The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-12-09
SCHOOL WORK.


Superindent Richardson up to his ears in
work of various kinds. Spread out on a
table in his office were an hundred little
packets of written spelling, which he had
| been examiDg for the purpose of discover
/ ing where his good writer's are, his most
careful and painstaking teachers, and
withal, his correct spoilers. A glance at
these specimens revealed the fact that
some of the most neatly prepared work
came from the lower grades. A part of
the work was really very commendable,
while with some there is room for i'm
provement. 1t is not vain TO prophesy that
the next set of papers will be an improve
ment on the first.
The superintendent had been blocking
out some work in civics and composition
combined. Picking up some of his notes
he read an outline Of an exercise he in
tends to give to the eighth grade
pupils in IA few days. It is to be
a conversation between two boys, one of
whom seeks information concerning the
mail service of this country from earliest
times The former asks in the midst of
the conversation such questions as the
following:
BY what method was mail distributed
in early days in the country about Boston?
How was mail delivered among the
plantations of tie south in colonial days?
Did England ever establish postal SER
vice in the colonies?
Did England appoint postmaster gen
eral from the English or from the colo
nisls2
How did Benjamin Franklin become en-
gagged in the service?
Why did England not retain Franklin's
services if be was so successful?
Who was the first postmaster general
under the United States government!
How has postage varied in the history of
the service?
Thus, by a conversation carried on be-
tween the two boys, all the important
facts relating to the subject will be
brought out.
The superintendent then had some prac-
teal language exercises which he has been
preparing for some of the lower grades.
Among these the following variety was
noticed:
Ned drove his horse in the staeet; and
Ned drove his horse into the street. When
should use in, and when into?
George fell in the well; and George fell
into the we'll.
The teacher asks "Did Ned break the
pencil?" The pupils answer: yes, Ned
broke the pencil; he has broken the pen
Gil"
Did Belle take the candy?
Yes, Belle took the candy; she has taken
the candy.
For still younger children he had the
following:
Some apples are ripe, and some are -
Some sticks are straight, and some are
Some men are neat, 9th ers are
Some boys are rough, others are --
Some boards are rough, others are -
The crayon breaks easily; it is -
The sponge--water; IL is
cannot make cork --; it is --
can See "A tree through the window;
glass is -
cannot see the tree through the cur
tain, though the lighe comes through; the
curtain is -
l hitched my pony between the trees.
How many Urees3
hitched my pony among the trees.
How many trees?
George is the taller or est of the two
boys2 OF the three boys?
The superintendent next said that he is
preparing some examples in simple inter
cot. which he intends 10 give to the pupils
to be solved by three different methods:
Cancellation" the "6).day" method. and
che old rule, multiply the principal by
the number of days, aud divide by GOO"
The work is TO be done BY each method
aut the answers 10 agree exactly. He in
tends THAI no pupil III the schools shall fail
in any example in interest He means
them TO be absolutely perfect IN simple
things, and he iR.ends the pupils TO work
by processes such as they Will use after
leaving school
Much more might be writtea about these
practical exercises which are golRS GA Ia
our schools. We prophesy some good
practical fruit Evidently DR., Richardson,
ae superintendent OF schools. is one OF the
Ousy men % our city.