[The Infant System by Samuel Wilderspin]@TWC D-Link book
The Infant System

CHAPTER VIII
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But care must be taken that in the beginning too much be not attempted.

The first week may be spent in getting them in order, without thinking of anything else; and I should advise that not more than sixty children be then admitted, that they may be reduced to order, in some measure, before any more are received, as all that come after will quickly imitate them.

I should, moreover, advise visitors not to come for some time after a school is opened, for several reasons; first, because the children must be allowed time to learn, and there will be nothing worth seeing; secondly, they take off the children's attention, and interfere with the master: and, lastly, they may go away dissatisfied, and thereby injure the cause which they intend to promote.
In teaching infants to sing, I have found it the best way to sing the psalm or hymn several times in the hearing of the children, without their attempting to do so until they have some idea of the tune; because, if all the children are allowed to attempt, and none of them know it, it prevents those who really wish to learn from catching the sounds.

Nothing, however, can be more ridiculous or absurd than the attempts at singing I have heard in some schools.

And here, I would caution teachers against too much singing; and also against introducing it at improper times.


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