Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1891-10-09
Educational Department
CONDUCTED BY
PROF. B. FINK,
Principal Elk Point Schools.

The next meeting Of the s. D.. E.
A. will we held NJ Mitchell next
December.
What are some OF the advantages
of a large class?
What are the advantages Of a
small one?
What are the advantages Of indi-
vidual instruction?
The u. S. teachers who attended
the association at Toronto were sur.
prised to find that Uncle Sans
stamps would not send a letter.
We would like to see the teachers
Of Union county taking g good sup
ply Of school journals, and will take
subscriptions at all Of the teachers
meetings at reduced rates which
will be made known at the meet
ings.
Pupils should usually rise to re-
cite, but not always. Whether they
shall or not usually depends on the
length Of the Rotations. To re-
quire a pupil to rise every time he
answers a question however short is
one extreme and to have all reciting
done while seated is the other.
Our teachers should be trained to
speak extemporaneously. Too many
must write what they say il not
more than two minutes in length.
One way to help the matter along
would be to have some debates at
our meetings. The following would
do for questions:
1t was remarked by those who at
tended the National Association
Meeting at Toronto, that the Can
adian teachers spoke without manu-
script while those Of the U. s. read
papers. Our meetings would be
much more interesting and profta-
BILE if we would adopt the Canadian
plan to some extent.
The examination should usually
be written, but the oral examina-
ton has it's value as well. The pu-
pill must not only recall, but must
do so rapidly and frame his thoughts
in good language. His answer must
show how exhaustive his knowledge
is and he is compelled to think quick
ly, make his sentences concise, and
tell all he knows while standing.
Can any M doubt the benefit Of
such an exercise?
While there are certain arguments
in favor of standing to hear a class
recite, and especially in the lower
grades or in large classes, some edu-
Gators are too radical on this subject.
TO stand constantly will wear out
the strongest constitution in time.
If you find you car do IS well in
certain sections by sitting as by
standing, sit by all means; and if
you can not, don't stand oil the
time in the school room.
Editor Bras, Of the South Da-
kota Educator" tells us in on edi-
toral that there is a profession Of
teaching. Behaving that those who
maintain that teaching will not be
q profession till all who teach are
required to measure up to some
fixed standard of preparation, arc
holding to the only line OF argument
that will lift the schools to their
proper place, we object to his argu-
meAt. We have many professional
teachers, but teaching is not yet a
profession.
How to keep the pupils Of a grade
together is q question especially vex-
ing in the primary classes. The
are often allowed to enter
any time during the year,
and, besides, the understanding of
the beginner is a most uncertain
quantity. One child starts TO school
with a good amount Of useful infor-
nation; another has scarcely any.
One shows twice as much aptitude
another. One thing is certain,
we must make the grades and pro-
motions more flexible in the lower
departments than in the higher.
The lower grades may well be divi-
ded into classes, n containing
those who can help themselves most,
the other, those who need special
attention. In this way the grade
may he made more and more uni
form as the pupils advance through
the course.
Resolved, That examinations arc
an evil.
Resolved, That whispering should
be prevented entirely.