River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1889-02-21
Educational.
The River Falls Association.

Had the weather been more agreeable
the attendance would have been much
larger. The storm made it gathering
of the faithful"
Miss Toby's topic intermediate &C.
ography"-was presented by a class reci-
tation IN which was shown, in ali inter-
esting way, how geography can be made
living practical study for children even
of the intermediate grades. These are
the things the class of bright little girls
did during the recitation: /. Answered
questions with map before them. 2. Wrote
with books closed, list of dictated
words. g. Opened books and corrected
the spelling 4. Passed to the board and
repeated the spelling and made correc-
tons without the book. 3. Gave written
answers on the board to questions asked
by teacher. g. The class was seated and
answered questions orally. 7. General
questions with written answers followed.
8. Answers were read ard criticised. In
all the work the teacher used the utmost
vigilance as to correct manner of express
sion and accurate form of words and SEN
fences.
In the discussion that followed Miss
Toby claimed that her method was meri-
torious in that it furnishes an excellent
incidental exercise and that it drew the
pupil away from the book-thus COM
polling him to rely mostly upon him
self.
Advanced Geography" was introduced
through an interesting talk by Prof.
Hazard He maintained that owing to
the danger of geography becoming dry
study, especial efforts were necessary to
make it an interesting study. The plan
submitted for doing this was imaginary
journeys taken BY the pupils In these
journeys they touch the principal natural
wonders of the country, depending upon
books of travel etc, for descriptions of the
places. As topical journey he suggested
the Dalles of the Wisconsin, Niagara
Falls, st. Lawrence River, Mammoth
Cave, ETC., ending up with the big trees
of California
In the discussion the matter of locating
places was taken up and quite thoroughly
aired. 1t was strongly urged that but
few places comparatively should be To-
Gated, and when possible the location of
these should be reached mainly through
the imagination.
Miss Brown of the High School opened
the topic, "The Fifth Reader Glass;" by
pleasantly reading a well written essay
emphasizing the necessity of some care
full work along the line of the compre-
hension of the thought-the true basis of
real reading.
A lively discussion was raised with
reference to synonyms substituted in the
text by the pupil to test his understand
ing of the thought.
Supt Brewer read an excellent report
on "rhe most approved functions of the
teacher with reference to the thought
and language of the pupil"
The discussion was long and lively,
Pres Parker, NJ j. Baird. Geo. Peterson
and Supt Brewer taking prominent
parts.
As result the following resolutions
were adopted by vote of the association:
ResolUed, That the most approved func-
tions of the teacher with reference to the
thought and language of the child are:
/. To create within him desire for
knowledge and to aid in opening the way
whereby he may obtain it.
2. To give special attention to the for
nation of his vocabulary, and to see that
the idea represented by the word is
thoroughly comprehended.
3. To practice him continually in the
art IF expression by means of his every
day vocabulary.
Owing to temporary illness Pres. Parker
was excused by the association from pre-
senting the topic The Basis of the New
Education"
After fairly Interesting question-box
the ASSOCIATION adjourned to meet in one
month.
At the foundation Of all instruction is
this principle: $40 train up a child in
the way he should 90, you must 1CdIk IN II
yourself" You must ever be exemplars
as well as teachers. To make others
true, YOU must be true yourself; to make
others wise, you must be wise. If you
preach temperance and practice drunken
ness, no one will heed you. There are
two classes of teachers that l observe;
One class is pedantic, pompous, self-con-
tanned, magisterial. When he stands be-
fore children he fills them with awe, in
stead of playing on their heart-strings by
the mighty power of love. Such teach
ing has few results The child looks up
with awe; the little delicate tendrils of
his infant mind cannot reach up and
grasp instruction from such a teacher.
The second class of teachers brings sun
shine into the school room. Children
turn to them as flowers to the light.
There is an atmosphere of sunshine
around such teacher. His own light
attracts all to him for their good and
growth.-SchuyIer Collar an the Normal
Herald