The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1898-07-15
SUPERINTENDENT SIMMONS NINTH AN
NUAL REPORT.

OwOSsO, MICH, June IL, 1898.
To the Honorable tie Board of.Education.
GENTLEMEN: | herewith submit my
9th annual report of the Owosso city
schools. In this report 1 put more
stress upon the needs of the schools
than upon the results that have been
obtained.
In pointing out things lacking or ur-
gently needed, it is not done with the
expectation that all desired changes
will be made Immediately, but the
same will show where money and effort
can be proftably expended,
MUSIC.
Systematic work in reading music
has been regular study in the schools
since March, 1896. The work has been
done by the regular teachers. The
time has now come when the services
of supervisor of music are needed,
because the regular teachers have
reached the limit of their ability to in
struct. In fact, under the plans here
tofore pursued, but little, if any further
progress can be made. The coming
year should see systematic work in
music done in the high school. Moth
ing has yet been attempted there.
ARITHMETIC AND READING IN GRADES.
While our text books are mostly up
to date, there are two points yet to be
strengthened. The grading in arithme-
tic when grades five and six are con-
sidered is not good 1t is the best that
can be done with present text books.
in grade five, the pupil deals with frac-
tons, and in grade six he goes back to
fundamental operations. This is not
logical and can be remedied only by the
use of suitable grade books. The pres
ent books are better than those former
ly used, and were obtained upon even
exchange, no additional cost being
made to the pupil. Their use has fully
demonstrated their poor arrangement
The great urgent need of the schools
is more good reading matter. This has
been partly met by using book in
each grade where formerly one book
was made to answer for two grades;
also, by supplying additional supple
mentary reading matter. While these
have greatly helped, they are not
enough.
In order to supplement our work in
geography, we have used geographical
readers in grades six and seven. They
have accomplished their purpose well,
but | would recommend in addition to
those books, the adoption of good up
to-date literary reader for use in each
grade The present books are excel
lent for information but are not suita-
BILE for the teaching of literary express
sion.
TRUANTS
The question of handling the truant
class in Owosso is one demanding care
full consideration. The manner of
handling it, in vogue for the past two
orthree years, is practically useless.
While few can be placed in or re-
turned to the regular grades, the great
majority need the system of an ungrad-
ed school to meet their wants. Seventy
five per cent of the truants when placed
in regular grades receive no good or
benefits, and are positive damage to
the regular pupils of the school.
Again, there is no use in dealing
sparingly with this question.
Trying to coerce few, because they
have enrolled themselves for two or
three weeks, and letting the many go
because they have put in no appear
ance, is not complying with the law,
and practically nullifies everything at
tempted to be done.
consider the establishment of an
ungraded school an imperative neces.
sity and the full enforcement of the law
of prime Importance.
There is large number of children
in this city between the ages of seven