The Bienville Democrat. [volume] (Arcadia, Bienville Parish, La.) 1912-1980, 1921-03-17

to be found the cause for scrappy, dis
jointed and superficial instruction on
the part of the teacher and for lack
of interest, illogical thinking, and a
general dislike of the subject on the
part Of the student.
6. No subject is to be taught with
the same emphasis placed on every de-
tail in the text. In every text there
are major topics and principals to be
grasped and the minor details to be
touched upon lightly. There is little
wisdom in trying to teach every detail
in the text, nor is there time during
one session in which to do this. A few
basic principles taught an learned in
a masterful manner will take care of
the many details clustering about such
principles. But, what are major prin-
ciples and what are the inessentia
details? Such a knowledge Of the sub
| ject to be taught as that referred to in
the paragraph above will place the
teacher in a position to answer this
question easily. !
Z. Many teachers who otherwise
teach well and ably too often assume
that what has been well taught today
will remain fixed forever in the child's
mind. They presume too much on the
retentayines of the child's memory.
Children's minds do not work that way.
Hence, having taught the major facts,
topics, or principles in given text for
a week or ten days, it then becomes
the part Of wisdom to give brisk,
searching, intelligent review Of the
work covered in order to strengthen
the Impressions made during previous
presentations Of the subject, to link
together in logical manner the things
already taught, and to better show the
relation existing among such facts.
Such a procedure clarifies the child's
mind and fixes more strongly that
which has been taught. And, having
taught new material for another week
or ten days, again should an intelli
gent review be given to Impress not on
~ the material last presented, but the
first, also. This review work should
then continue from time to time until
the end Of subject has been reached
This procedure procedure gives the
child a sense of mastery over the sub
jet, which, in turn, urges him to great
Ter effort, and, finally, it does away with
failure at the end of the session
something very much to be desired.
s. Every pupil in the grades should
be held strictly responsible for a full
knowledge of every essential principle
taught during given recitation. AL
lowing a few Of the more industrious
pupils to do all the reciting and tn,
more Indifferent ones to escape I'm
touched is poor teaching, if not der
ELECTION of duty on the part Of tn
teacher. The whole recitation, in it
essentials at least, must become tn
possession Of every pupil in the grade
or the work has been poorly done. w
regard it as a more serious reflection
on the teacher and his teaching thai
it is on the child and his learning
when such a pupil Of average abilit,
fails in his school work. Furthermor
even If pupils and their parents ar
, satisfied with a pass mark Of 70 pc
cent, teachers should not be so easil
, satisfied. A childs school mark
more nearly the measure of the teach
. er's effort than it is that of the child's
We make an appeal to all teacher
, to make daily use Of fundamental
3 such as those above mentioned, espet
tally since the cry, the country over,
j for better classroom results.
4 In clongiisht shrdlu etoin cmfwy
3 In closing this report We wish t
D make grateful acknowledgement t
. Superintendent E. H. Fisher, his pril
= cipals and other teachers, for man