Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

FROEBEL'S PRINCIPLES AND THEIR PRAC- enhanced by rhythmical sounds, or music; appreciation of

TICAL APPLICATION.

BY FLORENCE CLAP, BALTIMORE.

DUCATION consists in developing the faculties and powers of the mind of the child. Instruction consists in imparting knowledge. Therefore education precedes instruction. The child enters the world. It possesses a body, a mind, and a soul. It has, therefore, a physical, mental, and moral nature to be educated. Its first expression of life is movement, spontaneous, unreflecting. It feebly moves its hands and limbs; it cries. Very soon it will look; will turn its head to follow a moving form. This is the first appearance of mind. It hears; will turn to locate a sound. It smiles, which is the first indication of the soul. The first few years of its life is necessarily one of undirected and natural motion. But in its efforts it points unmistakably to its needs. It incessantly uses its hands. It is not content to look at an object; but it must handle it, taste it, break it. It grasps everything within its reach. Therefore we must conclude that the hands are important factors in the child's education. The eradle songs of all nations are not accidents. They developed from a first need of infancy; namely, movement, the pleasure of which is intensified by rhythm. Color attracts the child and at once suggests its part in the child's education. We have then displayed very early three marked inclinations,-activity; enjoyment of activity

color. It is not long before the child wishes to be a part of the world about it. It imitates in its play life that it is in the midst of. Its first intelligent demand is, "What shall I do?" This question it refers to us for the solution.

We must, therefore, place within the child's reach that which will enable it to employ its activities and develop its resources. It must be given proper material. Its efforts must be directed. Its self-activity must be cultivated. Its physical needs must be considered. Its relations to the world must be taught by social intercourse with others of the same age.

The child's first conceptions are naturally simple. The history of the human race shows this to be a fundamental law. The primitive efforts of mankiud serve for first urgent needs. In other words the child advances, as the human race, from the knowledge of the concrete to the abstract; from the known to the unknown; from the simple to the complex; from the whole to the parts.

The child can perceive the law of contrast from the round to the square, from the curved line to the straight. It can distinguish between up and down; it detects differences of color. Therefore, form, motion, color can be emphasized to it.

True the child must demonstrate whether it comprehends form, motion, color. It thus makes its first effort to proceed from the concrete to the abstract; it expresses its idea; it develops itself. This is self-activity in the mind, and is obliged to carry out its ideas. full sense of the word, for the child is now directed by its

(To be continued.)

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

WEBSTER'S UNABRIDGED DICTIONARY.

RECENT VOICES FROM THE

STATE SUPERINTENDENTS OF SCHOOLS.

world).

[blocks in formation]

ALA.......Solomon Palmer.-The Standard. No teacher should be without a copy.
ARK......W. E. Thompson.-The last edition invaluable.

CAL... Ira G. Hoitt.-Unfailing and reliable authority.

COLO....L. S. Cornell.-Law should require every school board to provide it.
CONN....Chas. D. Hine.-Wish every scholar could have access to it.

DEL.......T. N. Williams.-Should lie upon every teacher's desk.

FLA.......A. J. Russell.-Greatest and best Dictionary of our language.

GA..........Gustavus J. Orr.-Of the very highest merit.

ILL........Richard Edwards.—It is at hand in my study, and constantly used.

IND.......John W. Holcomb.-Every School ought to have one.

IOWA....J. W. Akers.-Now used in majority of all Iowa Schools.
KANS....J. H. Lawhead.-Has no equal.

KY....Jos. Desha Pickett.-The adopted standard for the schools of this Commonwealth.
LA.........Journal of Education.-It is invaluable to every teacher.

N. A. Luce.-No school-room is properly furnished without it.
MD...M. A. Newell.-Should be a copy in every School-house.
MASS.....J. W. Dickinson.-Every School should be supplied.

Oakland,

48,000

[blocks in formation]

ME.....

[blocks in formation]

MISS......J. A. Smith.-School much benefited by having it on teacher's desk.
MO.........R. D. Shannon.-I wish every school district would purchase it.
NEBR....Geo. B. Lane.-The best. Wish it could be on every teacher's desk.

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

MICH....J. Estabrook.-The unquestioned standard in Michigan Schools and Colleges.
MINN....D. L. Kiehle.-We accept it as unqualified authority.

- Fisher's Essentials of Geography.

PUBLIC OPINION.

Education is the leading of human souls to what is best, and making what is best out of them.-Ruskin.

There is no book worth reading at all which will not suggest some matter of inter est, or refer to some subject which it might be a satisfaction to pursue. St. Louis Republican.

[ocr errors][merged small]
[merged small][ocr errors]

N. Y.......N. Y. School Journal.-" What is your authority?" Webster." That settles it!"*
N. C.......S. M. Finger.-An invaluable book of reference.

OHIO....LeRoy D. Brown.-Best in the World.

