The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1899-07-14
THE OLD MEMBERS.
Continued from page one.)


supt. Austin's Report.-Music.
In the superintendent report for last
year it was urged that music be put in
charge OF special teacher, as the regular
teachers had reached the limit OF their
ability to. handle the work. This sug-
gestion was carried out. Music is syste-
matically taught in all grades with far
better results, for the first year than was
expected. The supervisor OF music took
entire charge of music for six months.
giving lesson in each room twice a
week. During the spring term tie regu-
lar teacher OF each grade supplemented
by drills the work OF the supervisor.
There was a chorus OF one hundred and
fifty voices in the high school. The work
in this department was satisfactory.
Drawing.
At the beginning OF the last year exer-
cises in form study and drawing were
introduced into the primary grades in
connection with Speer's arithmetic. The
drawing and division of lines free hand
and by rule, the rule test OF surfaces,
places, and edges are SO interviewer with
number work as to form an essential
part of it. In geography the construc-
tive ability has been trained to some
extent in developing the idea OF map.
Drawing, like language, is a medium
of expression. Before the child enters
school he has used drawing as means
of conveying his thoughts and feelings to
others and his interest in 1t is determined
wholly by the use to which he is thus
able to put it. Considered from this
point OF view alone, drawing should at
the beginning and throughout be taught
in connection with and as instrumental
to the expression OF thoughts which orr
ginate with the child, or are gained in
study. The cost OF introducing drawing
need not exceed on the average twenty
cents per year for each pupil. l recon-
mend it's intrpduction in the primary
grades next year.
Arithmetic.
Rapid changes in the method OF teach
ing this subject have been made in the
last three years. That our schools
might be fully abreast of the times some
changes were made. In making these
changes two things were kept in mind,
one the proper arrangement OF the sub
iect matter from the standpoint OF the
learner; and the other, the careful con-
sideration OF the arrangements best suit
ed to the development and training OF
the large number of pupils who are
obliged to drop out OF school at an
early age. 1t is best in our common
schools, to give at the earliest possible
moment working familiarity with the
fundamental process, the ability to use
simple fractions, and an acquaintance
with the solution of problems involving
the common UNCONVENTIONAL units. AS
early as the fifth or sixth year pupils
should have elementary instruction in
measurements, percentage and interest.
In pursuance OF these ideas, work was
introduced in the primary grades which
would develop in sensible and logical
way the childs mind. Great Importance
is attached to that order of work which
puts things before the pupil and leaves
him free to see and to tell all he can
before interfering with his action by
questioning him or direction. In the
upper grades the subjects are taken up
in such way that should the pupil
leave school at the age OF IA he has a