The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-05-10
sTEREOPTIcoN IN SCHOOLS.
IL II Now Used Here to illustrate Facts
I'm All Studies.

There IS a great deal Of work going on
in the public schools Of which thousands who
are taxpayers, and other thousands who
have no children in the schools. are not
aware. One of the most recent Innovations,
In use only this year, ds the stereopticon-
With the stereopucon and the accompanying
description given verbally, one may under
stand country or a people better than by
any O Ger way except q personal visit.
The Introduction Of the stereopticon was
made by Prof. Goss and Miss Georgia Alex
ander. who influenced the school board to
expend 1850 for the equipment. The stere-
opticon was purchased with several sets Of
slides. and the use of 1t in connection with
the studies in which the children We're en-
gagged was begun tn December.
The operation Of the stereopticon was CIV
en- into the hands Of Hugh Bryan. assistant
professor of chemistry in the High School.
ct was used in connection with geography
and history. In the study of England there
were all the great cathedrals shown before
the assembled schools. Then there was COM
mercial England. Liverpool and London. AT
another time the National Museum of Eng
land was made special subject for con-
versation or explanation with accom- anying
pictures.
TIE illustrated lessons were given every
Friday afternoon, at the last school hour. in
the High School Hall. There the pupils who
have been studying the subject In different
rooms gather. and a season that Is both
Instructive and pleasant is passed One Of
the very delightful hours was given to Scot
aand after the class had been reading Burns.
All the places made famous by his writings
we're shown. and with the intimate knowI-
edge of the lines and seeing the pictures
there was an indellible impression made on
the pupils minds.
At another time the pupils were introduced
to the different architectures of England,
and they became thoroughly familiar with
the csthedrals and the great buildings OF
the country. At another time there was a
celebration of washington's birthday, and a
great many pictures Of the father OF his
country were shown.
The school board bought about 125 slides
from an Eastern firm, but most Of the slides
have been made by Mr.. w. H. Bass. OF the
city schol. The cost Of giving the entertain
ment is between $3.50 and 50, which pays for
the stereopticon, gases and operator. The
schools own an oil magic lantern which has
been used in several Of the buildings The
stereopticon has been In requistion at the
High School, School No. s, on College ave-
nue.. and on the South side.
| The use of the stereoptcon has become
quite general in Boston, and a story is told
| of teacher there who was giving a very
| interesting talk on George Washington's
| birthday. The pictures were being shown,
| and the teacher talked without glancing at
| the screen on which the pictures were
| thrown. He had perfect faith In the opera
| tor of the machine. but 1t was misplaced
| for in some way or other the slides became
| mixed, and when the teacher was In his
most fowery flight he said the next picture
! would be Of the father OF his country, and
| in bold relief on the white canvas was a
| grasshopper on an old manse. Such mis-
| takes have not yet occurred here.
| After the class at the High School had
| finished Whittier's Snow Bound'' the stere-
| opticon was brought out for the final les
| son, and thus Il was used in the study OF
! literature. Again, 1t has been used for his
tory and the Greek and Roman slides
showed reproductions OF the Forum and 9TH
| er famous places.
| One day not long ago. April g. when
| Shakspeare's birthday was celebrated, Mrs.
Hufford's class had an entertainment, and
| several dozen pictures Of Shakspeares
| uaunlS IN WaTNichsniTe were snOWn- All
| of the slides for this were made by Mr.. Bass
| from pictures in possession OF Mrs. Hufford,
! and they were presented with wonderful
clearness and accuracy. Miss Alexander en-
| joyed using the stereopticon when she was
| principal OF high school. and she also gave
| lecture. with the accompanying pictures,
| one evening at the Central-avenue Church
| on the subject Of Michael Angelo. Miss Sell
lick, Instructor Of drawing. brought 1t into
| use with her CLASSES when she talked one
| evening THE Old Dutch Painters" Miss
| Collins. OF No. s. has used IL 10 illustrate
| the study of the British National Museum,
and Mrs. Heath has used 1t to show some
of the famous points in and around Boston.
| the bridge, the statue OF the minute men
| and other places.
The next use of the instrument will prob
| ably be for microscopic botany and zoology
| In the scieilce work or the schools. What
| ever the pupils have with the pictures they
| remember much better than before. which
has proved the wisdom of adding the stere-
opticon to the possessions of the public
schools.
Boys and Cigarettes.