Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1895-06-05
For the SPECTATOR.
Public Schools, Teaching, Teach
ers, Books, &c.
May 9th, 1895.

May 9th, 1895.
Mr.. EDITOR:
Thinking a little comment on thu
subject at hand may be acceptable send yor
the same As patrons of the Public Schools
we are all naturally interested in matters per
tanning thereto.
| We all agree in thinking the Public Schools
are grand thing for the country; that teach
| ing is a noble work; and that the teacher, like
''the poet, is born not made" We refer tt
the teacher who has his heart in the profes
sion and not the one who has mistaken his
calling and is therefore in the wrong place
What is teaching? Mere hearing lessons i.
not teaching The lesson is assigned by the
| teacher and has to be taught at home, if any
| where, and more frequently mistaught thar
otherwise. 1t is said not to be good plar
to keep children in school five or six hours
day and then give them lessons to learn a
home besides. All mental effort after the
mind has become fatigued on the part of chill
dren is not only useless, but positively inju
rious. 1t is as hurtful to cram the mind as il
is to cram the stomach
Little children should not be compelled tc
commit lessons to memory. The mind should
not be burdened by memorizing, spelling, de-
finitions, &C. until the pupil has arrived at q
proper age.
Every class in spelling should recite the
lessons on the book before attempting to
memorize. The pronunciation, accent, &c.
being thus taught, the pupil would avoid mis-
takes in memorizing. There is much saving
of time by this method, perfect lessons being
the result.
The wfangled ideas of teaching a child to
read before he is taught the alphabet or spell
ing, reminds us of the story of the old color
ed gentleman who took his daughter to board
ing school, directing her to be instructed first
in the higher branches. Teachers have not
patience to teach little children by the proper
methods. Small children are mot in it," to
use slang phrase.
Few possess the patience with little chill
dren to which they are naturally entitled.
Few exercise any sympathy for the little ones
in their little grievances or make any allow
ance for their failures.
To whip child for an imperfect lesson is
not only discouraging but humiliating, and
when the lesson is studied and tried to be
learned it is barbarous mode to resort to the
rod knowledge can not be beaten into the
Uranium. Threatening to punish for failure
in lessons is equally disastrous. Tortured
with fear the mind is in no condition to learn.
To rob him of the little time afforded at re-
cess or intermlssion for exercise by keeping
him in on the lessons is, perhaps, worse, from
a physical standpoint. To punish little
child for any cause and exempt the larger
scholar for the same offence is cowardly. The
small scholar is the one for whom allowance
should be made, but in some country schools
the order is reversed. The larger ones make
their boast accordingly. After having taken
a survey of the situation they can do this,
that, or the other without fear of punishment,
while the fear stricken child is the butt of
ridicule.
Giving prizes to a select few is another grave
error Admitting that they are distributed
fairly, (Which is not always the case for there
are nnprincipled men and women who have
their favorites in the ranks of the teacher as
well as elsewhere the one who has labored
with untiring energy to excel, receives no
credit for his best efforts. Thus many
scholar has been caused to dislike school, be-
cause his best efforts have failed.
The severe treatment of little children in
Public Schools IS thing to be condemned.
inexperienced teachers are sent out to some
remote localities with poor ideas of discipline
and school management. Children are sent
to school to be taught and that by proper
Teachers should be instructed as to
what constitutes good school government. A
teacher should possess not only the necessary
amount of book larnin'' that entities him to
a certificate and place in the honorable pro-
fession, but should be able to furnish testi-
monials concerning his ability to govern in a
manner beftting teacher.
1t has been hoped that some revolution
would be made in the way of books for the
use of Public Schools.
If Mr.. Small or any one else would intro
duce speller that is suitable for children he
would be entitled to the cognomen of "a pub
lie benefactor"
The one in present use is difficult for chill
dren-the greater part of the lessons having
definitions which the child is forced to men,
orize.
Hoping the subject may excite some inter
est, we drop it for the present lest our already
lengthy communication be crowded out
PATRON.