Middletown transcript., 1894-05-05
DELAWARE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Improved Methods Of Education In the
Rural Districts of Kent County.


We clip the following interesting com
munication from late issue of the Dove
Inder. The writer will be remembered a
a recent visitor TO Middletown His oh
servations Of the public schools of Ken
county can but please everyone who il
ambitious for high standard in ou,
| schools
Having close quaintanceship with the
standard of schooling in back districts OF
Connecticut, typical Northern State, pos.
| sibly my impressions Of the standard set in
this county will interest your readers
Professor Tindal on Monday last drove
me to Hartley, Downs Chapel, Blackis-
tons and Kenton. Out of the five teachers
seen, four were in their first year, and, the
visit being unexpected, there was no effort
made toward dress parade impression.
l beg to state with all sincerity that the
children in these districts are being taught
by approved modern methods and are en-
joying the same privileges as the children
in the best conducted public schools in the
large cities Of the Union. Forsaking the
old efforts to secure parrot-like recital of
lesson, method in which those who
best grasped the meaning of the lesson
were sometimes distanced by those of glib
tongues, the endeavor is made even in
the most remote districts to teach the
younger children by their senses first. At
Downs Chapel l saw boys and girls of
eight receiving their first impressions of
geography, by moulding in sand on large
board, islands. continents, mountains, hills
etc. Each object they formed was made a
mea ms also of increasing their vocabulary,
as they were called upon to tell the parts of
a mountain, etc.
At Hartley the walls were covered with |
the handiwork of the younger pupils
colored maps, drawings of the races of |
Several of them had cut ont pictures of all |
Kinds of an imals and then together had |
pasted them OIL globe, arranging the ami
mails according to the zones in which they
we're found.
At kenton little tots of six, only in
chool two or three weeks, named oblongs
quares. triangles, & when held up to sight,
recognized their colors. defined their shapes
md performed little sums of addition, sub
raction with colored sticks held in their
lands. 1t will be seen at once that there
re here certain notifications of the kin
ergarten, but since Froebel's play, teach
ng for children has been tried and proved
all countries of the world, your county
uthorties NAV well be satisfied to have its
dvantnges scattered into the hamlets sur
ounding Dover. must pass this portion
If the work in order 10 note another,
The County Superintendent calls Satur-
ay meetings in various parts Of the county
D that all teachers may have an oppor-
unity OF meeting each other comparing
otes and losing that sense of isolation |
'hich too often comes to..the lonely country
'acher This plan has resulted very salts
,ctori!y. Certain uniform methods of ad- 8
ance characte are gaining ground, much
the advantage of the children in all
arts of the county. The teachers ore ris-
lg TO sense of the power and influence
their position, and realize that their
lnctions in society are just as special tor =,
le mind, as are those of minister for the
,ul or doctor for the body.
Prof Tindal also is perpetually suggest
e the advantage to d school district of
aVing in it the same teacher year after
ear With what success this idea is being =
culcated may be judged when l state that
lring the past year out of l35 white
achers only six changes have occurred.
/ trust ] have not trespassed too much on
our space. Even as it is, l have left much
nsaid regarding the excellent school sys-
m in your county. Yours resp't,
G. GRosvENoR DAVE