The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-03-06
Home and School
Department
WORRYING THE PUPIL.

WORRYING THE PUPIL.
Some Teachers Have Special Genius
( in This Direction, Says Writer.
To the large number Of works al
ready existing on the child, that most
fascinating subject of modern study,
DR.. Stuart H. Rowe has recently added
another relating particularly to the
physical development and powers of
the child, under the title of 1.-The Ply
steal Nature of the Child, and How to
Study 1t" Macmillan Company, New
York;. The book represents in part
course in child study given by the au-
thor in the state normal school at
Mankato, Mimi, and is intended as a
textbook for students in normal and
training schools, and for teachers and
parents.
After devoting several chapters to
physical tests for school children, for
the purpose of noting defects in sight,
hearing, nervous and muscular eff
ciepcy, ETC., the writer goes on to dis
cuss motor ability, enunciation, ner-
vousness and fatigue. Growth and
adolescence are made the subject of a
serious chapter, and the conditions f
school and home conclude this COM
prehensive salrvey of the child's physi-
cal life.
For much of the red tape of prom
inent educators and successful teach
ers, the author has but little sympathy.
The arbitrary, nervous teacher is one
of his abhorrences. Anent this sub
ject, he says: "The pupils in GER
tain city were recently referred to as
well versed in the latest methods of
worrying teachers. 1t is not impos-
sible that in many city similar
charge might be made against the
teacher with reference to the child.
There are marks, examinations, re-
strictions as to position and occupa-
ton, the use of the muscles in young
children, the lack of recreation, pun
ishments of various sorts, a real or
seeming or arbitrariness, nagging and,
perhaps more serious, the overpres-
sure upon some children due to iron
clad system, and many others, all de-
vices for worrying pupils.
To be sure each has some special
purpose and some specific advantages
in individual cases. Some of them
are forced upon US by public opinion.
In this last class are included espe-
cially schemes for marking.
There are few teachers who could
not dispense with their marking sys--
tenn, and be equally just to the child,
were the parents satisfied. The teach
er knows from the work done, and not
from the marks, whether Johnny or
Jimmy should be advanced or held.
Marks give false standards. Per-
lection for one child is not perfection
for another. The most important Of
all examination questions is this:
Is the child doing his best? The pres
ent marking system current almost
: everywhere gives no answer to this
question, and is ordinarily, moreover,
no indication of the child's real effort
II his work. 1t must be granted that
marks constitute an easily understood
indicator of general fitness to advance
to higher grade, and, as such, they
offer concrete goal to the child. But,
as measure and reward of endeavor,
marks are a serious failure.
Again examinations are devices for
worrying pupils, necessary under some
conditions, and one of the special beau
ties of school system. They should
be reduced to the minimum and are
desirable simply as incentives to re-
view and effort"
A churchman was travelling through
the country with an evangelist. At a
village meeting was held at which IN
announcement was made thatsthe pro-
ceeds of a collection to be taken would
be turned over to missionary fund
In the audience was a man who was
publicly known to oppose foreign mis-.
siOns, and who was also suspected CT
being an antagonist of the deepest dye.
The churchman in the course Of the
collection passed this man the box.
The other pushed! 1t away with :sneer
on his face. The churchman, thrust
ing the box under the fellows nose,
said: Here, take some it's for the
heather
TOURIST ShEEFERS TO CHICAGO.
An Innovation In Sleeping Chr Ser.
/ i Vice.
The Great Northern Railway COM
pany has met the demand for through
sleeping car service to and from Chi
scago. q. Il
The Oriental Limited, the new Great
Northern train; is now equipped with
.a new tourist sleeping car. operating
between Seattle and Chicago and in-
termedfate points. The rates on these
cars are about one-half Of the stand-
ard sleeping car rates and no change
sofs cars is necessary between points on
the main line In North Dakota and
Montana and Chicago In either ildirec-
ton. i; IS s II. 95 K
Ask your local agent for further In
formation, or apply to +. I. Whitney.
Passenger Trafic Manager, St Paul, &
MINI, a 4 SIS