The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-10-15
1884
The Course OF study.

The Course OF study.
BY referring to the outline Of the course OF
study on pages to-, IL will be noticed
that some changes have been made.
The complete change of textbooks necessi-
tated revision and Encouragement OF the course
OF study, and it seemed TO be an opportune
time for the adoption OF such methods OF teach
ing-the introduction OF such helps and aids an
would tend not only to produce better results,
but 70 lessen the work of the teachers as We'll
To that end "teachers manuals" prepared oy
specialists In the various branches, were placed
In the hands of the teachers.
The synthetic method of teaching beginners
to read and "Pollard's Manual for the same
were adopted for the following reasons:
First-Reading being simply the interpreta-
ton OF certain arbitrary signs or symbols, either
printed or written, whereby one person may ac-
quire the ideas and thoughts OF another ana
thereby increase his information and knowledge,
the synthetic is the natural method OF teaching
beginners to read.
second-The child enters school perfectly able
TO give utterance TO certain sounds and comoi-
nations OF sounds expressing ideas--that is to
say he Ii able TO talk-but he 10 not able to rep
resent those sounds by certain signs and sym
bols, nor to interpret them when represented by
others on the printed pages. He is taught to do
this by the synthetic method.
Third--The true principles of teaching il TO
known sounds forming word to the unknown
word-when part of the sentence, part of the
thought becomes known, and then from the
known word aud words forming part of the UNI
known thought. to the unknown sentence or
complete thought of the author.
Fourth--The child taught to read by the sound
method-the pronouncing of words based upon
knowledge of and familiarity with the sounds
forming those words, is able to read not only in
his reader, but in his arithmetic, in his geogra-
ply, In his chtld's magazine. He is not limited
In his reading vocabulary, except as his oral
vocabulary Is limited, for in his reading the
sounds produce words made familiar to him in
his daily talk, and hence he IL able to reap the
harvest of thought unaided by others.
Ftfth-The synthetic method is simply the old
fashioned spelling-book method, greatly ex-
tended and improved. and those sent out from
the old schoolhouses have not been excelled In
reading and spelling.
The material changes in the course for ad-
vanced classes are the introduction of the new
textbooks and the adoptions of teaehers manu-
ais for voice culture and gesture drills.
Geography-In teaching geography the exclu-
sive use of the textbook and the memorizing OF
dry and uninteresting facts and statistics have
been abolished. Geography properly taught be-
comes fascinating study. There is no branch
in the entire curriculum that affords equal op-
portunities for encouraging and directing the
pupils in general reading. The topical method
is used and the pupils are led to study the cause
and effect-to visit Lake Washington, the Sound.
the hills and mountains, to study their forma-
ton and decay, to watch the tiny stream as 1t
hows into the river, and the river as IL flows
into the ocean. They are led TO study the prod
ucts and their distribution; to study climate
and its effects on the world and mankind; in
short, they are encouraged to study nature.
Mathematical geography, OF course, il not ne
cIn tod ..-1a a. T.
raphy' is used as the manual and course of
study.
Arithmetic-The work in arithmetic during
the past year has been made to conform to the
textbooks in use, with the addition of exer-
cises in what is termed "Every Day Business"
1t not enough that the pupil learn the tables Of
weights aud measures He should be required
TO actually Use the weights and measures In
imaginary business transactions. 1t is not
enough that he learn the definitions of the
words receipt, bill, statement check, draft, etc.,
he should have constant practice In writing
them. "Wentworth's First Steps in Number"
has been used as a manual during the past year.
"One Hundred Lessons in Business" and Every
Day Business" will be given the teachers for use
as manuals the coming year.
Language-As will be seen by reference to the
course OF study in language and composition
the one chief aim is to avoid the meaningless
memorizing of technical grammar. The ability
TO speak and write the English language flu
emily and correctly can not be acquired by first
learning the parts of speech, the rules of syn
tax, analysis and parsing.
Good writing should precede, not follow the
grammar-the science of the language. 1t Ia
possible for one to be good grammarian and
never open a so-called grammar. Pupils leave
our public schools well prepared In analysis
and parsing, but utterly unable to express their
thoughts on paper, to write a well arranged
ar IN fhaiv vrba
any. Why is it9 1t certainly Is not the fault of
the pupil. Ii is the fault OF the system. Pupils
must first be trained to observe-to think. it's
folly 10 expect pupils devoid of ideas to speak
and write any language. They must have some
thing to express before they can express it.
The objects sought by the course OF study al
outlined are: To develop the ideas step by step
TO afford an abundant supply of material for
daily exercises In talking and writing Under
the guidance and direction OF the teachers and
to teach the mere essentials of techn ical gram
mar
To aid the teachers In their work IAlienthal's
"Fhings Taught and Longs Language Exer-
cises" have been given them
spelling-Pollard's speller has been used In
the first, second and third grades, and the Mod
ern spelier in all other grades. In addition To
the exercises in the above textbooks, the SHELL
ing exercises in the readers have been used
During the coming year the Modern speller will
be used In the third grade.
Drawing-Although the supervisor OF draw
Ing, Miss Emma ;. Small, hiss made a special rs
port on that subject, TO which your attention ia
called, the words of Professor Walter smith
state director of art education for the state of
Massachusetts,, are pertinent:
Commercially speaking. the power to draw
We. - worth more In the market today than
anything else taught in the public schools and
education in industrial art is of mo-e innort
hhce 70 the development OF this country and the
Increase OF her wealth and reputation than any
owner subiect OF common school education Tha
Intelligent, well-educated draughtsman ia nra
pared Tor work in the great majority of indus
eiaa5 ocSuPatlons and Ia every country of the
ciNiuzed world wherever q workshop exists
Iook 10 music. drawing, natural history les
sos, elehentarf science and object lessons to
| protect our children from over-education, and
| 20 make them love their childish work and
| were there no other reason for the introductIon
4 OF saeh SUBJECTS into our common schools tha,,
that, ii seems me thai it would be reason snf.
nc.ont SUI
| Superintendent F. J. Barnard. take n,assr-a
IN p!esfshanS TO you my first report as super.
When entered upon nv duties st ths ona,.
/ ing OF the school year, the board of edncsYfoa
saw NJ, AT my suggestion, 90 abolish the Bsrnes
system, tlen used. aud introduced in its place
| taS tIai'g drawing books, together with MAJ
| o. the system. 40 i~ "DlSSs
found on investigation that few of the teach-
| ers or pupils were acquainted with the rnetSc1
| aud score o. work, aud | realizeJ that s,'.t,,
| the Opening months it would be uphill wors
ior US az am pleased 10 report that the ma
.0Ftty OF teachers, IN TACT nearly all have fro,,
| the start gwen ne their hearty co-operatior
| mSnlissnaS patience, enthusiasm and ability
| ana nave consequently produced excellent "a,
suits. IL is frequently diHcuit 20 irnnTess :, ~
| the minds 81 those who have never given o.
| subleet esretut and intel igen, consireratinS
THAT copying The lines which 60 to make m =
| picture Is not drawing; also. thar hard 49,
/ giStsnsng line expresses nothing but the nn'
| pleasant result OF Il combination OF nuxcia
| black lead and paper
Drawing Is essentially a "stndy Of thirr. -
/ and much OF our time has been given TO the Oh