Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1891-02-19
lFer the Ellsworth American.i
An Ellsworth Mother on Teaching.


Mr.. Chilcon:
Will you please allow space in your col
umns for a few words of comment upon
our schools, from an interested mother?
1t has been my custom to visit the schools
which my children attend, at least once
each term; and while have been in the
main. pleased with the method Of teaching
and the progress of the pupils, have
wished it were the custom here, as else
where, for the school committee to ap-
point two or more ladies to visit the
schools for the purpose of making any sug-
gestions they might deem Of benefit to the
school. to said committee. And from the
cordial courtesy always received from
teachers, infer it would be agreeable and,
perhaps, helpful to them to thus be able
to take counsel with mothers and friends
of their pupils.
While we mothers are deeply interested
in the developing of our chid's mental fac
ulties, we deem it our bounden duty to
protest against process which serves to
hinder proper growth of It's other facu-
ties; hence. were l one of an advisory COM
mittee. l should counsel change in some
of the prevailing modes of punishment.
Every one will allow, l think, that pun
ishment to be at all etfectual. should be
remedial and surely, to produce confusion
in the head, and shame or anger in the
heart by inhicting a sudden blow or blows
on the head. or elsewhere, of child. a.
companied by the words. now see if you
can study few will allow to be condu-
Give to that work. Also to deprive rest
less youth of the necessary relaxation of
session. we hold to be unwise, as it serves
to defeat its own end, providing that end
be to help scholar get its lessons. To
thus weaken the bodily strength and nerves
is but poor remedy for failure in recita-
tons, we think.
As a child is no more responsible for it's
ability or lack of ability to learn than for
the fashion of its form and features, it
quired faithful study and strict attention
in recitstions, from each scholar, and the
scholar has couformed to that requirement.
they have each performed all that is within
their respective province, Therefore
while scholar should be wisely punished
If need be. for idlaness and disobedience,
| can see no justice in Furnishing the stu
dious and ohedient pupil for a misspelled
word or other missing in its lessons.
That's an awful long lesson" said my
boy, as he shut his history, land it's all
about different governments and such stuff
and | suppose l shall forget what comes
next. and the teacher won't start Us, you
know" | did know, for | have listened
To a recitation in history when the child,
who began bravely would sit down with
the mien of cnlprit. while the teacher
stood like a silent Nemesis firm in the con
viction that ne must not be started. and
with reason, perhaps. as the arbitrary sys-
tenn of the course of study now in vogue,
requires il. Why thus dshearten sen-i-
tive, if dull, child, because the dull topic
or unpronouncable word has slipped his
memory:
To require that every pupil should learn
every word of every lesson every lay. i,
perhaps, the literal kind Of thoroughne~s
to which the "Superannuated Teacher"
took exception in an article upon the
school question, in late issue of Your pa
per.
With him most heartily agree. ard
would add that a. with Us older scholars
in ijfe's school, who oft learn our best les
sons from our failures, so it is, mayhap.
the misspelled word and other missing that
impresses itself upon the child's memory,
when the lessons correctly recited are per
haps forgotten.
In fine. were We mothers committee
men" we would require beside the know
ledge Of text books teacher should pos
sess the power of self-government, as re-
quisite To the governing Of restless youth;
and an enthusiasm and heart in the work
a. essential to inspiring the best efforts Of
pupils.
A fine tribute my little girl unconscious
" paid her teacher, we thought, when she
came in from school, her face all aglow
with enthusiasm, to which she gave ex-
preston in these words "Oh. mamma,
we did have such q good time in recitation
to-day the teacher told us all about every
thing and we all asked lots Of questions,
and every one-of-us were sorry when the
recitation was done" | thought as lis
tened every one of US" mothers, who
has a child under her tuition, should
gratefully invoke blessings upon that de-
voted teacher, whose best qualifications
for teaching young children are her en-
thusiaSm and love, for It's thereby She
gains the love of hearts which are made
happy by striving to do their best, unhin-
dcred by fear.
And when our High school boy tells Us
his teacher spent nearly the whole recta-
ton hour in explaining to one who did not
I'm ierstand the lesson, we know he is the
right man in the right place ard were we
Ellsworth mothers, Ellsworth men. we
would make it worth his while tor that
teacher to retain for aye the position for
which he is so eminently fitted, at least we
would try. H. +. w.
Ellsworth, Feb. 1891