primary teacher at
Bancroft for two years, was united in mar
riage to Mr.. G. s. Watson, Of Bancroft, on
Thursday last. They will take up their
residence in Bancroft.
Prof. V. G. Lanning, formerly county
secretary, is clerking in Forbes clothing
store, FentOn.-Bancroft Advertiser.
County meeting one week from Saturday.
Are your arrangements made to be present?
Do not allow any trivial matter of storm or
work to prevent your being present and
taking part. Remember, Saturday Oct. 26.
WORK IN A DISTRICT SCHOOL.
OVID, MICH. OCT. 5, 1889.
/ am engaged in district No. 10, Ovid, for
six months, two this fall, and four for win
ter term. The school house is one mile west
andoone-half south of Shepardsville, was
built this summer and is pronounced the
finest rural building in the county," and
can safely say it greatly surpasses some
'city" buildings l can emember-Durand
for instance. 1t has 100 square feet of slate
blackboard single Seats heated by coal and
other cOnveniences unusual in the species.
On the whole am quite proud that L have
secured such ''bOnanza." AS for the
school itself, that's ''bonanZa"too.
have enrolled 25 pupils from 4 to 16
years in age, but majority under 10. The
classes are almost numberless after severe
cutting down and l have nearly 80 recita-
tions each day. i am using Mr.. Simmons
methods in geography and history with the
best of success. Interest and rivalry to pro-
duce the best work make what were former
ly dry studies the favorites. | have two
language classes but no grammar, which
greatly astOnishes the neighborhoOd and
pleases the older pupils. L make almost
every lesson a language lesson. In the
reading classes, the pupils write the story in
their own words, make lists of words in al
phabetical order marked and Defined copy
certain paragraphs, etc., etc.
In spelling classes, scholars bring to class
sentences containing the words of the lesson,
etc. AS an example OF first, / will send
sentence printed on board by bOy7 years
of age to illustrate the meaning of ''shrll."
''The pig drinks shrill."
A new beverage, the scholars and /
thought.
But two scholars understand the use of
dictionary and my general work the second
and third days was devoted to that, and
now all but two can find any word they can
spell. This has aided the language work
very much. Tuesday and Thursday after
moons we devote half an hour to photography
Mondays and Wednesdays half an hour to
(OraD and Fridays general
geography lesson and general language
work. Last Friday the geography lesson
upon Dakota, map drawing and general
6aSo orintioy oidad hv 10 ilrood or advartiSan,antc
Following it came the language work which
was writing all learned in geography lesson.
Yours Truly,
CLARA FISHER.
DISTRICT NO. 8, VERNON.
One of the model schools. in Shiawassee
county, is district No. 3, Vernon township,
Miss Mary Dyer, teacher. Miss Dyer has
taught i'm this same district for several years,
which is not only compliment to the teach
er, but to the judgment of the school board.
as the frequent changes in teachers leads
one to think that civil school service is quite
rs much as government civil service i'm need
Of reform. What impresses visitor in this
school room is its tasty and home-lke ap-
pearance. Over the desk is an appropriate
motto: God Bless Our School," In the re-
of the one hundred years of our
''l7S9, Washington" 1850,
Harrison" are the inscriptions i'm gilt letters
on the opposite sides of the room. Pictures
Of various statesmen are also placed on the
walls. One of the windows is banked with
house plants mot discouraged, forlorn look
ing herbs, but fine blooming plants.) A
neat table cover is an adornment to the
teachers desk upon which aie recent copiesof
that peerless educational journal, the Mich
MpIaratnr clata frap ic
cred with cloth. AS cleanliness is next to
yodliness, wash dish, towel, mirror and
comb are the accessories necessary to clean
iness. The opening exercises are varied,
music and patriotic readings being import
ant features. When the writer Of this ar
ticle was present, selections from the life of
Lincoln were read, and from the
questions asked and answered the pupils
we're familiar with the leading events of
,he ''great EmancipatOr." Selections from
he Blouse wesLive In" were read and COM
nented on as an oral lesson I'm physiology.
In the primary classes in reading the pfpils |
'ead i'm conversational style, and tell i'm |
heir own language the idea they have of |
he selection under consideration. In the |
more advanced classes in reading q certain |
number of words are selected i'm the lesson |
md for the next recitation these words and |
heir definitions are brought into the class. |
Thus the pupils are taught the use of the |
dictionary and accuracy i'm definition. The |
primary pupils are taught word forming by |
Use of fonts of letters, and kept busy at the |
'ame time. Writing is one of the branches |
aught, not free for all, go as you please |
,r don't go at all exercise. The writing |
looks are distributed and collected by two |
pupils, and in the same manner the pens |
md ink bottles. A unique arrangement |
or holding the pens has been invented by |
Mss Dyer consisting of a wide but shallow
box, notches cut i'm margins and
he pen projecting over the sides with the
folders standing in the box is the device.
As there has been no patent applied for,
ther teachers can use this invention. A
waste paper basket or box is used to deposit
orn papers in, while it may not be quite so
pnvenient for the pupils to place their
taste papers there, the general appearance
md moral effect is not inconsiderable.
Human nature is probably the same in
Ternon district No. 3, but there is an air of
and polite behavior on the part
4 pupils that Is pleasant. Perhaps this Is
ue to home influence and aided much by
chool room precepts. The good morning"
nd ''thank you" are practiced as well as
aught by the teacher.
With the new series of Harpers readers
instead of the old, is the one and only sug-