Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1891-11-06
coUNTY'S SPELLING AND ARlrH.
METlC CONTEST.
Outline Of Work-CeneraI itules
ReoIIIafinp Etc

Will he taken from the first e pages
OF Reeds Word Lessons
The work will consist in spelling
the words diacritioally marking the
vowels, and defining each word by wrl-
ting it in an appropriate sentence.
In preparatory study and recitation.
when oral. the speller may utter the
vowel sounds either before or after
spelling the word. and may also define
by a spoken sentence.
OF homonyms, only one will be pro-
nounced-the pupil being expected to
write and define all having the same
sound without hearing definition of
any.
The contest is open to all pupils of the COM
mon schools except those who have entered
premium contests in the first grades but such
with all others, are eligible to enter the arith.
metic contest, =. ed the same day, at the
same place
Four delegates from each township will be al
lowed in both spelling and arithmetic.
The contest i'll arithmetic will be simple opera
lions of addition, subtraction, multiplication
and division.
1t will be chiefly mental work, in
Dictated on the blackboard, by appro-
pirate forms and ligur es-results being
arrived at mentally and chalked ON
the board
The audience will find this part OF
the work very interesting and eXcit-
ing. Let for instance the names of
two be chosen by lot from the whole
list of delegates. Let them stand
with back to the blackboard while the
works being prepared, and at the
word turn AID solve as rapidly as pos
slble.
Preliminary work may be done in
similar manner, or from the forms in
the books.
The work will be taken from Piper's
seat work in Arithmetic, No 9. and to
page rs IN No ;. (Price six cents each)
The work is OF an easy nature, re-
curing only memory and the quick
ness acquired by practice, hence Civ
ing the younger pupils III equal chance
with the older ones.
The work in both branches is design
ed to be preparatory to more difficult
work another year.
Correctness and neatness, as we'll rs
rapidity, should be insisted on by teach
ers in all preliminary work, rs well as
In final contest A correct result ar
rived at slowly is better than a correct
one, secured even IN less time, by re-
peted trials.
The contest will occur as usual, some
time late in the winter.
Ii teachers will allow their pupils
to "choose sides" from time to time
and two by two, contest on the work
mentioned, adding spelling from time
to time also if desirable, good prepare
ton may be made for the township
and county contests without lnterfer-
ing with the regular work of the school
but really adding to its interest.
Might not such contests between
pupils Of a school, or different schools
be- made an evening entertainment to
which anickel admission fee may be
charged,to be used in purchasing IL
brary for the school, to be under the
charge and management of pupils?
Less than SIS will buy the nucleus of
a good school library. (See first cover
of tbs Educator, which the Superinten-
dent expects each teacher to have)
Such Il library would be Of much ben.
eft to the children, and great aid to
the teachers by awakening the minds
of the pupils.
1t is earnestly desired that PARENTS
and teachers consider this matter care.
fully, noting how easily the foundation
OF a library may thus ne laid, and the
great advantages that would flow
from it.
When the superintendent visits the
schools he will he ready to aid both
oStsShSio oAA C1iAAutCl ny luEUltT BUG.
gestions on this work it desired, and
also on work concerning the contests.
it teachers are provided with books.
1t saonld not be- forgotten that the
aim Of the contest is to quicken the
pupils in spelling and mental arithme-
tic, and to some degree from bond Of
union between the schools and teach
ers of the county, tightening the work
OF teachers, and deepening the inter-
est of pupils at the same time.
Committees having charge of the
preparatory work during that season
are teachers of each township. Crwo
or more townships may unite it desir-
ab]e0 Those named below are appoint
ed to confer with tho other teachers
and effect sucn organization as he nee
essary. and talk up the work in gener-
AL
In due time one of their number
should be appointed to conduct the fin.
al township contest.
Alnena Marion Mor ooo