The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1889-11-07
WoRfHlNofoH. MINN. NOVEMBER 7, 1888,
OUR SCHOOLS.

: }, OUR SCHOOLS.
Last week we gave full description
OF the New School Building, illustra.
ted with cut engraved expressly for
the ADVANCE by the Ramsden En-.
craving Company Of Minneapolis. We
were unable to supply the demand for
extra copies of the iasue of last week.
although large number were printed,
and hence we reprint this description
to accompany this article, which is
written to set befere those having chill
Dire" to educate the advantages the sd-
vauced schools of Worthington offer
to them. There Is no need that any
young men and women of this county,
or this part Of our State. should 20 to
distant places for complete course Of
academic instruction, zss--.+-...,z.. ..,
WenOw prapOse to set forth the ed
ucati0nal work our schools are pre-
pared to do. The building is ono in
which tho comfort and health Of thu
pupils Is carefully provided for. The
warming aud ventilating arrange
ments are rs perfect rs human kpowl
edge and invention can make them.
The town is rs healthy as any town in
the world, and the cost Of living is NOT
extravXgant. The Board of Educat,on
hss placed the Schools under the care
of Superintendent W. W. Hobbs. who
has no superior for his age in that line
of work in Minnesota. Trained in tho
best schools, versed in the litpratnr..
OF his profession, familiar with tn,
modern and approved methods of edu
cation, with considerable experience as
teacher, and having in his past strvict'
here commended himself To tho conf
dence Ut our people, the patrons of the
schools may rely on good work bring
done under his supervision. All the
teachers have been carefully stl. ed
and are OF the highest reputation in
their respective departments. Tie
schools are now efficiently organized,
AS the following statement will show.
The general plan of gradation con-
sists ct four years. High School
course, preceded by a primary course
Of four years, an intermediates course
Ut two years, and grammar course
Of two years,
The first half year's work in school
10 Ut the nature Of the >'kinterQnrten, -
The little ones engage in certain ex-
erc'ses Irading to the beginning Of
regular school work. The work is with
"msteri"ls, rather than printed books
and the Chief aims are to lead the pu
pills to cultivate their perceptive fac
ulties, and to the formation of habits
necessary to proper school life.
The usual common branches are
taught through all grades to the High
School, but not in the old parrot FASH
ion of imitation, that is, instead Of ar
b'trary lessons given from a book, too
often beyond the comprehension If the
pupils, each days lesson is II ctded
by what is known as u dtvelop-
ment exercise. 1t is intended that
this exercise shall consist of a series
of logical questions which shall serve
merely As :. guide to the pupil in rras-
oning out for himself the new princi
pies involved.
Instead, :.s Was done years ago, of
having y little work in "Headn' and
"Rithmetic" and allowing u little or
nothing to he done in Grammar. Geo.
graphy, Physiology, Drawing and
Music; these latter are taken up in all
grades under appropriate names and
in manner suited to the age of the
pupil. As an illustration, we hear
the primary pupil talk about certain
simple facts as to "name words.' the
Grammar pupil about the modification
of nouns and the more advanced pu-
pills of the many relations of the sub
stantive and all in reality about the
same subject but in a manner suited to
their several abilities.
Rhetoric work consisting of essays,
reproduction Of stories, declamations
and the like are required of each pupil
at regular intervals in all grades.
The work in each subject is not left
for each teacher to take up as fancy or
ambition may dictate but a definite
amount, which experience has shown
IL reasonable, is placed before each
teacher clearly outlined. The indlvid-
uality of the teacher Is not destroyed
by too specific instructions but she is
required to conform her work to cer-
tain we'll known methods subject to
watchful supervision.
Our High School department under
the supervision of the High School
Board of the State gives instruction in
three courses of work as the pupil and
teachers may elect. These courses are
known as the Classical, Scientific and
Normal preparatory. The first two
prepare for the corresponding courses
In the University of Minnesota or any
equivalent institution and the last for
the professional course in one of the
State Normal schools. Each course is
0ffour years duration and follows the
subjects we'll known to most high
schools.
There can be no question but that
the young people of this vicinity have
a most favorable opportunity at pres
ent OF gaining a good business educa-
tion and of preparing for higher in
struction and it is to be devoutfy
hoped that they may be wise enough
to sec that the young man or woman
who has the opportunity but not the
the necessary energy to complete
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