The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-02-06

of the many things which might be done
the few things which it is most profitable
to DO. And iG all this we must consider
what is required by the pupil for immedi-
ate use and what Is essential for SyS-
tematic growth.
Perhaps our greatest opportunity for
making room IS by the correlation OF
studies. One of the great mistakes of
the past has been the teaching separately
and apart many branches which belong
naturally together.
Every attainment should be turned to
its proper use as fast and as far as pos
sible and further attainment in general
should be sought in connection with use.
For instance writing, when raised to the
point of utility, is used in connection with
other studies and can best be learned in
connection with the regular school work.
l think that ofttimes mistakes are made
by attending to teach too early in the
grades subjects which the youthful minds
are not yet capable of graSping. Much
time could be saved by leaving them off
TO later period, when they could be
learned not only much better, but in very
much less time.
Another point where time may be saved
is by having more frequent promotions.
DIR. Nicholas Murray Butler says: A
school that moves forward in February
or June, and then only. might do for
growing human beings. a pupil ought to
be changed in grade just as often as it is
apparent that he is either overtaXed
where he is, or that he is not taxed
enough" Promotions should at least be
made as often as half-yearly. with ample
opportunity for special promotions.
Definitions and rules are often required
of the pupils before the principles are
properly developed, and the vicious sys-
tenn of rote learning, which sacrifices the
spirit to the letter and makes of the
child mere passive recipient instead of
leading him to be an active inquirer and
self-instructor.
Cramming for examination. giving men,
DRY tests and calling them examinations,
and the practice of giving so much weight
to the monthly, quarterly. semi-annual or
annual examinations is a mistake. Too
much written work is done in many of
our schools. especially in the lower
grades. Even in the case of language
work, if less written and more oral work
We're done, il would be better.
The discussion of the subject of elimi-
nations is made more difficult because Of
the different conditions obtaining in diff
ferent parts OF our country and even of
our state.
Let US take a glance at some of the
subjects of the curriculum. In the study
of language, too much time is given 10
analysis and grammatical construction
of a selection and not enough time TO its
literary merit. The beautiful thoughts of
the author are too often lost sight of by
having the attention constantly directed
to mechanical material, rather than 10 the
spiritual form Language is an iustru-
ment for the expression of thought and
is properly learned. not by spending the
time uDon technical formaliues, but by
expressing thought.
sons, prepared especially for this purpose.
the market then put in our books and
booklets for children TO menor-ze and
learn as lessons in speech, defeat the very
purpose for which they are made and
necessarily SO. since in most cases they
are not only unnatural and therefore IN
scientific but unnecessary. and serve
only to hamper the child. both in fnde-
pendent thinking and in the natural ex-
preston of thought Nature studies. as
applied to all of these other branches af-
ford the exact conditions for language
culture
Much of the composition work should
be cut out. How often have pupils been
prosecuted and caused to waste much
time by being directed to write a compO-
Sition upon some dry subject upon which
their minds were a blank. Who of us has
not been assigned such subject as
spring. perseverance. forgiveness. happi-
ness. or some similar subject, with no
further assistance, and made to think
composition a bore. instead of being fur
nished with an abundance of raw ma
terial of thought and a little wise help
to express that thought in good healthy
language? Thus the composition work
has been too formal and has been kept
too far away from the other studies of
the child.
Again. the writing of lazy careless. il
Illustrative sentences Is a waste Of time.
Every illustrative sentence should be an
exercise in composition. So all Of the les
sons Of the day should be an exercise in
language-the child expressing the sub
ject Of the lesson in his own way. Peri
odical written reviews should also be
made the most Of as lessons in language.
j. landlord Henderson says: ITO speak
English correctly. in a clear pleasant
voice: to read II intelligently and agree
ably. TO write 1t plainly and without am
biguity. this in itself would be a liberal
culture which few Of US attain to-"
A waste often results from allowing
children TO feel that they may do in any
kind of way the first. or the first and
second, draft of written exercise with
the understanding that they will be al
lowed to copy it over at their leisure.
Pupils should he encouraged to make a
good copy as tee first draft.
In regard to reading time is lost and
harm is done in trying TO hurry. / am.