The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-04-21
4 TEST IN SPELLING
DATA TO DE PREPARED BY PUPILS
AND TEACHERS FOR DIR. RICE.
He VIII Use Them ms n Bnsis for a
Magazine Article ON Scientific
Methods of Language study.

methods Tor their theme, is preparing d
paper on spelling, and in order to secure
data for the work is calling upon the teach
ers for aid. The following explanatory cir
cuIar has been distributed among the teach
ers of schools between and including the
fourth and eighth grades in this city:
THE purpose in undertaking these tests
in spelling is TO study the comparative
teaching the subject. 1t is to be hoped
that Investigations of this nature will open
the way toward general study of me thods
from the standpoint of results and, finally,
toward placing methods on sound and
truly scientific basis.
AS the elements involved in the devel-
opment of the Individual are numerous
tests of this nature may be regarded as
valuable only when many factors, such
surroundings, ETC., duly considered 1t
is for the purpose of throwing as much
accompanying set of questions have been
prepared. The same words are to be en-
ployed in the fourth. fifth, sixth, seventh
and eighth-year classes. No tests are to be
made with first, second thfrd-year pu-
pills. OF course, the labor involved in this
method of research will be so great as to
render it practicable only when performed
the cooperative principle. This may
be readily accomplished If each teacher
will mark her own papers, and examine
them in such manner as to enable her
to fill out number, If not all, of the
blanks to be found in circular No. under
"B." To study set of papers from all
the standpoints there suggested will in
yolve not more than five or six hours, labor.
The answers should be written in the
blank spaces provided for the purpose
Then follow these Instructions:
I'm order to insure facility in reference
the teacher will kindly direct the pupils
TO prepare their papers in accordance with
the form presented in this page. All the
test words should be written on one side,
and the answers to the questions concern
ing age nationality, etc, on the other side
of the same half sheet. The papers should
be turned so as to bring the first column
of xrnrdc or6 ha aHo n a 6aC
If possible long paper should be used. in
order that the test words may be written
in two columns The papers should tSars be
fifty words two marks should be deducted
for each word misspelt- Words marked
with a star should be defined, or given in
phrases, in order that they may be dis
eliminated from other words having SIM
liar SOUNDS.
Then the child is requested to write name
of city and date, name of school, his own
name and the number of his school year
as a preface to this list of fifty words put
to the school by the teacher:
Furniture chandelier curtain, bureau,
bedstead, ceiling, cellar, entrance, building,
tailor. doctor, physician, Chicago. MISSES
sippi, Missouri, musician, beggar, Allie
ghenies, independent, plumber, February,
engine, conductor, brakeman. baggage ma
e ennfectionerv. different, addition, division,
superintendent, arithmetic, pigeon, autumn,
breakfast. chocolate, cabbage, dough, bis
strait decimal, lead, steel.
Having finished his spelling the pupil is
required to answer these questions: |. How
old will you be on your next birthday, and
when will it be? 2. Where were you born;
give city and State-foreigners should give
only the name of the country. 4. In which
country was your father born? Your moth
er? 5. What languages are used in CONVEX
sation at home? 6. What is the occupation
VOC hoy
you lived in the city? s. How many years
have you been going to school? g. How
many years have you been coming to this
building? TO- Which other schools in this
city have you attended? II. Where did you
go to school before coming to this city? II.
When did you enter this grade; give year
The teacher is then requested to write
''near the upper right hand corner of each
standing. as well as a number showing her
estimate of the child's intellectual strength,
the numbers to range from, one to four.
thus: Excellent, /; good, 2; fair, 3; poor, a.
For intellectual strength as follows; Very
bright, /; fairly bright, 2; average, 3; dull,
4. The purpose is to learn what relation
the class standing and intellect of the pupil
bear to his ability to spell
The teachers task does not end here,
however. She is required to give the follow
ing information, marked exhibit "a" Name
of city, number of school year, number of
pupils enrolled, number of papers in the
set number of pupils who have attended
this building from the start. And she is
asked to answer these questions: 1. How
many minutes do you devote to spelling, in
Guiding both preparation and recitation? 2
preparation? (b), to the recitation? g. How
many minutes are devoted (a) to oral spell
many words do you assign for each recita-
ton in spelling? s. Do you use spelling
ing book; or do you select words from the
reader geography, etc. Please give par
,culass2 Did your pupils learn to read read BY
you devote to penmanship as such, j. e..
aside from composition or dictation work?
g. Do you use a copybook? g. DO you use
any special method in penmanship? If so.
which?
But the teachers labor does not end here
Under exhibit 3D. she is required TO give
the following data:
ing. g. Average obtained by pupils marked
h. ne niass standns in ipteec ~erse
obtained by pupils marked In class stand-
Ing Retained sy Rupl by prss
tane ed0 BY II pupils qiss marked in Intellect 8
Class As standing h' 10. Average obtained by
pupils marked IN intellect. IL NUMBER OF
pupils who have always ATTENDED ths 5 N,ll,
Der Of pupils of foreign parentage. "a: Aver
age obtained by them 10. Number or pupils
that hear foreign language at home 16.
Average obtained by then II. Average per
cent. in spelling. according TO age OF pupils
IS. Occupation Of father: ta). How many
professionals? Average obtained by child
rem of professionals? (b). How many nier-
chants? Average obtained children OF
merchants? (c). How many clerks? Average
obtained by, children Of e.erks2 .g, + How 5',
children of skilled laborersg (e), How many
unskilled laborers? Average obtained by
Children of unskilled laborers? 10. Do you
find any relation between power ~. 20 draw ar',
high per cents. should be obtained by
some of your dull pupils, or very low per
cents. by some OF your bright pupils: pleas Sc
state reasons, If you can. Note particularly
hearing or Instrumentation q. How many
times was each word misspelt .
These circulars were distributed IN the
public schools on Friday. Indianapolis. 1t IS
said being one of twenty-five cities IN the
United States selected for the test
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ar not the ma