Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1899-03-13
RATIONAL READING.
The System Is Reported Success in
Foster Township Schools.

Foster Township Schools.
Wards Rational Method of Reading
was introduced recently into Foster
township schools by order of the
directors, and the progress made by the
teachers and pupils was reported to the
board on Saturday evening by Superin-
tendent Gabrio. Earlier in the day the
teachers had the question before them,
at their monthly institute, and Mr..
Gabrios report was based upon the
experience related there by the several
teachers and the demonstrations given
OF its success by classes from the schools
of Misses Lulu Schmidt and Celia Gala
CHER, teachers at Upper Lehigh
The superintendent regretted that
only one OF the directors, President
Woodring, had accepted the invitation
to attend the institute and witness the
work OF the pupils. lie stated that
the pupils went through rigid exami-
nation and test at the hands of their
own and other teachers, and that the
pupils acquitted themselves most credit
ably.
As an illustration of what u pills can
do when properly drilled in the phonetic
system the superintendent told of a
series of words taken at random from a
dictionary and given to the classes to
pronounce, which was done without
perceptible effort on their part.
An incident in connection with the
drlll was the test made by another
teacher to block the work of the pupils
by giving uncommon words as catches.
Among these was the word "chivalry." !"
Miss Schmidt wrote this on the board
for her class, marking it according to
the system, also the word ''shivalry," :"
which follows the other in the dictionary.
Calling q ten n-year-old boy to the front,
she told him to pronounce the word,
which was done correctly, although it
was qnite-evident that the child was un-
familiar with it, The system, how
ever, is such that any word can be
properly pronounced after short train
ing has been given by a teacher who
thoroughly understands the method.
The superintendent stated that he
hoped the drill as given would be the
means of stirring some of the other
teacher up.
The enrolment of the schools for the
month was given as 1,035, with a per-
centage of s5.
James II. Feeley, representing the
Cartograph Company, of Philadelphia,
map publishers, was present Owing to
a resolution on the books not to pur-
chase any school apparatus this year
the board did not purchase.
A motion to pay Fred Haiges, subst-
tute teacher. si2 for attending county
institute was lost.
communication from Division 20,
A. O. H., of Eckley, asking permission
to hold ball in EckIey school house on
March II was read, but no action was
taken.
A son of Mrs. john EBERT, of Scale
Siding, was permitted to return to
school providing he would conduct him
self properly.
The committee on books was instruct
ed to procure necessary books at once.
The following bills were ordered paid.
Cross Creek Coal Company, coal S26. so;
II. G. Phillips, $3.50; Lehlgh Valley r.
r. freight, Sec; Wyoming and Pond
Creek Coal Company, coal, $50. .2s; G. b.
Markle & Co., coal, $50. "a; NJ. S. KEN
merer 81 Co., coal and supplies, S32. 90;
Henry Marks, labor, 1851; e. j. Ed
wards, supplies, $l3o; e. A. Woodrng,
labor, soc; A. Oswald, supplies, S3.72;
John w, Davis, coal and wood, S22;
John Fisher, team, 81; E. b. Shelhamer,
coal, SO, so; Mrs. Charles Krouse, clean
ing, 81; Mrs. Thomas Hughes, cleaning,
81; Mrs. Erwin Enicks, cleaning, 81; Shell
don & Co., books, $3.50; Henry Rein
smith, teaming. 75c; d. d. Dodge e Co.,
supplies, $ll.3G; Upper Lehigh Coal Com
pany, coal, 5000; Mrs. Patrick Tulley,
cleaning, SO; VIM. Williamson, supplies,
Sl0.S0; Mrs. Reuben Zane, cleaning, So:
Joseph Birkbeck, stove and pipe, $l3. go;
Mrs. Patrick Burke, cleaning, SO: Mrs.
Il StaUanS e1aa nj