Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1892-01-13

contributions TO this department, OF pointed
articles on school matters viii always be well
coined.
How would it do, as change, to try
the leeturing system in your history
classes2 In simple language, give to
the pupils the lesson for the day, using
of course, the substance of the matter
in the text hook. but adding much from
other sources. The pupils, with tablets
and pencils, take notes. At the next
recitation each pupil may read what he
has extended from his notes, or you
may question the class, college profess
or fashion, on the lecture or talk of the
preceding day. This system has many
advantages, but it must not be followed
too exclusively; must, indeed, be intro
duced Only as a variation, perhaps
about twice a month.-Western School
Journal.
PRIZES.
That system by which prize is CIV
en- as reward for school work, to one
or two of the brightest pupils, while all
the remainder of the class are excluded.
is essentially wrong in principle, for the
reason that tie ones who most need the
stimulus supposed TO be afforded by
the prize are not stimulated by it at
all, knowing as they will, that they
haye no chance of obtaining it; while
the brighter ones. who alone will com
pete for the prize. do not need this in
centive, and they are likely to take adj
vantage of the opportunity thus at
forded to lord il over their duller class
mates IN an overwhelming way, which
will surely be detriment to the work
of the class and the school. Ii prizes
are offered at all. it should be IN such a
way that each and every pupil in the
class could have a reasonable hope of
obtaining one. This is the just way,
and the natural way, and the way the
Almighty has chosen in his system of
rewards to humanity. Eternal life Is
held out to every one who will comply
with the necessary conditions, without
regard to how many others may or may
not do likewise. BY a course Of proper
conduct we achieve happiness here and
hereafter, let others do as they may.
So should it be in school. One exam
pie of this kind OF priZe-givlng will IL
lustrate the plan. Suppose that in the
penmansEip class you offer a prize, not
to the one who can write best at the
close of the term, but to the one
who makes the greatest improve
ment during the term. This will be
fair for every one, for, If any have the
advantage, it will be the poorest writ
ers. they having more room for i'm
provement. Thus the incentive will eff
feet all in the class, and especially
hose who most need it. 1t is a great
mistake, if not indeed crime, for the
teacher to neglect the duilel members
Of class and give the brighter ones
more than their share of time. Page
in his Theory and Practice of Teach
ing" says: 1T is not sufficient praise
for a teacher that he has teao good
scholars in his school. Almost any
teacher can call out tie talent of the
active scholars and make them brilliant
reciters. The highest merit, however
lies IN reaching all the pupils, the dull
as well as the active, and in making
the most of them, or rather in leading
them to make the most of themselves
1t should be remembered of every child
that the present is his only opportunl.
~ of being a child, and of receiving the
training appropriate to Childhood: and
that teacher who rests satisfied with q
system that does not reach the many
while he amuses himself and his yisi
tors with the precocity of few of his
! most active scholars, is recreant to hi:
responsible trust"
Owing To unfavorable weather and
he grip. the attendance at the teach
ers' association at Lake City, on last
| Saturday, was not large, but a very in
,eresting land we trust pro6table) ses-
sion was held at the school house in
he afternoon. The regular programme
was taken up and discussed, and. be
sides this, one musical performance
md several recitatioDs were gwen b,
Mss Blick's young lady pupils and by
eachers present. One of the happiest
IT these was the reading of WI
Carllton's The Teachers Guests" by
Miss Elva Blick, which was very ap
oropriate selection and well delivered
Special mention should also be made OF
l.. B. Bells comic impersonation of the
Arkansas small boys" encounter will
a bald-headed man on a railroad train
The next meeting of the associatIcr
will occur at HaZelton on February -