28O METHODS IN TEACHING 



printed books, and the importance of printing is discussed. 

 The story of its invention and inventors is then full of 

 interest. 



Another phase of third grade work is found in local his- 

 tory studies. Here, as elsewhere, the children make only a 

 beginning, leaving real research for maturer 

 History minds. Nevertheless, this work is very real 



to the little folks, and it is of great import- 

 ance in creating a taste for such investigations and in bring- 

 ing together much valuable information about the home 

 town. Old landmarks in Stockton are hunted out; grand- 

 parents and old residents, some of whom " crossed the 

 plains " in true pioneer style, are interviewed about their 

 early experiences and primitive conditions in the city and 

 county ; many interesting facts are brought into class, where 

 they are talked over and most of them written out in the 

 notebooks that the children are learning to keep. A map of 

 Stockton is drawn, on which are located the principal places 

 mentioned in the lessons. 



A pupil's paper on local history is given below. It is 

 uncorrected, but was written after oral reproductions of the 

 subject had been made in class. 



THE BEAR FLAG 



Many years ago California belonged to Mexico. A great 

 many Indians lived here, a few Mexicans, and a few white 

 people who came to trap animals. 



The people in the East did not know much about Cali- 

 fornia. They thought it was a desert. General J. C. Fre- 

 mont came over the mountains to California to find a path. 

 When he got here he asked the Mexican governor for per- 



