Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1890-07-17
The Busy-Work Problem.

When we consider the amount OF
time which children spend al their
desks in school, as compared with the
time occupied by instruction or recita-
ton, the choice of employment for
this period becomes a matter of i'm
portance. In primary schools the term
'busy-work'' is commonly used to de-
note the occupation at the desk, and
we adopt the term for the present, yet
not without a metal protest against SO
ineffective a use of the adjective.
The term suggests the chief value
of seat-work in the minds Of many
teachers; it serves to keep the child
busy, and therefore quiet. 1t often
happens that the only Thought the
teacher gives to the subject is tine hur-
ried brain-racking for expedients IN
the brief intervals between classes,
when the knowledge is pressed home
that the pupil in the seats have nothing
to do, and that immediate action is
necessary to prevent resulting turmoil.
But the subject deserves careful
thought The object os the work
should be something more than to
serve simply as a quietus in the school
goOm.
In this, as in all school work, the for
nation Of habit is an important result
OF the continued occupation. BY
means of the seat-wOrk the pupils
should gain right habits of work,
through doing well aud cheerfuly some
work that is useful If the performing
OF the task is to the child mere drudg-
cry, he grows to feel a dislike for work
that viii follow him through life. Ii
the work is not useful, that is ii it
does not add either to the child's knowl-
edge or his power, the time is in a great
measure ill-spent. Ii the work is not
well done he becomes discouraged or
indifferent, according as the reason is
inability or carelessuess. The habit Of
working busiy and cheerfuIly, of filling
Tie moments with useful employment,
oil doing faithfully and we'll whatever
is giving him to do. should be in part
the fruit of the child's busy-work.
To secure cheerful work. such Oc-
cupation should be chosen rs will in
terest the pupils. Itshoud be adapted
to their capacity. work that they can
do we'll by patient effort. Variety, too, is
an important factor here. That does not
involve having several different plans
OF work in operation at the same time,
or sevcrh different kinds of material
in use at once, but IN varying either
plan or material rs the interests flags.
After short uterrcguum the old has
all the power aud fascination of the
new again, A systematic alienation
..V .ttf ,..tf
demanding too proluse a supply of ma
terial Such alienation will also af-
ford the rest aud relaxation which
come of change OF work, and prevent
the dizziness aud WEAKNESS that ac-
company trcadmill work in the same
lines.
Another essential which goes far to
insure pleasure in. as we'll as faithful
performance of the work, is the GER
taiuty of the teachers supervision.
The knowledge that an approving
glance or word will follow earnest en-
deaNuy, spurs to stronger effort aud
bli4hlcus the most tedious labor.
Think what it must mean to little
fellow who has carefully titled a slate
with circles through pains-taking effort.
to hear the teachers hasty word, IF
your slate is full, erase and Oil it with
squares. Older people fail TO work
with either chrcrluluess or tWthtuluess
under kindred circumstances Is il
not too much to expect to help child
to right habits of work through such
measures
Again, If the work is not i'm soma
niuu,arr corrected by the teacher, tho
rr,4, ot Yesterday arc repeated to-day
and emphasized tomorrow; the result
OF the reiterated labor being to fly
mistakes i'm the mind, or to strengthen
wrong habits OF working Ii the
pupils are not positively helped through
every exercise, they are Kindred. If
right habits are not cultivated, wrong
ones are strengthened If useful
knowledge is not gained, the pupil is
losing an opportunity which we have
no right to withhold from him.
.he objection urged is the well
known plea, There is SO much 10 be
done THAT have no time to attend to
the work In the seats The reply is
that this work is too important TO be
selected for omission 1t were far bet
ter TO shorten every exercise in read
ing, number and language or even to
omit one or more lessons from the pro-
gram i'm order 10 find time to attend to
the husy-work than to leave it I'M
cared for 90 happen as ii may, This
time must be taken, In order To render
OF any avail tiut part OF the school
day in which the pupils are not en-
Oh.