Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-10-06
Iowa's Baby Wonder.

Baby Viola Rosalia Olerich is the
youngest reader that ever lived. When
she was - months old a book was
placed in her hand and her education
began. Now under four years she reads
perfectly every word in a series of
school readers from the first to the
sixth. She also reads Buckles His
tory of Civilization in England,
Diapers intellectual Development OF
Europe" Herbert Spencer's Synthetic
Philosophy" etc. The child was
adopted in 1897 by Professor and Mrs.
Henry Olerich of Lake City, Iowa
where the former was superintendent
of the public schools. In July of last
year Professor Olerich and his family
moved to Council Bluffs, where they
now reside. Little Viola is an example
of wonderful development to be
wrought, so Professor Olerich claims
through a common sense, practical
plan of education. Interest, kindness
and freedom enter into the basis of the
method which has helped Viola to help
herself mentally, physically and moral
ly.
The chief object for adopting the
book he has written telling of the &C
complshments of Viola and stating the
ages at which she acquired them. was
to test in a practical way new theory
of education. The writer of the bioS-
raphy claims that the system pursued
is superior to any education system yet
formulated. Concerning the selection
of the child for the test it is stated
that the only desire was to get an
average one with sound physique II
possible. A daily record was kept OF
the child, and every week she was
weighed. measured and photographed
AT first not particularly amiable in dis
position. Viola came out under the
daily method applied to her really
jovial and cheerful. The diet of the
child has consisted principally of warm
milk and crackers. Between meals she
has been permitted to go to little
lunch counter made especially for her
On this counter a supply of bread ano
crackers is always ready. Viola eats
as much as she wishes, then goes away
again No fruit except bananas is evel
given her.
Viola has never been rocked, carried
or put to sleep. She has never heard
harsh word and has received the
same courteous treatment always thai
would be given by her foster parent:
to an adult.
| All the knowledge she has has come
to her in the form of play. The attrac
tive educational apparatus by which
she has been surrounded, have been in
vented and made by Professor Olerich
| 81, fnp
self what she should learn, her parents
| simply creating an interest for activlt.
in whatever direction they wished t
develop her.
Her first book was given her whel
she was Is months old. Her attention
was directed to objects in the picture
and facts We're told her about them IL
a few days Viola would bring the bool
to her instructors and ask them to tel
her more. Two months later FRS
Reader was put into her hands. Sh
could give one sound of every lette
when she was II months old, and thel
she could speak short sentences. Thes
We're written on blackboard. TIL
word method also was employed in tn
training.
At present the private library o
Viola holds readers, spoilers, arithme
tics. physiologies, botanies, zoologies
an astronomy, speakers, histories, etc
She reads English. German an
French, learning the last two langu
ages by the word method almost ex
clusively. At the age of 20 months thl
marvel could read all the digits an
| recognized readily nine coiorS. IN
knowledge of digits was acquired b
printing large figures on pretty block
hung on the wall. Each block ha
also a number of bright tacks in it cor