Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-08-30
Mr.. HAYDEN REPORTS
ON PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Supt. II. j. Hayden, in his first
report to the board of education, says
in part, his recomme ndations having
been adopted at Tuesday evening
meeting of the board:
Your course of study is strong
one. 1t makes excellent preparation
for your city high school. At only
one or two points would venture a
suggestion, and then with proper
modesty, remembering that this IS but
the beginning of my work under this
board. And yet realize that a new
year of work in the schools is right
at hand and that a recommendation
10 be effective during this coming
year, must be made at once. l would,
therefore, submit most respectfully
for the consideration of your es-
mendations, namely, that the study
of United States history, which now
begins in the last half of the seventh
year and ends in the first half of the
eighth, be given two full years in
your course of study.
My reasons for this recommends
ton follow:
First. The schools are founded and
maintained to build up a good citizen
ship, an intelligent people.
Second. No study is so essential to
a good citizen as the one which gives
knowledge of our country and its in
situations.
Third. The time now allowed is
inadequate. The subject is a broad
one; only textbook work can be done
in this year.
Fourth. 1t is the practice in many
of our most progressive schools to
give two years to this most important
subject; two years will permit much
library and other collateral work.
Fifth. Your principals and teach
ers are not satisfied with the results
which they are able to attain in the
time as now allotted.
Sixth. The plan of a two years
course conforms to the requirements
of the Illinois public school course of
study.
The plan suggested would contem-
plate good strong work in United
States history in the seventh grade,
covering everything down to the or
ganization of the government under
the constitution. In the eighth grade |
the work would be based upon the
constitutional period of our history,
and in parallel with it would be taken
up the study of the constitution, |
which now follows the work in history |
as separate study.
This extended time would make |
possible much collateral work, g.
the recitstions on the topics studied |
could be supplemented by reports on |
literature allied TO the history work, |
etc.
I'm brief, gentlemen. it seems to
me that the study of United States |
history is an important one, too i'm
portant to be given the minor
place which it now occupies in
your program. 1t is a study
which in one form or another should
20 all through your school course.
La the form of the story in the low
est grades and of readings in biog-
raphy in the middle grades. such a
course as have outlined will make
is fitting completion in the grammar
grades.
"At present you are giving to the
study of geography four years, pre-
,eded by year or two of oral in
'truction, and to the study of history
'ne year. The necessity of readjust-
nent is obvious. The formal study
If geography should be concluded in
he sixth grade. 1t will find it's ap-
olications all through the work of the
wo succeeding years.
The above recommendation l
would respectfully submit for your
discussion and request it's considera-
ion with view to the possibility of
is being incorporated in the work of
ur schools for the coming term.