Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1895-03-28
NOTES ABOUT SCHOOLS AND
THEIR MANAGEMENT.
dow to Keep the Children Probably
Employed-value OF Written Exam.
inations-Books that Are Popular
Device In school 0overnment.
WORK for Little Finxers.

Work for Little Fingers.
Oh. the busy, restless little fingers,
All teachers are confronted by the
problem of how to keep them profit
ably as well as pleasantly employed,
Especially does this question present
Itself to the mind Of the district school
teacher who must divide her time
among SO many classes, and it is to
those that these few humble sugges.
lions are offered, with the sincere wish
that they may benefit some fellow
teacher just embarking on the storm
tossed sea of pedagogy.
We are familiar with the old adage,
"All work and no play makes Jack a
dull boy" and 1t is especially true OF
school children. How many Of us re-
member the long, dreary hours we first
passed In the school-room, possibly
with only a book-was 1t a "blue-back.
cd" speller land a slate to occupy our
time! No relaxation at all, nothing
but the same mOnOtonOus sound every
day. How we sighed for the slowly
creeping hour-hand to point to four
that we might have q few hours re-
spite from our tolls.
But now the New Education " is
perva, ing our country from North to
South and from East to West, and we
hope for better things In the future.
Rut I am depressing from my subject,
which was to tell you of some devices
used in my school-room to rest the
little pupils from study and yet keep
them busy. These are not entirely
original ideas with me. and many are
borrowed, or partly SO, from other
teachers; but since I have derived SO
much benefit thereby, perhaps they
may help others a little.
For 5 cents q large box Of common
tooth-picks was procured, and with a
package of Easter dye l colored them
quite prettily and in q variety of col
ors. The children use them for num-
be~ work, and often for busy work.
Draw figures, such as squares, trt-
angles, stars, and numerous others
which will suggest themselves to the
teacher, and let the children make
them upon their states. Sometimes !
let them weave the picks together.
This playing with sticks" is q favor
lite amusement with the little ones and
they can be taught colors. too, with
them.
We have a lot Of cards-pretty ad-
vertising cards or anything else
which are cut up in various shapes,
and the children enjoy putting to-
gether SO much.
Then out Of heavy paper of differ
ent colors I cut squares
about an inch In size, and divided most
of them into halves and quarters.
Draw figures upon the board-any-
thing which can be made up of squares
and half squares. Or sometimes just
give them a handful Of the bits of
paper and tell them to make anything
pretty that they car think of. Then
each one tries to make the prettiest
and some are often quite original.
Then we have quite q collection of
drawing cards and "cut up" stories,
and these help pass the time very
pleasantly, and with songs, a few
calisthenics, memory gems, and other
busy work we manage to interest the
children and they delight In coming
to school.
Above all. let us not forget to be
kind and gentle with the immortal
souls entrusted for q brief time to
n
Kindness will win the toughest boy
and make him q firm ally. Perhaps
It may change the whole curse of his
life. Who .knows?- Normal In
structor.