The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1901-04-19
A cHApFER oN poNTgs.

1
sented before that body al its last
meeting by Miss Cora NJ. Wingo, hall
principal, grammar school depart
ment, Union City public school;
Some "Dont's should be religiously
observed IN the schoolroom"
know it is one thing to know some
thing about the theory Of teaching
and quite another thing to have
ones practice conform to the know
ledge Of theory. Don't forget that
ones practice should never do injus-
tice to ones theory.
Don e sit at your desk all the time.
Move about the aisles. If you have
lower grades, keep your eyes on the
little ones and see that they are kept
/ busy. In higher grades also you
should be watchful. When you think
Johnny is so attentive 20 mis- geog-
raphy lesson he may be swallowing a
sample of yellow literature, or chew
ing some waste paper, preparatory to
depositing on his friends head or desk
in that much dreaded paper wad.
Don't scold the whole school when
one child does wrong, II you cannot
detect the offender, say nothing, but
watch your opportunity
One very particular DON'T is:
Don't let your earnestness find its
only expression in your yoice-volume
OF tone is no measure Of force Of
character.
Don't let your voice get away from
you and become loud, unnatural and
repulsiYe In Tone Keep it in low
pitch, vibrant with feeling and force.
This, when observed. is quite an aid
in keeping good order. When you are
orderly and quiet yourself the pupils
seem to leel it in the atmosphere and
at once think they must be so. Don't
throw stones into the water unless
you desire to disturb it, and remember
after all school is only big human
heart, quiyering with a thousand
impulses. One harsh word spoken at
the wrong time will be a stone cast
into the lake that will cause all the
water to ripple, taking into consider
alton the subtle sympathy that passes
from pupil to pupil, until, as it were,
the whole room vibrates to the same
string.
Don't scold and blame your pupils
If they dislike study. If you cam
not interest them scold and blame
yourself
Don't scold too much. The best
teaching is done by that teacher who
most completely effaces herself from
the lesson. The most successful |
teachers are those who get the most
work out Of their class, who make |
their pupils do the work of investi-
CATION, classification and thinking.
The great besetting sin of teachers |
is talking too much. Talking for at |
tention will not gain 1t. In fact,
talking generally seems to be at dis |
count In the schoolroGm as far as the I
teacher is concerned make the class I
do the talking, no matter how much |
better you could do it yourself.
Don't repeat answers after pupils
this takes time, which is much needed /
for the recitation.
Don't fail to give special attention
to the dull, slow pupil. Any teacher
can take a bright, promising pupil,
but it is the task OF all teachers to
interest, to arouse the slow, inatten-
tive pupil. When the teacher has
awakened him and he becomes inter-
ested, she has done something worthy
Of praise
Don't suffer the good boy or girl to
your favors, He doesn't
need them, anyway. The bad boy
deserves your attention, and when he
wins victory over self merits and
should receive your unstinted appro-
baton. Encouragement is the cement
that holds together the endeavors in
right doing.
Don't attempt to teach a class un-
I'll you have thoroughly prepared
yourself in advance. Every point
which you intend to make should be
clearly In your mind at the opening
Of the recitation and the whole period
should be DEVOTED to the particular
points in view, Not to prepare in adj
vance is to teach haphazard. Be
broader and clearer than any para
graph in your text book, and you are
bound to succeed.
Don't forget, in teaching it must be
Zine upon line," drill, repetition, il
Jhe results OF teaching would be per-
You will find that, in the
ong run, your lest work is that which
,osts you the most labor.
Don't fail to give short lessons, re-
luirinQ very little from your pu-
)ils, but being very particular about
5he preparation of those short lessons,
them the indelible property
If the mind, there for ready use. This
s the way and only way a good founda-
lion can be laid.
Don't initiate method. Learn all
You can from all the teachers you
AN, and then seek to apply it in your
lwn individual manner. There is no /
ule and compass plan which can be
Exactly followed in teaching. There
re no pupils which need exactly the Z
anne treatment.
Don't always call one of your bright
st boys or girls to finish a recitation
lfter dull pupil has made partial |
ice of the method, you will be filing
me with conceit and the other with
hame and Encouragement. From \
ach should be expected only accord !,
ng to his talents. After dull pupil
ecites call on one of average ability I
nd than 60 up the al lie and possibly | :
right pupil. Do not unite extremes
h ability.
Don't bottle up the sunshine in your 8
cart and give tha gloom to your class. /
ONE teachers, mfser like. save all their 7
eautiful thoughts, sunny smiles and
Apply words for out-of-scho0I folks.
live Of your best to your class they
viii be all the better for it,.
Don't worry. III you find yourself e
oin., so take up some new line of work !
or interest and relief. The troubles
I many teachers are the fictions of :
heir own wearied brain. Do your =
est. and that is all that Is required Of q
len or angels. I
Don't be afraid to say you DON'T
now, but be doubly afraid to coYerup
our ignorance with deceit. Better be
ynorant than dishonest.
Don { forget TO be as polite to your n
upils as you expect them to be TO !
on. Example win teach more in an },