Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1891-06-04

Variations From Routine Work.
A paper read by Mrs. Cora Law
renee before the County Teachers
Association, on Saturday, April 18th,
1891.
I have often thought that the au-
thor of the old adage, variety is the
spice of life" must surely have been
school marin. For it seems to me
that in the school-room we can more
easily fall into q careless, lifeless.
monotonous role OF action, than III
any other place. Now do not pre-
sumo to speak of the work of your
principals and grammar-grade teach
ers. OF you know nothing, hence I
confine myself entirely to the work of
my own experience-and that pri-
mary. And find it so hard to try
to entertain others than primary
teachers with recitals of my ways and
methods.
The first object of the successful
teacher is to interest her pupils in
their school And I believe any
means employed however simple,
which will accomplish this end are
right and well. OF course we are
governed largely by our circumstan-
ces and surroundings. 1t would be
an easy task it seems, where the put
ty for molding and modelling, paper
for folding books, for drawing, sticks,
blocks, pegs, beads, buttons, books,
charts, maps etc, are furnished as a
part Of the schoolroom apparatus-to
interest children. But I'VE teachers
who deem coal-hod and ash-basin
a luxury, and whose resources are
limited land whoever saw school
marin with unlimited resources)
must device our own ways and means
and at less cost-with what practical
hints we can borrow from our more
fortunate sisters. A thing of beauty
is joy forever,-you know the quo
tation-children love the bright and
beautiful. Why If teacher" or one
OF the girls wears bright dress or a
new and pretty ribbon, every PAIR of
eyes in the room open the wider and
tell us SO plainly of their admiration ;
and If new picture is hung or new
flower painted on some corner of the
board, they still more open the
wider and tell us so plainly of their
admiration. And if new picture is
hung or flower painted, they are still
more pleased for they know this is
theirs. My children always claim
the blackboard in front of the sever
al classes. If a new picture is placed
on the board claimed by one class, 1
am sure to hear: won't you please
draw something for our class" and
there is no rest until it is drawn. 1
always try to impress this fact upon
the children, that the room is theirs.
| If they can be made TO understand
this, their interest is increased tenfold.
Let them bring their pictures and
cards, and suggest where and how we
shall put them up. You might laugh
to see my pupils do up, what we call
our hOtLselUOrE, the last thing at night.
But have found 1t a great benefit;
it really aids me and teaches them to
be careful and tidy and at the same
time gives them this feeling of own
ership which so much want them to
have. They learn to observe closely
often noticing things that I would
overlook, in their eagerness to help.
You may ask what this work is.
Well, the windows are to close and
fasten, the crayons to collect, boards
to erase, the pegs, sticks and cards
that have been used are TO be collect
ed and put away; in fact they see
that everything is in its place. I as
sure you this is not a quiet time but
it is change after the last recitation.
They enjoy it, and SO dol, and we all
go home happier for it. Monday we
appoint two firemen, two watermen,
two windowmen, house-keepers, teach
er's helper, girls to erase boards, and