River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1889-05-30
Educational.

5. I. IRyINE,...............-.............
IAN communications should be addressed to
the Editor at Esdaile, Wis
Miss Edith Caldwell is teaching in the
Endorf Dist, Clifton.
G. III. Ellingson is teaching the sum
mer term in Dist. No. 81, Goodhue Co.,
Mimi.
Miss Anna Linnahan of River Falls be-
gan the summer term in the ForestyiIle
Dist. near Beldenville, May g.
The following maxims we copy from
the May number of the Wis. Journal Of
Education:
l. Attempt no more than you believe
you can carry through.
?. Have definite end in view, and
plan and work for that end.
3. Remember the power to think, the
habit ofthinking, and the mode of think
ing, are of greater value than the accum-
ulation of facts.
4. Every honest effort for good by the
teacher will exert reflex influence upon
himself, and while trying to help others
he himself will receive most benefit.
Supt. Brewer will hereafter conduct
his Educational column in the Rock Elm
Institute, edited by III. Lowater, com
mencing with the June number The
| excellency of the column will be fully
| maintained and results better for the rea-
son that it will be issued monthly and con-
sequently contain more matter. In order
TO encourage our superintendent il his
good work and to make the column a
complete success teachers should take an
interest in and read the same. If you
are not a subscriber to the Institute,
subscribe now, you will never regret it,
and certainly will get the worth of your
small outlay. 1t is brimfull of teaching
devices, suggestions, supplementary read
ing, etc, just what you want.
Many people who have reached the
age of maturity can judge the effect of
the reading they adopted in the earlier
years of life. Pure reading produces
pure thoughts. Vicious stories that ex
cite the mind for a time lead many
young minds to follow in the same path,
and if the seed be vicious can we expect
good fruit to come from it? How often
do we read the testimony of men con-
victed of some offense, that they owed
their downfall to sensational books or
vicious literature. Every parent cannot
be too careful to examine the reading
their children obtain, for remember
youths minds are like white paper
ready to receive any impression for good
or evil. Teachers also should direct their
pupils in the selection of good reading.
The power of attention should be care
fully trained in childhood. 1t is one of
the most important of the mental powers,
for upon its activity depends the efiicien-
cy of each one of the specific faculties.
Mental power is, to a large extent, the
power of attention, and genius has been
defined as nothing but continued atten-
ton" The following suggestions will in
dictate to the teacher the methods by
| which the power of attention can be cnl-
tivated:
l. Have pupils observe objects closely.
2. Require then always to study with
close attertion.
3. Pead long sentences and have pupils
write them.
4. Read quite long combinations in
mental arithmetic, and have pupils repeat
them.
). Mathematical studies are especially
valuable in cultiyating attention.
The following suggestions are made to
aid teacher in securing the attention of
his pupils;
l. Manifest an interest in the subject
you are teaching.
q Be clear in your thought and read.
in your expression.
3. Speak in natural tone, with variety
and fexibility of voice.
f. Let your position before the class be
usually a standing one.
5. Teach without book, as far as pos
sible.
6. Assign subjects promiscuously, when
necessary.
7. Use the concrete method of instruc-
ton, when possible.
s. Vary your methods, as variety is
attractive to children.
8. Determine to secure their attention
at all hazards.
--Edl0ard Brooks IN County Teacher.
Whatever the phrase "well attended"
may mean when applied to other associa-
tons, il needs no modification when APP
piled to the joint association at Hudson
last Saturday. The papers were first
class, practical, and generally free from
that got-u for-the-occasion tone. The
discussions were lively, thorough, and
indicated great earnestness in the pro-
fession.
Both counties were well represented by
their leading teachers. Pres. Parker and
a large portion of the faculty were pres
| ent. Supts Mosher of st. Croix and
Brewer of Pierce made their presence
great deal more than simply ornamental.
Both spared no pains to keep the discus
sions among the many instead of letting
it fall to the few, as is so often the case.
History and technical grammar received
undue proportion of time in the discus
sions.
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