The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-02-15


to pupils then begin to try to live up to
them and sometimes fail.
Try to live the life you desire them to
live, then when you begin to advise
them they see you believe what you
say, for you practice what you preach.
If you have bad habit Of which they
are aware, (and by the way they are
aware Of most of them) you had just as
we'll tell them fairy stories as to try to
teach them the bad effect of such habit.
Give the pupils each day real stand
ard Of department. by which they may
measure themselves.
1t is impossible to enumerate the diff
ferent worthy acts Of the teacher that
contribute to the moral excellence Of
the pupils under his care:
The worthy department of the teacher
is that which the pupil tries to initiate
and by SO doing strengthens the bond
Of sympathy between them, and paves
the way for permanent moral growth.
When the bond of sympathy unites
teacher and pupils, discipline is silent
factor of the school. We are teaching
best when we seem to be teaching least.
If you visit school that is properly
disciplined, you will find the pupils
seemingly governing themselves, for the
teacher has been able to interest them
in their nu,n uolfsro
You are now perhaps asking the quss-
tion How does the teacher get each
interested in himself?
If ! were to attempt 10 answer this
question, ! would say: apply the prin-
ciples Of phrenology to each individual
pupil, that you may learn the tenden-
cies of his predominating faculties.
The same method that would encourage
one might discourage another. So if
you would be successful III discipline,
YOU must be constant student of hui
man nature,
The ability to judge human nature
will come to you slowly, and with many
painful mistakes unless you base your
observations and experiments upon the
teachings of reliable work on human
science.
When the teachers content themselves
with human science supplemented with
an admixture of common sense. instead
of running rampant after educational
fads and shortcut methods Of teaching,
then will our influence add to the moral
and intellectual progress Of the school.
The line Of progress in education dnr.
ing the last quarter of century may
be traced by the wrecks Of pedagogical
theories and experiments which thicEIy
strew its path.
Within the last few years SUCH as:
phonetics, word method, language les
sons, appreciation, concentration, YER.
teal writing, military drill, child study,
nature study, coordination, correlation,
etc., have appeared, and disappeared.
sect out Of the ruts!" Is hurled at the
ones who do not join the procession in
pursuit Of the latest fad, or have not
read the latest novel.
Before leaving this phase of the SUBJ
iect, wish to give you the experience
of a teacher Of teachers, in the study
and use of phrenology for teachers.
His name is a synonym for excellence
on topics on education; and not more
familiar to each Of you is your own
name than that of Horace Mann: he
said: 81 declare myself hundred
times more indebted to phrenology
than all the metaphysical works. haye
ever read. | look upon it as the guide
to philosophy, and the handmade to
Christianity. Whoever disseminates
true phrenology is public benefactor.''
The same responsibility devolving
upon the teacher pertaining to disci-
pline and proper example is doubly due
from parents.
Too often pupils are allowed to infest
the streets from dark until bedtime,
making night hideous" and before re-
lux llllk W Vic pIcCluCtS VI AOuOS tAS
refinement and polish they received
during the day is well nigh obliterated.
In towns and cities, boys that are al
lowed to spend their vacation on the
streets require most Of the fall term to
unlearn what they spent the summer
in learning.
If choves or work Of some kind can
not be had for boys and girls during the
summer, to keep them out of mischief,
morning classes or manual training
should be provided.
It is by keeping children employed at
something useful to them in some way,
that the physical, mental, and moral
natures Of children are Developed.
Outdoor games and sports are, if not
carried to extreme, potent factors in
promoting symmetrical mental and
physical organism,
In recommending outdoor games and
sports, | would also urge that the same
care and judgment be exercised Is in
the regular school work. for as teachers
pursue fads, and ride hobbies, pupils
| have similar Affections. Games. or