Middletown transcript., 1897-04-24

Maine is the second state in the union to
provide for skilled supervision of rural
schools. Massachusetts, was the first to
adopt such plan. Each supervisor will re-
ceiye salary of not less than $500 per an
mum, yet Maine is SO unfortunate as not
to have any saloons from which to derive
revenue. Strange that that state can have
any schools at all. We are told that Della
ware could not have schools, if we had no
saloons.
More is being said than ever about birds
this spring. Many persons realize that un-
less something is done, and done quickly
to protect the birds that our little feathered
friends will be exterminated. One writer
declares that "three causes are leading to
the destruction of bird life life IN this country
the wanton killing of birds by so-called
sportsmen, the use of dead birds or parts
thereof as ornaments on women's hats, and
the making of collections of nests and eggs.
The first is indefensible, the second is re-
proach to womanhood, and the third
should be restricted to collections for pub
lie informa tion, like the Smithsonian In
stitution. The human race would miss the
birds if they were gone"
Teachers. can, if they will, create such
sentiment among school children that the
present generation will protect the birds.
There can be no better subject for essays,
and we hope that every member of the
Round Table will urge the children to try
for the prizes which we have offered. Let
every teacher call the attention of her pu-
pills to the conditions governing the con-
test. We give them again for the benefit of
the members who have Joined the Round
Table since the prizes were offered.
$500 IN PRIZES.
To the boy or girl, who sends in the best
essay on "Birds," will be given new two
dollar silver certificate. For the second es-
say the writer will receive a new one-dol-
lar silver certificate.
CONDITIONS:
The contest is open to all school children
of Delaware under eighteen years of age.
Essays not tocontain over one thousand
words. Name and address of writer to be
written on The first page Of essay, at the up
per left-hand corner. Note paper to be used
and must be written on one side only. Es-
say not to be rolled or folded No essay to
be sent in before the 18th of May. 1.-The con-
test will close the 1st of June. This will
give ample time to study the birds and
their nests next spring.
Let every one who intends to enter this
contest study the following suggestions
carefully:
Learn all about birds you can from books.
Watch for the birds as they come in the
spriRg. Observe what they eat. Notice how
they construct their nests and what mater
ials they use. When you have discovered
their nests, watch the parent birds as they
care for their young. Write full account
of their actions in your note book. All in
teresting facts that you may learn about
the doings of birds from your parents
should be given in your essay. You may
also tell us why birds should not be killed,
why it is wrong to rob their nests, and
why their feathers should not be worn on
hats.
Teacher" gives us an article this week
which should be of interest to all teachers.
We need to make our school houses a lit
tie more home like. Good pictures are just
ant al - he tr he
However, teachers should use their best
judgement in selecting pictures. A cheap
picture should find no place on the school
room walls. A good portrait of Washing
ton or Lincoln should be one of the first to
find its place within the school. As to the
pictures for recitations or temporary
adornment, teachers" advice should be
followed.
ABOUT PICTURES.
While very many teachers in the country
schools find themselves handicapped By a
lack of school appurtenance, many of them
fail to avail themselves of what advantages
they can which will help them best in their
school work and in their efforts to arouse a
greater interest on the part of parents and
commissioners. One of the best and least
expensive of these helps is collection Of
good pictures. They can be used in so many
ways that no teacher can well afford to be
without them. She will use them in max
ing her school-room attractive. The school
room must be made as cheerful and attrac-
tive as possible. The connection between
environment and conduct is very close,
and the better the Surroundings, the higher
will be the aspirations. She may collect
them herself. A better way is to have the
pupils bring them. They take great de-
light in doing this, so much that the teach
er who works on this plan will often find
herself with more than she can conveniently
use. In this case she may take the best
those which tell some good story or teach
some moral lesson, and let some Of these be
changed every two or three weeks so that q
new interest is continually awakened. If this
is carried out the parents and commission
ers seeing the interest which the teacher
takes to adornthe schoolfoom and to make
the surroundings attractive, viii feel it their
duty to do all they can to help her carry
out her plans.
The teacher will also need pictures to
help her in teaching the primary grades,
particularly when she is starting classes in
reading and in Language. In three or four
months he will be able to write a story,
consisting Of one sentence about each. Soon
he will be able to write several sentence.
The pupil in describing pictures takes
his first lesson in language. Thus
Il lays the foundation of composition
and language. There is not stndy in the
primary GRADES in which th esa helms In