News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1891-06-04
Some Educational suggestions.


Any one who opens the grammar
used in this county will notice that it
begins at part third instead of at the
beginning of the work. If he exam
ines the book which contains the first
and second parts he will find just
such a book as all our children of
eight and nine years of age ought to
be studying. 1t seems to the writer
that the children in the primary
grades in this county ought not to
be deprived of the instruction and
training which they might obtain
from this little book. 1t has occurred
to him that it might be well to call
the attention of parents to the mer-
it's of the work, and the need of such
a study.
The study of grammar is very
different from what it was 80 years
ago. Instead OF setting children to
the task of learning dry rules and
definitions, pupils now learn the
right use of language by constant
practice. Children are taught to
write as soon as they are taught
to read, and at the average age
of eight years, they are ready to
study part 1. OF Hyde's Practical
Lessons in the use of English, or a
similar work. l think that the Les
sons" are the best of any | have
seen, and [ have examined several.
1t would take too much space to
describe the primary book, but it
contains work for two years, and
lust such work as children need
and ought to have, in this day of
educational progress.
But how can this book be used
The best way would be for parents to
get the books and have it used as
school study. There is nothing in
the law to prohibit this, as the
primary part is not really another
book and would not exclude the
grammar grade pupils from the use
of the book for those that grade. 1t
would simply be used as anintroduc-
ton to the higher work. Another
way would be for the teachers to
have the primary book and give the
pupils oral lessons, but it would be
far better for each scholar of the fright
age to have a textbook to study.
Still another way is for parents who
wish their children to take up the
study, to get a book and teach the
children during the vacation. This
method has some advantages, and
where the study cannot be taken
up in school this is the best way. The
book costs 80 cts, and is really a
necessity for the third and fourth
year of school.
Another very useful work issued by
the same publishers Cd. c. Heath x
Co, Boston, is called Seaside and
Wayside. 1t seems too bad that so
many children in the country grow
up without any instruction inregard
to the structure and habits of the
plants and animals about them.
Our children have a great supply
of material to study, and many of
them would be glad to learn about
insects and plants and birds and fish
and shells. But few parents OF
teachers have studied these things
enough to be able to impart much in
struction. Seaside and Wayside is
just the thing for parents to put into
the hands of little learners. There
are three books in the series, and
| wish they could be in every homein
the County where there are children.
They would be good for teachers to
use to interest the children in nature.
How to interest our people in
school improvement is a serious
question. Solong as communities are
with the improved
of education, so long will
they be content to go on in the old
ways. If we are to have better
schools, public opinion must be en-
lightened and guided Alright. Only a
few attend the Institutes except the
teachers, and it would be well for
them to get new ideas oftener than
they can through these. One of the
best helps for parents, and teachers
is some good educationl paper or
magazine.
One of the best periodicals of this
Kind TTIeSJ sIIIi sIc,I udJfICed WIFI Is
Common School Education,' pub
lished at so Bromield St., Boston.
| do not know of any agency which
would aid more effectually in improv-
ing our schools than this or a similar
magazine read by our people. |
would advise teachers and others in.
terested to send for copy and see
what is going on in the educational
world. 1t is said that Vermont is 40
years behind the times in educational
matters. If this be true we ought to
try to catch up. j. w. NEWTON.