Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1899-11-10

ing" if, in reality, these are the true
| ends of education, we cannot see that
! the requiem are too eXacting.
In our rural schools the teacher has
more nearly "A uniformity of mind on the
parts Of the pupils to apperceive or in
| terpret the textbook and the instruction
given than i'll any other community but
| in our villages and cities where one pu-
pil comes from the home of a clerk, an
other from the home of a carpenter, and
still another from the home of "a black
smith or miller, it is plainly seen that
| each comes to the school with a some
what different vocabulary and store of
| experience by means Of which he must
| interpret and assimilate what the school
has to offer him.
To successfully instruct it is plainly
evid, mt that the teacher must have a
broad range Of experience he must be
sympathetic and forceful and "A lover of
learning himself in order TO touch, and
inspire his pupils with an enthusiasm
for their ork.
Lest any think that Child Study is an
easy subject to fathom--that the child
is AN easy problem t. solve-it may be
well to quote few incidents. | believe
it is Professor Dewey in his psychology
who tells us of child that was observing
railroad train and whose particular AT
tcntion was called 10 certain indlvid-
ual within q coach that was raising n
car window just as the train started the
child came TO the conclusion that this
particular individual started the train by
raising the window and was not easily
persuaded to the contrary.
1t is said that faithful pedagogue af
Ger tying IN many ways TO explain the
meaning Of the word SLOW" walked
slowly across the floor and asked his pu
oIl to state in words the nature of the
movement. After moments reflec-
ron the yOuDgster replied, Bow legged,
sir"
# is related that in one of our Indian
Schools. bright girl in writing an ex-
animation in General History, stated
that the fall Of Rome was caused by the
fact that the people ate of cooked en-
trails Her teacher curious TO know
how she obtained this idea, carefully re.
viewed the text book used and found
this expression, "the dow n-fall of Rome
was the result Of many intestine broils.
These may seem to be exceptional cases,
nevertheless, but little experience is re.
"a
discover that the study of child mind re-
yeals many things unlocked for, and
that it cannot be readily mastered.
You must study the physical, mental
and moral condition Of your pupil Is
he in good health: Are his senses of
sight and hearing normal? What is
his temperament? Is he eye-minded or
car-minded: What are his powers of
attention: What are his likes and dis
likes: 70 what extent Is his moral
nature developed aud what are its ten
denotes? Daring their period of adde's
ceuce: How are you To- handle the pupil
at this time: WhCn you have answered
all these questions You have gone good
way toward directing the child into
that line Of labor 10 which his talents
have called him; which according to
Carlyle is 1.-The only true happiness of
man" THAT Of clear decided activity in
the sphere which by nature and circum-
stances he has been fitted and APP
pointed"
In conclusion would quote the words
of prominent Michigan educator: Il
shall be glad when there is training
school in each county of our state where
everyone who is competent TO instruct
shall be taught how 10 teach, and shall
not learn at the expense Of the coming
generations of boys and girls"
At this point | am reminded of an in
cident in the life Of Horace Mann, that
prince of American Educators At one
time dur.-g Mr.. Manns service, his
board Of 49, ucation were about TO expend
about 325 600 in improvements Some
doubted the advsability of spending so
large sum and Mr. Mann said it would
be worth that amount if it saved one
boy. Again he was asked if he did not
put rather too high an estimate on one
boy, to which he replied, mot if he
were my boy"
Garfield said, 81 never meet a ragged
boy in the street without feeling that
owe him salute, for know not what
possibilities are buttoned up under his
coat "
Verify these men had caught some
thing of the spirit of the Teacher of Gal
lice, who said, "Of such is the king
dom, aud if | have anything TO add for
our teachers today, it is in His words;
BE Ye Perfect"