Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1894-02-23

debaters had spoken the society re-
solved itself into q committee of the
whole to discuss the subject. :fhe
following program will be given
next Friday:
the Society
fiora ierry
DeClamaClOn ..."M1SS Jan6On
Essd .''". Ieu L. I1oH
Defamation Mansfield
society
Debate: Resolved that the period
between 1883 was the most criti-
cal period of American history. Al
tirmative: Miss Ashley, Miss Mans
field and Walter Johnson. Negative:
j: l.. Thatcher, Mile Moore and
Mildred Muncy.
TEACHERS MEETING.
A very interesting meeting was
held last evening. Before the fol-
lowing papers were given by Miss
Finseth and Miss Meyers, an hour
was spent in receiving general re-
ports of work from the various
buildings and in discussing the
methods OF teaching division and al
50 class work in reading.
INTERMEDIA TIE READING.
A very interesting paper was read
by Miss, Finseth in which she emu
merated the many benefits that may
be derived from reading and the best
means OF teaching it. She said that
reading is in many respects the most
important subject taught in our
public schools. Without it no ad-
vancement can be made along the
line of grammar, arithmetic and
other subjects, for it forms the basis
Of all our knowledge. Reading is
great force in a moral sense, through
examples of moral actions, examples
of kindness, bravery and unselfsh-
ness. Appreciation and delight in
these things can be cultured system
atically, not in the form of sermons
or lectures, but in the form of in
spring examples. One author says
"Sow the seed, and you reap a habit,
SOW habit and you reap a charac-
ter, SOW character and you reap
destiny" This is a motto which
every teacher must have in mind.
F. A good reader should be adapted
! the understanding and interest. OF
shildr~It should be instructive,
x~lching ON subjects of nature and
Fsociety. The great problem in our
school is how to teach reading. A
teacher must give great care to pro-
nunciation, frequent pauses, just in
tonation and expression. The voice
should be trained 50 as to express
different feelings such as surprise, JOY,
anger, fear, etc. There are many
things to be avoided in reading, such
as, too rapid reading, singsong
tone, timidity and carlessness.
Miss Finseth gave a very full ac-
count of theimportance OF good read
ing, requirements of good reader, q
plan or course for the intermediate
grade and the understanding of the
subject by the teacher. In conclu.
sion she said, "In my investigation
Of this subject, am more than ever
convinced of the value and import.
ance OF good reading on the part OF
pupil and teacher.
| HOW TO SECURE ATTENTION.
Miss Meyers gave q very full and
interesting account of this subject
In developing this conception in chill.
dren objects best serve the purpose
For instance take bird. The chill
dren will tell you all about it's feet
wings, eyes, feathers, etc. but per
haps none will know of it's nostrils
Now their attention can be he]C
while you tell them all about the nos
trils and other parts new to them
and they are gaining thoughts ant
expressions which they will be- abl'
to express in their own way
when the subject is brought uI
again. The same thing applies t.
intermediate grades and though fire
quent reviews are necessary to i'm
press new thoughts, ii the subject il
presented in an interesting manner
they are eager for q repetition.
Often teachers expect pupils to un
derstand explanations which are be
yond their comprehension and the1
the teachers complain of inattentio1
and lack Of interest. Prompt an,
accurate recitations sho uld be re
quired and very often concert recita
tions will compel attention.
Then followed lengthy account q
holding attention in large classes, etc
The whole paper was very interest
ing and the teachers were doubtles
> benefited thereby.
For next meeting Mrs. Baxter will
prepare a paper on Teaching Of his
tory and geography in primar.
g.ades," and Miss Ashley will hav
a paper on ''Value of the program
, and systematic work in the clas
room." r--'
!