Chapter XVI.
The Method of Teaching in Practice.
It was said before that the intellectual scope of the Jesuit system is the general training of the mind; the means for obtaining this end are the various exercises. In this chapter we shall treat the exercises of the literary course, and this for several reasons. First, because the study of languages and literature should form the backbone of, at least, the secondary schools and of part of the college course. Secondly, because the Ratio Studiorum treats the exercises in languages and literature very minutely, whereas it makes only a few suggestions concerning the exercises in mathematics and natural sciences. Thirdly, because it is especially in the literary studies that there exists a danger to neglect the exercises, as is, in fact, the case in some modern systems. No one will doubt for a moment that for the successful teaching of mathematics continual exercises are absolutely necessary. In natural sciences, particularly in physics and chemistry, the equivalent of the exercises are the experiments and especially the laboratory work.[1] On teaching physics and chemistry the Ratio has one very important remark, viz., the professor should not treat
- ↑ On this subject see the able article: "The Teaching of Science", by Father De Laak, S. J., Professor of Physics in the St. Louis University, in the "Report of the Commissioner of Education", 1901, vol. I, pp. 904—916.
(456)
