The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1892-11-25
Patriotism aud the American Flag Pre-
woke an Excited Discussion and
some Merrimpnt.
Reading in Both Primary and Higher
Grades Receives Attention 9th
er Matters Considered.


Falls. read a paper opening with a SEN
tence from Ruskin: Man makes IA use
full thing: then, to express pleasure in
his success. decoratcs it," drawing"
said Miss Fisher. lis the universal Ian.
guage of all nations. savage or civilized.
II is as important as writing. Some Of
the benefits to be derived from the study
are the awakening and growth of the
faculties of observation, perception and
comparison. the training of certain mus
cles. while the creative and inventive fac
ulties are brought into play. Best of all.
the child's aesthetic nature is cultivated.
and hence the enjoyment of life in
creased. Clay modelling should accom-
pany lessons in drawing, and colors may
be used with great success.
Miss Alkaline White, of the Chestnut
Valley schools. read a practical and in
teresting paper on the teaching of
natural science in the country schools.
Many events of common occurrence. says
Miss White, may be made plain to the
country child by simple experiments in
physics, and hence this would be a good
science to choose for elementary work:
later botany or zoology may be taken up,
bearing in mind that the good results of
any teaching depend upon mot how
much but how well" While the study
% science should be made subordinate
To the more Common branches,
still enough can be taught to
form Il gooG foundation upon
which the child in later years may
rear as tine a superstructure as in him
les. Physics should by all means be
taught by experiment and observation
made by the pupils themselves under the
guidance Of the teacher. The pupils
Will afterward write down their observa
tons and conclusions. illustrating them
ny simple drawings. In this manner
science may be made a part of language
lriil. Unless the work is written down
much Of its value will be lost. Botany
IS preferable to mineralogy and zoology.
since the classiticdtions may be more
easily understood. The work should be
carefully planned in advance by the
teacher and carried out Systematically.
After a few typical plants are thorough
IS understood the various subdivisions
can be taken up. so many useful and
simple books on the subjects of science
are now published that any teacher may
it himself by careful preparation to do
the work though he has had no special
training himself. For apparatus many
articles in the household may be utilized
and the pupils il once interested will
find some way of purchasing necessary
AII4....,-. ,a hours It week will be
sufficient time H. give to this W ,rk and
the stimulus OF vigorous, healthful think !
ing which 1t gives will cause an awaken ,
ing which will be felt all along the line. ,
Above all things do not attempt to teach
the mere facts Of science from books
alone as this may cause d hatred Of the
very naTue Of science and so preclude
future interest and investigation.
The tca.hiug Of patriotism Was next
discussed. Miss Gallagher read a paper
On TIE subject in which she said that
very school should possess 4 flag for use
upon special occasl,ns; the patriotic
songs should be taught and lessons from
i-tDrr repeated TO lnsPlr. patriotism.
II Was suggested that if possible il
r,..i be sell o. iIJuca the children
~ N.tt~a means for the purchase u d
r'.L a.u.. III: .chOy. Vas without. The ,
r-,n-.J.y r. -]a.utiuy the tag. made use =
o.. J.. t.e recent Columbian memorial y
celebration. vas commended especially -
3. communities largely composed Of ,
'or.iIa children. s comparison Of the !
.i'l1aa= rights. privileges and condi- ,
t!.G5 IN Wis country with those Of the -,
rt. ... g.. .....y other lands IL was =
thought would stimulate the child's :
sense 81 obligation and love of country. =
The Pollard system Of teaching read +,
t-.. .L-a r-.,.,...4 a,Y.a nt+A,tian Mic .
Nellie Minton and other teachers from !
which it had been introduced into their .
schools. 1t vas thought by those who :
had tried various methods that this de ,
iightful song and story plan of learning :
TO read created a ~livelier interest, more =
rapid progress and made the pupil more =
than any other. ,
Reading in the grammar grades fol :.
lowed, being introduced by a paper from =
Miss Agnes Turner. She defined read =
ing as the acquiring Of thought from the =
printed or written page in cOntradistinc- =
ton to elocutiou. First be sure that the l.
child has the power to acquire the .
thought and repeat it in his own Ian :,
guage. Drill and test MIN in this re. r
spect. When pupils are well grounded q
in thought-getting and thought-giying, 7,
the drtlllcldl dluS 10 gOOu oral reading /
may be introduced. The children, with :
guidance from the teacher. may be led =
10 form for themselves all the more sim =
pie rules with regard to infection. en- y
Dhasis, etc. Lead the child to sec that
the infection, mOdulation and emphasis
depends upon the emotion and thought
Of the speakers mind. This is easily 5
illustrated. After giving an outline of r
principles to be taught Miss Turner >
charged her hearers to be very careful to :.
require in conversations and recitations I
pure and gentle tones. Mrs. Fanny I
Swan thought it advisable in the higher d
in place of the compilations in 8
readers, to substitute some OF the work t
Of the best authors and concentrate the p
attention for the period of a month upon p
each in succession. In this way the
child would receive a truer and more in