The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1911-02-16
EDUCATIONAL.
HOW TO KEEP UP ENTHUSIASM
IN THE SCHOOLS.


ers' Meeting by Catherine NJ. Doolan.)
Continued from last week.
Think of all these things today and
mol tomorrow, and look to your walls,
floors, stove pipes, lamps, windows,
desks, grounds, etc, and determine if
they are in a good condition for callers,
much less for pupils.
1t is surprising if our attention has
never been called to the fact before, to
notice how the general appearance of
the room influences the enthusiasm
and behavior of our pupils. If the
room is kept neat, the boards clean
and ready for use the floor free from
paper, and the books neatly arranged
on the teachers desk, there is gen
eral atmosphere of comfort prevailing
in the room and it has quieting in
iluence upon the nerves of the pupils.
Although the opposite conditions may
exist, | have never seen a neat school
room that was not quiet room, and
was not untidy.
Keeping entries neat and clean,
rubberS and overshoes in rows, even 50
far as heels to the wall, the water pail
the wash basin and the wash-stand
etc, neat and clean, those are few
of the straws which show which way
the wind may blow.
Proper ventilation, heating, lighting.
and recess periods should be seen to
also.
Many children must lunch at recess
and hungry child is not in condi-
ton to profit by class room iustruc-
ton, and moreover there are many
pupils whose physical well-being re-
quires nutrition.
Then on the other hand smart or
sarcastic sayings do not keep up school
enthusiasm. Sarcasm is never iusti-
fable in the school room, and above all
before primary pupils. 1t makes the
teacher disliked by the child, and re-
fleets only the lowest type of teaching
power in the person that stoops to
use it.
Instead of the word ''Fault finding"
try using the word Good minding."
Suppose we ignore for time all the
faults and let no occasion pass that we
do not commend good. If we get into
the habit of always looking for the
good, We will find much more good
than bad, Children are wiser than we
usually give them credit for, and, as a
rule, they are ready to deliver the
goods the teacher expects. If they
see she is always on the lookout for
the best She will always get the best.
Then the teachers Joy will be, not in
the pay, for there ISN'T enough in that,
bat in the satisfaction of work well
done: in the qualification of watching
the pupils improve day by day: in get
ting the cooperation of the so-called
bad boy and lastly the pure and un-
selfish love Of the pupils. Then, last
OF all, to arouse enthusiasm comes the
teachers personal appearance.
Is She as self-posscsscd in her school
room when the unexpected visitor
happens in as she is when she answers
the knock or door-bcll at home? Does
she give the same honest smile to her
pupils when they are alone rs when
visitors come? Pupils notice all those
things very quickly.
Then, dajB, ask yourself those ques-
tions:
!. Is my school room neat and tidy?
:. Are my blackboards neatly wash
ed and ready for use?
B. Is my ventilation good or as good
as | can possibly make it?
T. IS the temperature near 70 in all
parts of the room?
D. Have [ a chair ready for the oc-
casional visitor?
&. Is my standing, sitting, and
walking position a correct one?
l. Is my voice well moduated and
my language grammatically correct?
8. DO my pupils stand, sit and walk
well?
9. Is my penmanship good model
to place before my class?
TO- Am expecting nothing but the
best from my pupils?
H. Can they do their written work
as regards neatness, form and penman-
ship so that when | pass some Of their
work TO visitors for inspection, that /
do not need to be so ashamed, as to
have to turn my head aside, or offer
some careless excuse for careless ap-
pearance2
T.. Have ! 50 prepared my own
work that there is trustful, respect
full attitude on the part of my pupils
toward me and on my part for my
pupils?
Happy is the teacher who can at All
times answer those questions and
answer them truthfully.
Everything viii pass of splendidly,
and as your visitor passes out, you'll at
least feel the reward Of your labor in
his or her remark: M, but those
pupils Of yours are doing fine! Could
any one believe that this is nothing
but a country schoolYn