Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1889-05-02

The rock bears the simple inssrip'
tion in golden letters:
"Dem Saenger Tails Friedrich
Schiller. Die Urkantone, 1852" III
the bard Of Tell, Frederick Schiller
the Forest Cantons. 1852
An Address by Lea !. Laihrsum,
DELIVERED BEFORE
THE TEACHERS AssOCIATHOx.
Friday. April lssh, 1859.
Mr.. PRESIDENT AND FELLow.MEM.
BERs :-Oniy a few days ago was
notified by Mr.. Charles Heard, Chair.
maa of the COMMITTEES on Programme,
that that bedy had assigned TO me the
duty of preparing an essay on the sub.
ject-"How recitstions should be con
Quoted"
Feliow-members, it kas always af-
forded me much pleasure to be ins tru.
mental in any way, either direct or
indirect, in contributing to or promot-
ing the general interest Of this Asso-
citation. and especially so on this oc.
cssion, when subject of 90 much i'm.
portance and one which 90 greatly
demands the attention Of my co.. Ia.
borers isto be discussed. Being in bad
health at present and for some time
past ! at first decided TO notify the
Committee of my indisposition to res.
pond to their invitation, but, az alrea.
dys tsted, never wishing to be counted
an absentee when duty demands my
services. l decided to add my mite to
to.daY's exercises.
Mr.. President, the subject with
which now have to deal is one upon
which much may be said, bat it shall
be my purpose here to treat it as brief.
ly as possible.
By Introductory, / wish TO state, that
eight years experience in teaching has
forced upon me the conclusion, that
while an interchange of ideas may
materially benefit a brother.teacher
that no one method of conducting a
recitation can be designed to suit the
demands Of every teacher.
The fret and most important point
that engrosses my attention in con.
nection with the subject is that a
teacher should thoroughly acquaint
himself with the lesson or subject at
hand. Not wishing to be misinter-
preted, / infer that teacher, not.
withstanding this qualifications, for
fresh aacessions can always be. OBJ
tanned BY studying each days exsr.
cises in advance. should make it a
point to be thoroughly conversant
Herewith.
To teach mere words and not the
subject has been. it must be eandidly
admitted. grievous fault, and one to
be guarded against in our public
schools. How can we hope to over
ride this common practice if we do
not thoroughly master the details in
advance2 And here may add, it is
a passiig shame and no less fault
that the teachers vocation should not
be sufficient TO make the teachers vo-
cation alone supportable and one to
be sought for, for the love and honor
of it alone. (for no calling in life can
be more SOY and not rs it now is, a
mere catch until something more in
the way Of a sinecure presents itself.
This done. efficiency would be attained
in our public schools, and until THE
is done they will never reach that re.
form and efficiency 90 universally
called for. But a. I ana DEPRESSING I
will now to the point again.
This mechanical way of learning
and reciting lessons is inherent in the
majority of children and should be
guarded against by the teacher and
supplaated BY awakening a question
ing spirit within. How often. fellow.
teachers. have you been doomed 10
disappointment in your little enes in
q Lesson which they have been able to
recite verbatim. but upon asking some
incident question pertinent thereto
you were greeted with . gaze Of utter
amusement? Again, how often have
you found it the case that clsss
could solve every problem under =
given rule and when called to the
B. B. and given.a similar problem did
not possess the least idea Of the pris-
ciple involved therein? See then,
fsllow-teachers, the evil and obscusi-
a., ~xs~~I:nr tt.~ ~~hu~s~.I -. 4