Teachers' Leaflet. 



479 



LESSONS ON SOILS AND PLANTS FOR PRIMARY GRADES. 



By John W. Spencer. 

 To the Teacher: 



I wish that you would try some of my theories on your pupils when 

 you have a little time at your command. This is nothing more or less 

 than giving them some instruction in agriculture; yes, with children as 

 small as your first and second graders. I would have you show them 

 some things that grayheaded farmers — good farmers, too — have never 

 understood. My notions may sometimes be beyond the understanding 

 of children as small as yours but not beyond that of yours, nor beyond 

 what you ought to understand in order to make your teaching clear and 

 vivid to them. Neither do I expect that you will try to teach all the 

 points that I hope to bring out. 



Puritanic instruction that I received in my childhood days gave me 

 the idea that climbing up hill was virtue mainly because it was disagree- 

 able, and sliding down hill was wrong mainly because it was fun. I 

 would have you reverse this idea in your teaching and make a virtue of 

 the easy way. I hope I may lead you to become an opportunist rather 

 than to be dogmatic. Learn to accomplish your purpose by rowing 

 down stream rather than up, and you will have fewer blisters on your 

 hands. For years I have had profound respect for the form of diplomacy 

 that catches flies with sugar rather than vv'ith vinegar. To illustrate the 

 few principles that I would have you give your pupils, I have chosen the 

 mud-pie and sand-pile method because I know the children will enjoy 

 that type of instruction. 



