The Mena weekly star. (Mena, Ark.) 1904-1977, 1910-12-22
Modern Method of Teaching History.

We present the solvent features
noted upon a blackboard in a recent
visit to a neighboring school OF Polk
county; our reason for doing so is our
conversion to the the theory that
every pupil should know just what is
required of him; also, the teacher who
places such an outline before his pu-
pills knows exactly what he expects to
do; knowing what he is to do, he de-
vises ways and means of doing it
Editor School Department.
Washington-1789-1797; 1890 De-
cree; 1891 VT. and U. S. Bank; 1892
Ky, and Cotton Gin; 1874 Whisky;
1896 Tenn.
Note-The preceding was shown upon the
board In brace form with G. w. and J. w. at
left, representing the names of the president
for the term. The following was written be-
low the form.-Ed
Exact date of Inauguration; why?
Four cabinet officers; their functions?
Federalists; Antifederalists? Theory of
each? Foreign affairs and Citizen Gen
ct; Indian Troubles; u S. Bank; De-
cree Of Congress concerning the capi-
toll; history of the invention of the
cotton gin; states admitted with dates;
details of the Whisky Instruction;
finance during VS. term; election of
John Adams.
below this we noted the following down
to-date data.-Edl
New Chief Justice. his salary, poll
tics, religion; two associate justices,
salary; long and short session of Con-
gress, 61st; when congress meets,
dies; composition of Congress for
the ed
The Father of his Country, The
Father of American finance, The Pro-
moter of the Cotton Plant. The Baby
nation, Martha Washington S Offensive
Democrats, The Keystone of the Thir-
teen states, WIS Farewell Address,
The Tariff of IS per cent, The Green
Mountain State, The State of Franklin.
We were present at the recitation
which was purely topical and without
the and of books in class; all was en-
thusiasm and eagerness in giving in
formation; the pupils seemed to vie
with each other in the recitation, yet
some of the topics were posers to the
9Th grade, requiring some help from
the teacher. When the recitation
closed the teacher sent all to the board
and said, No. write treaties closing
Intercolonial Wars, No. 2 give cause
of French and Indian War, No. )
make list of Indian wars and massa-
ores, No. 4 tell about the Pilgrims, No,
the Puritans, No. 6 the Wompano-
ags, No. 7 King Phillip" Each pupil
turned and wrote what he could in
brief review, then two pupils started
from either end of the board anc
checked out errors to be corrected by
the writer's, using texts for correction
In conclusion we are now emphaticall,
in favor of course of study which
forces a topical study and a topica
recitation; we have compared Lees
history in the matter of quantity o.
verbiage and find it would not be pos
sible to review this administration il
the twenty minute lesson thus given
Teachers, what do you think of some
plan similar to the preceding? Why
not have such work in every school il
Polk county? If this is not the best
why not find it for the dear children
who spend such short time in the
schools-''The Peoples Colleges?"
Ed.
Education is mind training power
1t not only sharpens ones tools, but
it makes him who handles them
whether educational or mechanical
more of a man.