Page images
PDF
EPUB

The teachers must be careful to make their scholars while reading, pay great attention to their stops, and lay the proper emphasis on the words they read; also to make them repeat their lessons with an audible voice and distinct articulation, so that the last scholar in a class may distinctly hear what the first is saying; and only those scholars who are engaged with their respective teachers are to be heard speaking at the same time.

Catechisms, &c.

The lessons in catechisms, &c. must not be promiscuously chosen, but must be begun with the first, and learnt regularly throughout.

In rehearsing, the teachers must first hear all those who are in the lowest catechism, then those who are in the next sort, and so on, till they have all rehearsed. They are then to repeat their hymns, (such only as are for the use of the school,) then their scripture lessons, or whatever they may have to rehearse, as far as the time appointed will admit.

They are to go twice through the first catechism before they proceed to learn the others.

Lower Classes.

If there be sufficient room in the school, the lower classes are to be taught by lessons printed with large type, and pasted on boards; and the scholars to stand outside a circle drawn before them. The teachers are to point to the letter or word to be repeated or spelt; they are also to be provided with small boards or cards, with printed lessons pasted thereon, to be used by the children while sitting down.

The children with their tickets should purchase the books used in the school, that they may learn their lessons at home,

At

Morning.

o'clock the roll-book is to be called over by the superintendent, or the secretary in his absence, if both are absent, by one of the teachers, when the attendance of all the teachers and children present, is to be taken; but if the school be too large, the teachers can take the attendance in their respective class-books

The teachers being at the head of their respective classes, and the monitors at the bottom on the command being given, "Shew clean hands," they will see that the childrens' hands and faces are clean; the superintendent or secretary must then inspect each class, to see that they are properly supplied and arranged, and the scholars present are to be rewarded with a small ticket each, for their early attendance.

At command, the whole will rise and sing an hymn, to be given out by the person appointed, who is then to engage in prayer, which is not to occupy more than five minutes, so that teaching may begin at o'clock.

The whole will then sit down and prepare for reading.

Order of Teaching.

Begin reading at

o'clock.

They will commence reading, which is to continue till

o'clock.

The teachers are then to record in their class-books the rotation in which their scholars stand, when they leave off.

The late attendance is here to be taken as directed before.

o'clock.

Begin spelling at They are then to commence spelling, which is to be con tinued, without interruption or deviation, till

o'clock.

Let them spell a few rounds in book, to refresh their memories, before they repeat it by heart.

Should any class have gone through the appointed lesson before this time, the teacher is nevertheless to keep exercising the scholars of that class by miscellaneous words in the lesson, till the time appointed to cease.

The teachers are to record the rotation of their scholars as before.

The lower classes are also to be taught their spelling, making them spell one word at a time in rotation, looking at the book or board, and take each other down.

The teachers to reward the two first of each class or division for spelling.

Begin catechisms, &c. at

o'clock.

As the scholars rehearse their lessons, the teachers must record in their respective class-books, the number of the question in the catechism, where they leave off.

While one scholar is rehearsing, the rest are not to remain idle, but are to be assiduous in preparing to rehearse their succeeding lessons, so that the whole time allotted for catechisms, &c. may be properly filled up.

Only one lesson is to be rehearsed by the same scholar, till the rest of the class have been heard.

While the catechisms, &c. are rehearsing, the lower classes are to repeat their spelling, without book or board; or part of the time may be occupied in asking the little children questions. The rehearsing is to cease at o'clock, and the teachers to reward their scholars for what they have rehearsed, according to the scale of rewards.

Conclusion of the School.

The whole are then to rise at command, and sing an hymn, to be given out by the person appointed, who is to conclude the school with an exhortation and prayer, the exhortation to occupy only ten minutes.

Note. [Should the children attend public worship in the morning, it may be found necessary to shorten the exercises, perhaps by omitting the catechism, and the various blanks may be filled up to suit the order of the school. The children

to be conducted to the place of worship by the teachers, a sufficient number of whom are to be appointed in rotation to remain with them during the public service.]

Dismission.

Before retiring to go home, they are, at command, "prepare to go," to receive their hats, coats, &c. of the monitors, but no scholars must stir from their seats till they are ordered to retire class by class.

At o'clock the children are to retire when ordered, class by class, in single rank, led by their monitors. Let the girls retire completely out of sight before the boys go. One of the teachers to take his station in the street to see that the children go home orderly.

At

Afternoon.

o'clock the school is to re-commence, and the whole being arranged according to their respective classes, the attendance is to be taken, as in the morning.

The classes are then to be inspected.

The whole will then rise at command, and sing an hymn, and the person appointed will engage in a short prayer.

