Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-03-01

the teacher or perhaps to pupi, IN
some other room of the same grad.
knowing that specimens of tho hoe.
work are exchanged from room a.
room. me teacher reads a fairy story
or poem, probably from Lonefe,,o,y
or Whittier, and the pupils write thu
story in their own words.
or picture Is drawn on the hoar5
or hung on the wall and the pIpils aro
told to use their imaginations and writo
out a little story suggested by the
scene represented. Some unjoua and
original productions are written durin.
these exercises, and it is extremely
profitable work. When the teacher
reads over an interesting letter bv q
sweet little lady telling about her
Christmas presents and comes across "a
box Of pants" in the list Of gifts. she
doesn't even smile, at least, not befora
the class, but gravely explains 10 the
young writer that she meant IA box
Of paints"
The fact that 50 much attention :.
devoted to language study does nor
mean that the exercise in reading ia
simply that and nothing more. Each
reading exercise is prefaced by a care.
full study Of the new words, and nv y
thought study or preparation readinc.
OF the lesson with many questions by
the teacher. Also the pupils tell the
story Of the lesson in their own words.
sometimes before and sometimes after
the lesson IS read over in the class. In
spelling the exercises are all written
Sometimes the words are taken from
the reading lesson and sometimes from
Harrington's Spelling Book. The com.
mon rules of accent are taken up here.
There is much writing for the pupils
in Grades III. and VI. There are writ
ten exercises in connection with all tho
various lines Of work taken up and in
every case care is taken to have the
pupils write the vertical hand that is so
neat and legible. Sheldons copy books
are used and there is also much COPY
ing from the board and chart
In the rooms of Grades III. and ". a
beginning is made along a new line,
that Of geography. No book is studied
but Frye's Geography is occasionally
used as reader. A globe is also EN-.
ployed 10 illustrate the shape and mo.
tions Of the earth. and the causes %
day and night and the seasons. Dis
tances are taken up and a first the
pupil draws simple maps and plans,
as of the school room or play ground.
Local geography is used as the start
ing point and the class learns the
directions of the streets and the loca-
ton of the public buildings The com.
mon divisions of land and water are
made familiar by local illustrations.
Then the map of Maine is taken up
and studied carefully. the counties and
cities located and all the main features
we'll learned. This is about as far as
the study goes, though in general
way the class, of course, knows sOme-
thing of the country at large and the
continents. In connection with geOg-
raphy the government of the city and
the State are taken up and explained.
All in all the two years spent in
Grades III. and ". make up very
profitable period and one whose work
is very interesting to an outsider.
Just drop in and visit any of the four
rooms where these grades are taught
and you will understand why the little
people enjoy the work so much and
how they gain so much from il. 1t is
not such an easy thing to write down
on paper all the methods and results
which YOU will observe there.
TROOPS AND DRINK.