Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1897-07-15

principles upon which the teaching
process is based. 1t has been shown that
true pedagogy correlates all the knowl-
edge of the school with the practical
affairs of each life. Apperception has
been awelu upon. A smile was caused
when the old fogy was defined in terms
of apperception: An old fogy is the
man, be he young or old. who refuses
or is unable to adjust his acquisitions
to new truth, new principles. Thus a
genius is one endowed with the native
power of seeing new. unusual and
striking relations. The thought of the
class was stimulated by the suggestion
that all knowledge has intimate lines
OF correlation. and, as James, the usy-
biologist, says, sat the bottom there
can be only one science The peda-
gogv has been strictly in line with the
teaching of the German master, Her.
bart. The attempt mas been to lead
the teachers into the philosophy Of
teaching and give them text that
they can work upon during the coming
year.
PROF. STEVENS
has done efficient work in geography,
physical and descriptive, physiology
and arithmetic. The work in arithme-
tic has covered common and decimal
fractions, involution aud evolution.
The idea has been to think out pro-
cesses and develop the rules from gen.
eral principles.
In physical geography the study
has been upon the earth as adapted to
mans habitation. In this connection
winds, currents, soil, climate, geology
have been discussed. The work in
descriptive geography has been par
ticularly valuable ia that he has en-
phasized the idea Of correlation and
given more attention to methods of
teaching than to mere subject-matter.
In physiology Prof. Stevens has done
very helpful work. Processes have
been studied to determine something
of their philosophy. Much attention
has been given to circulation and
digestion. The teachers have con-
stantly been required to explain phys.
biological processes by seeking their
ultimate causes. All of Prof. Stevens
work has been valuable because il
combined the study of subject-matter
with methods.
PROF. FRENCH
EdS uOne uOSC 1allnlul anu elllcleHJ
work in didactics, language and gram
mar and vertical writing. The i'm
portance of language work in all grades
and in every subject has been strongly
presented. In language work the use
of object lessons, information lessons,
actions, pictures, dictation exercises,
story telling and letter writing has
been presented,
In grammar the most of the time
has been spent upon the sentence and
the verb The difficulties have been
carefully pointed out and illustrated.
Vertical writing has received due
attention at his hands and the class
has made marked progress in adapting
themselves to the new style OF letters
Some very fine work has been turned
out as result of the careful drill given.
In no study has Prof. French done
more or helped and inspired the
teachers more than in didactics. The
work has been along two lines, viz.
school management and moral train
ing. Under the latter has come the
consideration of will training, incen-
tives, punishment. moral instruction,
etc. Prof. French's long experience
in the school room, and his naturally
judicial temper of mind render his work
in this subject valuable to the teachers.
His classes in all subjects have be zen
doing enthusiastic work. The class in
didactics was SO large that it has met
in the assembly room.