OREG....E. B. McElroy.-Invaluable and unequaled in the School-room.

PA......E. E. Higbee.-It has my most hearty indorsement.

R. I........Thomas B. Stockwell.-My preference is for Webster.

S. C........Jas. H. Rice.-Difficult to find adjectives enough to express its merits.

TENN....Thomas H. Paine.-I regard Webster as the best.

TEX.......Oscar H. Cooper.-I have always required its use in my school-room.
VT.. Justus Dartt.-Desirable to have each school supplied.
VA......

.R. R. Farr.-A vast compendium of useful knowledge.

W. VA....B. S. Morgan.-I am proud of it.

WIS.J. B. Thayer.-We do not know any other in Wisconsin.

Attention is invited to the fact that the latest issue of this work contains
A DICTIONARY

- Education may well be compared to a certain species of writing-ink, whose color, of 118,000 Words, and 3000 Engravings, with a Supplement of nearly 5000 new Words and Meanings, at first, is scarcely perceptible, but which A CAZETTEER OF THE WORLD penetrates deeper and grows blacker by age,

until, if you consume the scroll over a coal of over 25,000 Titles, describing Countries, Cities, Towns, and natural features of every part of the Globe, fire, the characters will still be legible in the cinders.-Horace Mann.

If the teacher would grow he must use the means of growth. He must associate with his fellow - teachers and discuss with

them the principles which underlie all true teaching and all true discipline; he must make himself familiar with all that marvel of marvels,—the human mind, and the laws which govern its growth; and he should make a constant study of the methods by which instruction can be most effectively given to the child.-Supt. John Mc Donald.

A BIOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY

of 9,700 Noted Persons, with pronunciation, Nationality, Profession, etc.-And other Invaluable Tables,

ALL IN ONE BOOK.

It has 3000 more words in its vocabulary than are found in any other American Dictionary, and nearly three times the number of Engravings. In quantity of matter, it is believed to be the largest volume published, being sufficient to make 75 12mo volumies that usually sell for $1.25 each.

Webster is Standard Authority in the Government Printing Office, and with the United States Supreme Court. It is recommended by the State Supt's of Schools in 36 States, and by leading College Presidents of the U. S. and Canada. All the leading Series of School Books published in this country are based upon Webster, the acknowledged Standard of the English Language. Published by G. & C. MERRIAM & CO., Springfield, Mass.

-There never was a heroic exercise undertaken by man that did not involve antagonisms as great. The soldier who is discouraged because the enemy is numerous may as well lay down his arms, and the teacher whose efforts are enfeebled by the thought of obstacles in his way may as well drop to the idea that he has no reward but his salary. The truth is that in all these conflicts the teacher's faith must sustain him; herein is for him the source of strength. -Supt. Richard Edwards, LL.D.

Instruction through books is, in some respects, the opposite of instruction through living, because life forces its wisdom on us while the book is entirely passive. The book is the most conven

ient form of instruction. We must have gained an experience from real life with which to unlock the meaning of the wisdom stored up in books.-W. T. Harris, in Philosophy of Education.

CATARRH CURED.

A clergyman, after years of suffering from that loathsome disease, Catarrh, and vainly trying every known remedy, at last found a prescription which completely cured and saved him from death. Any sufferer from this dreadful disease sending a self addressed stamped envelope to Prof. J. A. Lawrence, 212 East 9th St., New York, will receive the recipe free of charge.

Prang Educational Co.,

Publishers and Dealers in Drawing and Artists' Materials,

PUBLISHERS OF

PRANG'S AMERICAN TEXT-BOOKS OF ART EDUCATION.

A System of Drawing used in the leading Cities of the country. This system has a wider adoption than all other systems united.

[blocks in formation]

S

CHERMERHORN'S Teachers' Agency.

Oldest and best known in U. S. Estab. 1855. 7 East 14th St., N. Y.

For larger salaries or change of location address Teachers' Co-Operative Association. 170 State Street, Chicago; Orville Brewer, Manager.

FOR REGISTRATION. Unequaled

NO FEE advantages for competent teach

ers who want actual service. Form for stamp.

R. E. AVERY. American School Bureau. 2 West 14th St., N. Y.

The New England Bureau of Education.

Now is the time to register for Primary, Intermediate, and Grammar Schools. Circulars and form of application free. Address, HIRAM ORCUTT, Manager,

3 Somerset St., Boston, Mass.

KINDERGARTEN.

THE PHILADELPHIA TRAINING SCHOOL FOR KINDERGARTNERS (10th year) reopens October 1st.

MRS. M. L. VAN KIRK, Principal, 1333 Pine St., Philadelphia.

KINDERGARTEN and School Supplies.

J. W. SCHERMERHORN & CO., 7 EAST 14TH STREET, NEW YORK.

Musical, far-sounding, and highly satisfactory Bells for Schools, Churches, etc. MENEELY & CO., West Troy, N. Y. Established 1826. Description and prices on application.