Begin reading at

o'clock.

They will commence reading, which is to continue till o'clock, when the rotation will be recorded as in

the morning.
The late attendance to be taken, as in the morning.

Begin spelling at

o'clock.

The children being arranged as they left off spelling in the morning, spelling is then to commence, and continue without interruption or deviation, till o'clock, when it is to cease, and the teachers to reward the scholars for spelling, and record the rotation as directed in the morning.

At

Begin catechisms, at

o'clock.

For directions see the morning rules.

[blocks in formation]

o'clock the rehearsing to cease, and the

o'clock the scholars to be dismissed as

Evening.

o'clock when arranged according to their

respective classes, they are to be inspected, and the school to begin as before.

If there be plenty of time, the evening can be devoted to rehearsing Scripture, and asking them questions connected with what they rehearse, or the evening exercises may be conducted on any plan agreed upon by the teachers.

Words of Command.

(To be given by the superintendent or his substitute.)

At commencement.

Morning.

Shew clean hands!

As soon as the classes have 5 been inspected.....

When prayer is concluded..

When the teaching is over..

Singing being over.

The exhortation being over.

Prayer being over

Bibles

{

[blocks in formation]

The same commands may be used for the afternoon.

Arrangement and qualifications of the Classes.

READING.

Testaments

Spelling Books, 3 Syllables only
Ditto 2 ditto only

Ditto Monosyllables only
Ditto Introduction only

SPELLING.

Dictionaries or highest Spelling, 4 Syllables and upwards

3 Syllables only

2 ditto only

Monosyllables only
Introduction only

CATECHISMS, &c.

Used by the first four classes generally, viz. Milk for Babes, Dr. Watts's, and Assembly's with and without Proofs, Watts's Hymns, or what other catechisms or hymns the Committee appoint.

The classes are to be supplied with books agreeable to the above scale, as six classes will in general be found most suitable. The classes are to be kept as distinct as possible. They must be formed into divisions of nine scholars each, to be distinguished by A, B, C, &c. but when a class consists only of twelve scholars, they are to form but one division, until that number is exceeded, when it is to be formed into two divisions, and so on.

The scholar whose name stands most frequently the first in reading and spelling, according to the class-book, is to be considered the most eligible for promotion to a higher class, which is to take place, when sufficiently qualified, the last Sunday in every quarter.

Each class is to have a class-book, and if possible, to sit upon a separate form to keep them distinct.

Teachers.

When any teacher resigns a class, the rest of the teachers shall appoint one by ballot to fill the vacancy.

They are to use every endeavour to maintain the good order

[blocks in formation]
[ocr errors]

and discipline of their classes, and are to act in strict confor mity to the rules of the school.

They are to be strict in levying the fines on their scholars, and when they cannot pay, to keep an account of what tickets they may owe.

They must not leave their classes, nor talk or gossip together, during school-hours.

They are not to neglect visiting as often as possible the sick of their classes, and are to give a report in writing to the superintendent. If they do not go home, they are requested to dine in the school-room with such children as may stop.

Monitors.

A monitor is to be appointed to every class. They are to consist of scholars recommended by their teachers, appointed by the superintendent, and approved by the committee, but none are to be considered qualified unless they are well behaved, can repeat all the catechisms through by heart, and are also able to write. These are to be termed qualified monitors. They are to wear labels with the number of the class to which they belong, during the school hours, as a distinction, and when the school is over they must deposit them with the secretary, and when they come to school, are to apply to him for them again, and must not go to their classes without them.

They are always to be with their classes at the opening and conclusion of the school, during singing, prayer, &c. and while there is no teaching.

They are not to teach, except in the absence of the teacher of their class, or at his request, when they are to assist in hearing the scholars rehearse the lessons, &c. When the teaching commences, they are (if not employed,) to exercise as scholars in the class to which they belong; and when the teaching is over, they are to return, at command, to the re spective classes to which they are appointed as monitors.

The monitors are to keep the classes quiet, and if any scholar will not mind them, they are to ask the superintendent to put on the disorderly label, and the disorderly scholars are to sit at the bottom of each class.

To avoid the inconvenience of waiting too long for qualified monitors, temporary ones may be appointed; but who must be given particularly to understand, that they are only to remain in office till regular monitors can be obtained, unless they are wise and industrious enough to qualify themselves in time, so as to prevent any others from taking their places, which will be always open to any scholars for fair competition. Note. This law should be well known in the school.

If any monitor be absent two Sundays, the superintendent is to ascertain the cause of such absence, and if he judges it proper he is to suspend such monitor, and select another to till up the vacancy.

« PreviousContinue »