Progress in the career of the student is made by the addition of new knowledge. Knowledge may be imparted by teaching stu dents new facts, varying in method from brief comment to the formal lecture. Comments and explanations are part of most recitations; the danger ,lies the fact that the teacher con sumes too much time and loses sight of the fact that one large way for a child to learn is to tell what he knows to someone else. The teacher using this method should never lose sight of the fact that children learn to write by writing — to do by doing, to acquire ability in expres sion and understanding of fact by relating their experience to someone else. New knowledge may be obtained by notetaking, from dictation, from jotting down of facts, from individual research. New knowledge is acquired by illus tration and object teaching, by dramatization in literature, by the use of apparatus in physical science, by pictures and maps in history and geographical science, by stimulation of thought in mathematics.
The question and answer method is employed largely in aiding students to formulate their knowledge, to aid them in their expression, to ripen their judgment, and to form correct con clusions. This method is being introduced with the greatest success in language teaching, where spaking practice is essential if the pupil is to ac quire anything more than a mere bowing ac with the language under study. Questions and answers are planned so that the teacher speaks very little and the pupils a great deal. The question should be correct in form, definite in meaning, framed in simple terms within the comprehension and adapted to the knowledge of the pupil, stimulating to the thought, addressed to the class and framed so as to draw forth a complete expression. The question and answer method should lead naturally into the topical method which encourages pupils in freedom of expression and gives opportunity as strength comes to discuss topics and make reports on as signed subjects calling for mastery of the subject and independence of thought. This develops skill in organization of ideas, pro vides powers of expression and furnishes prac tice in alertness, systematic thinking, and es tablishes confidence in one's self. This method
can be successfully used in the development of all topics where the new matter is to be connected to the old in the mind of the learner. It may be a half-formed conversation between teacher and class, directed by the teacher and commanding such full and free expression as will fulfil the mastery and development of the topic.
Lesson plans carefully considered and clearly formulated are of great practical value. In the daily, plan the teacher considers the sub ject matter of the. review and advance lesson and the class procedure. The daily plan finds its place in the term scheme and the term scheme is a unit of the syllabus the year. This daily planning prevents a haphazard course and provides for regular orderly progress. A well-organized plan involves a definite aim, bringing to its aid the proper method, which economizes time and effort.
Results obtained by supervised study have become so successful that a brief survey of this method should arouse the interest of school men in such a way as to lead to its wide adoption. By means of it the teacher is en abled to present the subject matter in such a clear, concise way that every pupil is afforded an adequate opportunity to understand and to master the various daily problems of the sub ject. It is an elaborate and complete assign ment of the next lesson, made so clear that the details present themselves so plainly and logically that all have a maximum opportunity to learn the lesson. It has the advantage of giving aid when aid is most needed, of econo mizing time and effort and forming correct habits of attack and application of principles. With the modern trend of social conditions in the city, crowded part time and frequent abundant attraction, some method and super vision should reach into the home to grip parent and student alike. Frequent reports of progress should go to parents; specific direc tion given in study; students held to the definite performance of certain tasks and an effort made to train in such economy of time and effort as to make school work a delight; this can be accomplished by carefully scheduled program at home and at school.