Omaha daily bee., 1899-08-23
UTILIZING VACATION TINE
Moral and Educational Value of Vacation
Schools Shown by Experience,
TENDENCY OF TEACHING DIFFERENTIATION
Educational Progress of Indian chill
drcn In Montnna-Hclcn kellcr's
Examination Educn-
tionnl Notes.

ttOuHi No'es'
The great value OF vacation schools, from
a moral and educational standpoint, is
strikinglv demonstrated by the experience
of the vacation period now drawing to a
close. The number of vacation schools now
in operation this year was treble the num-
Der of last year, and the results far eX-
ceeded the high expectations of their pro-
moters.
at only requires a brief investigation in
to the methods pursued In conducting these
schools says the Philadelphia Ledger, ITO
become convinced of their value. Every
thing about the system appeals to the fancy
Of children. whether they be only old
enough for the kindergarten or of an age
to handle a saw or bake bread. 1t is a
proof OF their usefulness as we'll as attract
! iveness that youth considered as %incorri-
! gibles in the regular public schools are
among the most eager to gain admittance,
and when taken in are among the most
tractable and Industrious.
"a feature of the vacation school sys-
tenn is that books have little or no part
therein. The training Is almost alto
! gether by object lessons, nature study and
manual training. The class room is also
frequently deserted, and the children taken
to the fields and woods, where instructions
are given in natures works. Perhaps the
most valuable labor performed is in the
line OF manual training, drawing, the car
~penter's bench, cooking and sewing. Under
careful supervision the girls soon become
capable to do plain cooking and sewing, the
boys in handling tools Of woodcraft, and
both show a decided improvement with the
pencil. The valuation OF all this is be-
yond estimation. The manual training
system of the schools gives the boys or
girls an opportunity Of finding out, while
still in tender years, the true bent OF
their inclinations. The vacation schools, by
the incorporation of manual training,
prepare them for the time when 1t becomes
necessary to enter a more extended course
at the large trade or training schools.
1.-THE success achieved the first year by
the three schools opened ia Philadelphia
surpassed the expectations of even their
most sanguine supporters, and the results
this year in those which were closed yes
terday for the term, demonstrate in the
most decisive manner that they are worthy
Of being continued under the management
of the board of education. Another year,
instead Of three, there should be a dozen or
more of these schools in the thickly built
portions of the city,"
Public Schoo Teachers.
The work demanded OF public school
teachers, like that Of persons in many other
departments" says the Boston Transcript,
'is tending more and more to specialization
To satisfy the needs Of the times high
schools in many places have introduced
so-called commercial courses, to take the
place OF the general and classical courses
and to fit boys and girls for a business life
These courses require, in some cases, the
employment of special teachers. and this
speciality has its recognized standing in the
school teacher market. The commercial
course in the public school is regarded by
educators as better for the pupils than com
mercial college courses, because 1t is ex-
tended over two or three years, thus giving
the pupils longer time for their education
! and not trying to finish a scholar and polish
him off in six months or a year. In a SIM
liar way the growth Of manual training In
the public schools has led to a demand FOL
teachers specially qualified in this specially
Some little demand is also felt for competen
instructors in cooking and sewing, as thes'
branches are finding their way into the
public schools.
"Modern-taught teachers have an advan-
tage over the older ones on account OF the
change in educational ideas which Is going
on all the time. The special development OF
the modern high school is regarded rs more
in the line of history and English studies
than in any other. and these studies are
becoming more and more allied to eacf
other. History is best studied in connec'
ton with the works of the men who were
identified with their times and reflected The
interest Of the people, while literature IL
made more interesting and intelligibie b;
a knowledge of the events OF the times il
,ltal - sum- ,prittar What 10 nal1aI thI
laboratory method is pursued far more thar
formerly in these studies. and the teacher
who is proficient in this has an advantage
over her competitor who knoths nothing
about. There have been carried on recently
from the nature study of the lower grade
into the upper grades, Investigations which
in the latter grades are classified as biologi
cal and are regarded as of great benefit t
the pupils. This line of modern science ha
gained at the expense of the old ~classica
studies. 1t is said that the Connection
state superintendent of schools has givel
an address several times in his state rec
ommending that classical studies b
abolished altogether. But, as far a
known, no other such Official sympa
thizes with him. Classics promise to hol'
a permanent place in the schools, but mod
ern ideas are %crowding upon them. In al
the changes and with the %stricter terms re
CURED of public school teachers, 1t Is hell
that the quality Of education is improving
while the public has a place for ever,
teacher who is fit to give instruction I
children"
Educating Indian Children.
3 Some interesting facts regarding the edu
> c~ational progress of Indian children in Mon
|, tana are supplied by reports OF India
agents in that state, supplemented wit
/ statistics of Catholic mission schools, com
, piled by Bishop Brondel. The various re
/. ports do not give exact figures, but approx
1 innate estimates. These show about 800
, juveniles of school age on the combine
Indian reservations of the state. OF thi
, number perhaps nearly one thousand ar
' in the Catholic mission schools; about 81
) hundred are in the government schools a
: the agencies and at Protestant missions
while nearly 1,400 are reported by the agent
' to be, in most cases, without any schoo
! facilities whatever. Many OF these school
: have been maintained by the government
by contract with the Jesuit fathers, an
the school buildings. which In some In
stances surpass in equipment and accommo
dation many of the frst-class schools TO
y 800 A.AANA - m