The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1899-03-24

| thO otbCay ~uaJ eCuOOl SIGIl
State would have, 1t would seem a,
if we had jumped, in few years, from
Ancient R)me to Modern Germany.
Our As month term, would be iu-
! creased to $40 month terms. Our
log cabin aud other unsuitable school
buildings would be replaced by com
Portable and we'll equipped buildings
Our trustees of tho common schools
would be inspired to greater efforts in
securing better qualified teachers.
Our decreasing" number of pupils
in the higher branches, etc would he
changed, as if by magic, into "increas,
ing"
The school ought to be made the
center of attraction as to beauty, orn-
amentatiou Of yards, equipment and
work, and neieher energy nor money
should be spared to make it 80. We
should frequently recall the fact that
there is strong connection between
physical environment and human
conduct, especially in childhood. "rhe
removal of a schoo to new building
has transformed many school," says
DR.. White.
The greatest educators tell us that
in those schools which have good,
comfortable and we'll equipped build
Jugs, and beautifully decorated yards,
etc., are found fewest cases of punish
ment. Gas beauty comes into the
school, mischief goes out" Silce upon
the schools as pillars rests the prosperi
ty of our State, why not take enough
of our time and means to make the
school building, the srhovi environ
ments in geueral-and the school
work for the center of attraction
Another drawback to the cause of
education is the fact that the patrons
visit the schools 50 little. La general,
teachers like Gr the parents, trustees,
etc, to visit them. 1t makes them
more interested in their work, d in.
spires them to greater effort. 1t en-
courages the children.
In accordance with the idea (aud
this idea is growing) Of the Leading
institutions Of learning in our country,
education should be made more
practical in the lower schools. TT
stead of having his mind crammed
with isolated facts and theories, the
pupil needs those that eau be applied
in everyday life. self government
should be taught, rs far as possible,
in all schools, since the pupil viii,
sooner or later, leave the teacher.
Such paris of Physics and other scien.
ces, plain and simple, as will teach
the pupil the use and value of things
around him, should be put in the
course of study of secondary schools
as early rs the pupils can grasp them.
A primary work Oh Ethics (Which is
comparatively new in the State) should
be Introduced into all schools. Pupils
from twelve years up, with fair adj
vancement, are capable of studying it
with profit The duties of moral rec,i,
tude should be made all Important
requisite in the education OF the young.
Another kindred and important study
since the pupil is to became a cit;zen,
is Gives Another need which is telt
throughout the State is more efficient
teachers
The way to have better tools for the
workman, is to have better factories
for making them. The way to have
better teachers is to have better schools
for training them. In many parts OF
our country the high school depart
ments of the various schools have
introduced a brief (beginner's) course
in Pedagogics. This gives those aa,ici
pating teaching in the common schools
some idea of the art of teaching. fla
short course of this kind were intro
duced in the high grades Cf our best
secondary schools in fact in all which
have pupils anticipating teaching -
We would have in short time a bet
ter corps of teachers. 1t is better to
have a theory to put into practice
than to have neither theory nor rr..c.
tice. Instead of going out (as hu :
dreds now dog to learn by experience
the best methods III almost everything,
the young teacher would have the
methods (learned by lifetime expert,
ence) of many of the best and great
est teachers of the past. Thus equip
ped, he would be following a wells
mapped out path (mproving on this
by his own thoughts, experiences, etc, }
rather than travelling through the
jungles Of life Soon this new feature
(the Normal training) would be
revolutioniziug the common schools OF
the State. r. l. NEvEs
IL