[blocks in formation]

HOUGHTON, MIFFLIN, & CO., 4 Park St., Boston.

ALWAYS ASK FOR

ESTERBROOK'S

STEEL PENS.

PENS

SCHOOL NUMBERS:

333, 444, 128, 105, 135, 048.

For Sale by all Stationers.

The Esterbrook Steel Pen Co.,

26 John Street, New York,

No. 048

ESTERER1Kete

FALCON PEN.

The Only Practical Lead and Slate Pencil Sharpener Ever Invented!
SIBLEY'S

Pencil Sharpener.

Simple, durable, and easily kept in order. Works rapidly,

[graphic]

and makes a fine point.

[blocks in formation]

Just Published.

HOW TO TEACH
GEOGRAPHY

A plan for an Elementary
and Scientific Course.
By Elvira Carver, Teach-
er of Geography in the
Westfield Normal
School. Price, 20 cts.

This is a practical man-
ual for teachers by an ex-
perienced teacher of the

Westfield Nor. Sch. It is
packed full of most excel-
fent suggestions, carefully
and logically arranged.
There are lessons for each
year, beginning at the age
of seven, continuing thro'
the grammar grades and
and the lower grades of
of the High School.

All three books to one address for 75 cents. A

[merged small][merged small][graphic]
[graphic]
[graphic]

FOR THE

SCHOOLROOM.

With Music and Songs. By Annie Chase. Cloth, price, 30 cents.

These lessons, with accompanying music and

songs, have been prepared for the use of pupils in the lower grades. Each lesson is simple, practical, and complete in itself. Care has been taken to omit all positions liable to harm the most delicate child.

EDUCATIONAL PUBLISHING COMPANY, 50 BROMFIELD STREET, BOSTON.

[blocks in formation]

DIXON'S

AMERICAN CRAPHITE

PENCILS.

A perfect pencil should be strong, smooth, black, soft, uniform, and reliable, hold its point well in wear, and be pleasant to use; the mark should disappear entirely under a good rubber, leaving the paper clean. All of these qualities we have obtained in our pencils beyond any. thing heretofore produced.

Our hard grades can be sharpened to a needle-point, and are capable of finer lines than any other pencils.

We took two gold medals at the Paris Exposition, 1878, where we exhibited a case of pencils containing 1106 kinds, no two alike.

If your stationer does not keep them, mention AMERICAN TEACHER and send 16 cts. for samples worth double the money.

JOS. DIXON CRUCIBLE CO., Jersey City, N. J.

A NEW BOOK

EXAMPLES IN

OF

ARITHMETIC.

NOW READY,

Contains over three thousand five hundred carefully graded problems on every subject of Arithmetic. Numerous review questions and exercises. The work is not simply a teacher's desk-book, but is intended to be placed in the hands of the pupil. It will be found invaluable as a drill-book. With or without answers.

Price 60 cents. Discount to Schools.

E. H. BUTLER

& CO., Publishers,

17 & 19 So. Sixth St., PHILADELPHIA, PA.

New England Agency, 75 Hawley Street, Boston, Mass.

ANDREWS' DUSTLESS ERASER.

Has been ten years before the public. Its sale exceeds that of all others combined, and it is pronounced by all the unrivaled Eraser of the world.

[blocks in formation]

We have now placed upon the market a cheaper grade made of COTTON-FELT. While not as durable as our Wool-felt Eraser, it will outwear any other Cotton-Felt or Cotton-listing Eraser.

Advantages. It is made of woven felt, so arranged the ends of the fibre do the rubbing. It cleanses the board more thoroughly, and is longer wearing out than any other. The dust is all gathered and held instead of being brushed off into the air, as by every other make known. A. H. ANDREWS & CO., Patentees,

[blocks in formation]

It is what we claim-The BEST CRAYON made.

It will not make any dust to irritate the lungs of users, and fill the room.
It contains no Grit or Grease to scratch and destroy the Black Board.
It makes a whiter mark and is more easily erased than any other crayon.
It adheres entirely to the Blackboard, instead of grinding off as in chalk.
It has proved more economical than any crayon made.

It erases instead of smears the marking surface.

We have testimonials from the best authority, who are using the Crayon.

TRY IT YOURSELF. Price, 50 cts. per gross. be procured of the manufacturers.

Write for Samples and Testimonials.

Packed 25 gross in a case. For sale by all dealers, or can

NATIONAL CRAYON COMPANY,

117 N. Fourth St., Philadelphia, Pa.

R. H. VOGDES, Wholesale Agent, 831 Arch St.

150 Beautiful Blackboard Patterns in Drawing; Mailed for 25 cents.

New Sixth Sheet,

with instructions on the Sheet; alone, 10 cents.

The Essentials of Physiology, with Drawings; book, 44 pages, 30 cents.

[blocks in formation]
« AnteriorContinuar »