Questions and Exercises

  1. Read that chapter of “Tom Sawyer” which deals with the whitewashing episode.
  2. What principles of teaching did Tom Sawyer apply?
  3. Discuss, from the pupils’ viewpoint, how the study of different subjects may be made a privilege.
  4. In accordance with Tom Sawyer pedagogy, discuss plans for the formation of the reading habit in pupils. How direct the pupils’ choice of reading matter?
  5. How would you demonstrate to pupils that mental work is more exhausting than manual labor?
  6. Why is work a blessing? How convince an indolent pupil of this truth?
  7. State the chief problem of the teacher.
  8. Show that the pedagogical doctrines of this chapter are not to be classified under the head of “soft pedagogy.”

CHAPTER X