They are becoming upright, intelligent, effective citizens by
performing some of the work that engages the time and energies of such
citizens. They are learning how to live by the experience of actual
living.
=Part of an actual recitation given.=--Some schools have developed this
type of recitation to a very complete degree and in a very effective
way. In one such school the young woman who teaches the subject of
history makes the following report of a part of one of her recitations
in this study:
The class was called to order by the chairman for the assignment for the
next day's lesson, which proceeded as follows:
Teacher:--To-morrow we shall have for the work of this convention the
New Constitution as a whole. We are ready for suggestions as to how we
had best proceed.
Earl:--It seems to me that a good way would be to compare it with the
Articles of Confederation.
Joe:--I don't quite get your idea. Do you mean to take them article by
article?
Earl:--Yes.
(Joe and Frank begin at the same time. Teacher indicates Joe by nod.)
Joe:--But there are so many things in the new that are not in the old.
Earl:--That is just it. Let's make a list of the points in one that do
not appear in the other. Then by investigation and discussion see if we
can tell why.
Teacher:--Frank, you had something to say a moment ago.
Frank:--Not on Earl's plan, which I think an excellent one, but I wished
to ask the class if they think it important while looking through these
two documents to keep in mind the questions: "Is this the way things are
done to-day?" and "Does this apply in our own city?" and "In case the
President or Congress failed in their duty, what could the people do
about it?"
Ella:--It seems to me that Frank's suggestion is a good one for it bears
upon what we decided in the beginning, that we must apply the history of
the past to see how it affects us to-day.
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