Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1889-09-07
VACATION is NOW OVER, AND
HARD WORK BEGINS AGAIN.

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from the little year-old, who will
receive her first introduction to school
life, to the youths of the high schools,
will fill the building comprised within
the public school system. With pos
sibly few exceptions, the pupils will
be attired in the best, and IN many
cases, especially among the boys, the
nicely-combed hair. the clean hands,
and the well-blackened shoes, will
stand out in bold relief in contrast
with what may be expected later.
How heavy some of the little feet
will feel in being compelled to turn
away from the play ground to the more
serious work of the school! The taft
fly and pickle industry, which reports
the falling off during the summer,
will soon regain its school-day activi-
ty. The pickle, which finds its great
patronage among the female pupils,
must be sour, large and very green,
and the shop in the vicinity of the
school which has the largest, sourest
and greenest pickle will capture the
bulk of the female patronage.
AS this is the beginning of scho-
lastic year it will be well for teachers
and pupils to make few new scho-
lastic year resolves. The teacher
should make up her mind to instruct
the pupil, and not be satisfied with
merely going through the text book
routine, and teaching on the same
order as parrots are taught to talk.
Gain the confidence, good will and
respect of the pupil and good results
will follow. Speak kindly and show
that you feel an interest in them, and
your pupils will not be slow to ap-
preciate your efforts and feeling of
reciprocity will follow. Why is it the
attendances in some classes are so
small and others the reverse? "One
reason" says Assistant Superintend-
ant McCahan, " is the lack of good
disciplinary ability on the part of
the teacher. This defect will deplete
the attendance of the class more sure
ly than measles or smallpox, and the
greatest misfortune is that the deple-
ton becomes permanent. 1t is fact
that children who have a teacher
whom they love and respect for her
good qualities, recover more rapidly
from an attack of sickness than those
who are more unfortunately situated.
Firm, kind and methodic control of a
class WINS the respect and good will of
the most turbulent and refractory pu-
pill, and creates in him desire to be
present at every session of the school,"
Many educationalists think that no
preparation of studies should be re-
quired of pupils at the homes, but
that all of their work should be done
in the classroom, under thesuperinten-
dence of the teacher, especially among
the younger pupils; but since such is
not the case, pupils should not be bur-
dened with home studies, but what
the average pupil-not the brightest
can be reasonably expected to &C.
complish. 1t should not be forgotten
that a large number of the public
school pupils are so situated that they
cannot obtain educational assistance
at home. A teacher should not be-
come cross and impatient because
pupil does not readily comprehend in
structions or explanations. Explain
the subject matter several times, if
necessary, until the pupil has a
thorough understanding of it and
then he will not easily forget what he
has learned. Encourage the pupils to
ask questions relative to the matter
in hand, and let them feel that if the
thing is not clear to them, you will
gladly make it so. Do not be sarcas-
tic, nor make uncomplimentary re-
marks on your. pupils or their mental
incapacity, since nothing is more
harmful than that of a teacher poking
fun at pupil. If you do you will
forever make him your enemy, and |
your value as an instructor, in his
case, will be seriously reduced. Re-
member that some pupils, as we'll as
teachers, are naturally brighter than
others. Some Of the teachers do in
calculable harm by such methods, and
in no case is there anything gained by
such conduct.
On the part of the pupil, it is of in
calculahle importance that he begin
right, and if he does this, the course
will be easy; but let him once get in
the habit of neglecting his studies in
one way or another, and nine chances
out of ten he will lag during his entire
school career, and if not left behind
in the race, will just manage to crawl
along. When you have lessons to
prepare for the following day, pre-
pare them by daylight, if possible,
and do not postpone till after dark.
Do not prompt your neighbor, nor al
low him to prompt you in school. You
may foolishly think that by prompt
ing you are helping your neighbor, by
saving him from bad mark but, in
stead of doing him kindness, you
are iptlicting great injury and really
keeping him back. This fact will be
better appreciated after you have left
school-life be hind. Whatever SUBJ
ject you may have in hand, endeavor
to obtain thorough knowledge of it,
and do not give up until you have
done so.s A little hard work at the
beginning Of the the year viii make
smooth road for you, and make study
pleasure later on. Do not cram
your mind with lot of figures or
mere words, ready to be let out after
the manner of talking machine. Be
attentive to your studies, punctual in
attendance, treat your teacher with
politeness and respect.-American.
DEAD LETTERS. The following is
q lief of Iattars REMAINING in the Post