The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1899-01-12
About Our Schools

The women's clubs of Skowh, gan have
taken much interest in our schools
From papers read before the Town I'm
provement Society the following ex
tracts have been made. A member whit
had many years experience as a te' chez
wrote as follows:
"If there Is kin9e ga tie t the
children attend that by all means
| should never send child tn the public
school under seven years of age. The
mother can teach him great deal before
that age, that he may not feel dlscnurag
ed on entering the school room by seeing
the other children more advanced. The
mother is the natural teacher of tn,
child. 1t Is to the mother tn 1t the chic
goes first with innumerable questions
| GOTTEN hard to ansWer,) and well foI
that one that has mother who viii
answer judiciously.
The first requisite for a good school /,
good teacher. The time has been when
it was thought that any girl of fan
education might become II teacher, but
teaching is now classed among the learn.
ed professions and the call Is for teach
ers who have had special training
Although think ve'y highly Of normal
training, | have known many fine teach
ers who were not graduates OF normal
school. 1t is sid that poets are born
not made; the same might be said OF
teachers. IL Is not enough that the
teacher should know thoroughly all that
will be ,quired of her, but she should
be able to impart it. she should bf
physically as well as mentally prepare d
for the work. know of no occupation
~ here healthy bodies and strong nerves
are needed more. TO my mind the first
step in school improvement is compul'
sorry attendance. Why should we be be
hind the countries of the Old World,
where children are compelled TO attend
school until certain age and Obliged to
take certain branches of study. La our
own village many children can neither
read nor write. Why is it? We hav
good schools that are open to all and
test books are furnished free, so the ex-
pense can be 10 excuse. The parents OF
these children, ignorant themselves, do
not know the value of education, and the
child Is not In the school room because
no one makes him GO"
Another writer, who has educated a
daughter, said
"The modern educators have been
prone to rush the scholars too fast.
am glad to learn they are coming to
realize this. They should keep In mind
the fact that education is to fit the child
for practical life, and that it is not the
glib recitation or the accumulation OF
facts that Is to be sought, but the cult
- k,,h f,ti
tion and greater moral and physical
development.
/ would enter Il protest against the
practice of skipping grades. | know 1t
Is great temptation to those who are
able to get their lessons more readily
than others, but they come to a place
where 1t is hard for them to keep with
older minds, and they are overworked in
consequence. One thing, good in the
beginning. that has been carried to ex-
ce, 8, is writing the lessons. 1t is fact
that writing anything helps to fix 1t in
the mind, but to write all recitations
leads to carelessness in penmanship and
spelling that is surprising, while the
position maintained during these tasks is
very injurious and the eyes are over
worked.
see no reason why we cannot have
manual training. music, art and morals
10 our schools. They do in other places
where they have no more time than we.
Music should be taught in the lower
grades and a taste formed while the
scholar Is young. Decorations should
not be elaborate and costly, but plain
pictures that represent nicely the places
they are studying and the difference in
the scenery of the different countries.
There is so much difference in their trees
and plants that one who Is denied the
privilege Of travel may be able to realize
only from seeing good representations
of them. In fact any lesson can be
better understood by many il practically
Illustrated.
Is 1t not possible to get the school re-
ports out earlier that the people may
have a chance to study and talk over the
situation, and so be able TO vote intelli-
gently on these questions? 1t seemed to
me last year that few knew much about
what they were voting for, only TO
economic, and economy without wisdom
Is not economy"
Takes the burn out; heals the wound; cures
the pain. DIR. Thomas Eclectric Oh, the house
hold remedy.
mo, can't marry you." she said gently, but
firmly. "True, am but ten years your junior
now, but think what the disparity in our age
will be 20 years hencel"
When doctors fail try Burdock Blood Bitters
Cures dyspepsia, constipation; invigorates the
whole system.
Many girl is willing to intrust her future
to young man to whom she wouldn't be will
ing to intrust her past.
First Proud Parent: am daddy, and 1t is
q peach.
but 1t is pair.