The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 23
Class preparing for Standard I
Class preparing for Standard I.
Object(2) and Natural History Lessons.—A syllabus of the year's work done to be given to the Inspector, who will examine the class upon some object selected from the syllabus.
Knowledge of the Subject-matter of the Reading Lessons.
Repetition of Easy Verses.—Syllabus and test as for object-lessons.
Singing.—A sufficient number of easy and suitable songs in correct time and tune, and at a proper pitch.
Disciplinary Exercises or Drill.
Needlework.—See Regulation 10.
Drawing.—See Regulation 11.
2 The proper use of "object-lessons" appears to be often misunderstood, and the method followed in some books intended to assist teachers in preparing such lessons fosters misconception. The object-lesson is not to be regarded chiefly as an opportunity for imparting information, employing the object simply as a material text awakening interest by appealing to the senses. Nor is the lesson to be used simply for the purpose of teaching the scientific names of the qualities of objects. The true end of an object-lesson is to call into play the faculty of observation, and help the children to discover how much they know or can ascertain for themselves as to the form, qualities, uses, and relations of visible objects; and to accustom them to arrange such knowledge in some reasonable order, and to express it in appropriate language. As an addition to this, but only as an addition, it is useful to supply them with more precise and accurate terms than they are accustomed to use, and with useful information beyond their own knowledge. The method here indicated, with a necessary change in the proportion observed between the matter supplied by the pupils and that which the teacher must furnish, should be followed in those lessons by which in the standard course the object-lessons are continued under other names, as "Knowledge of Common Things" and "Elementary Science."