The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1907-11-07

I'm this article Prof. Dinsrnorc goes on witt
it. discussing pupils who have been falling hehii
If time viii possibly permit it is
better not to put these grown-ups in
classes with the little ones. They will
be more comfortable aud advance more
rapidly by themselves. Much of the
work given the little ones they do not
need and are embarrassed by it. The
teachers manner to the children is not
suited to them, they need to be ad-
dressed according to their age rather
than their advancement in learning
Besides it is absurd to have them go
ing over little sentences about dogs
and cats, tops and dolls and the, hun
dred other trifles that are perfectly
suited to the children. Pauls state
ment expresses il admirably, when
l was a child | thought as a child, ]
spake as a child, but when l became
a man ! put away childish things.
Give them something suited to their
age and manner of thinking and let
them work it out giving such help as
they need. By all means let them
recite by themselves.
Also they should be constantly re-
minded that they are catching up"
In fact the whole process Of their
learning is catching up knowledge
that should have been acquired long
ago If a belated one is strong in
some one branch let him devote as
much time as he likes to it for
while. 1t viii be a great day when it
can be said. John is as good in arith-
metic. or in reading, as any one Of his
age" This gives him a sure footing
and ali that is necessary now is TO
tell him he must bring up other stud
les. A little reflection viii show tina.
this is not only good common sense
but that it is sound pedagogy.
A little knowledge of what has been
done by some of these cases of ar
rested education should be a great
stimulus to any teacher and he ought
to be glad Of an opportunity to ex-
tend a helping hand to any within his
reach
one Of the best County Superin-
tondents the writer has ever known
is fond of encouraging backward ones
by telling his own experience. His
schooling began as The result OF an
accident that left him cripple for
several months when he was sixteen
years Of age. The father was not In
favor Of education, he would teach his
boy to work But when work was out
Of the question and the boy begged 10
go to school his wish was granted
What revelation il wasl He looked
with wonder and envy at boys Of his
own age who could read like house
afire," could work hard sums and
who ratified off big words. such as
cancellation Longitude and time"
allegation medal" and "duodeci-
mails" How ashamed he was of his {
ignorancel Could he ever acquire I
such knowledge? However he applied {
himself with all his might and made
such strides that when he was recov- :
cred of his injury there was no keep
ing him out Of school lie was will
ing to work hard in vacation but when j
school opened his father was practi- l
cally compelled to yield.
The result was that in four years he (
took the County Examination and {
came out triumphant with a third {
class certificate. Could it be possible
that he was now equipped to teach a {
district school? He could scarcely be- I
Iieve it yet there was the proof, sign {
ed by the County Superintendent and
his fellow examiners. He secured a I
school, taught it to the satisfaction of {
the district and with the money earn {
ed went away to school. This he did ]
repeatedly until he was the leading (
teacher in the county. His specially
was encouraging boys and girls who I
had never had a chance" While :
still under thirty he was elected to
the County Superintendency, and by
all accounts did the most efficient
work ever known in that community.
Had he been put with the little ones
TO keep pace with them no such rec
ord could have been made.
Two other county superintendent
are known to the writer who learned
CONTINUED Mex