The Delawarean., 1900-07-14

In compliance with personal re-
quest OF the editor OF the Teacher S
Column, for a story of the work done
in the Milford schools during the past
year, we will try to give concise
statement of the same, together with a
word about the outlook for the coming
year.
by an act of the last State LegiS-
lature the schools of North and South
Milford that had formerly been under
two systems were consolidated, and in
September last, opened under their new
relations with one principal and ten
assistant teachers. A new curriculum
of study was adopted for the High
School which comprised three classes
this year. The work in the High
school was done by the principal and
one regular assistant with the aid of
the teachers of the eighth and seventh
grades. The departmental method
was employed as far as possible with
the teaching force at hand. Below the
High School to the fourth grade, each
grade had teacher, and was divided
into two sections TO enable the teacher
to give special time and attention to
such pupils as seemed to require more
help than that in the advanced section.
Pupils were transferred from one sec
tion to another as they did better or
poorer work.
The pupils of the High School early
in the year organized literary society
that proved to be most interesting and
helpful to all its members. The meet
ings were held regularly every alter
nate week and consisted of a varied
literary program, generally we'll pre-
pared and splendidly rendered
Our teachers meetings held once a
week, were attended with interest and
profit to all its members. We were
Joined in our study of pedagogical sub
jects and critical study of Macbeth
and Hamlet by a goodly number of
earnest, thoughtful students of Shakes
peare outside of our force Of teachers
whose contributions to our study were
most interesting and helpful.
The general interest of the people of
Milford in the public schools became
so apparent that it was decided to
inaugurate course of entertainments
in the interest of High School library.
BY the earnest efforts of school COM
missioners, teachers and friends, and
the generous effort of the public our
course was attended with a good degree
of success, putting into the library
fund $135.95, for which sum we bought
240 books, consisting of books of re-
ference and standard literature. We
were able again with the proceeds from
Ia public entertainment of the Alpha
Phi Society to buy sixty additional
books, so that we have, at the close of
one year, collection of 800 choice
books which are being read this sum-
mer by some of the pupils who will
thus form excellent literary tastes and
studious habits, and this little library
will be ready for greatly improved
work in our High School grades in
September when school opens.
But by far the best sign of the deeply
increasing interest in education in
Milford was shown recently in a most
substantial way, when the Board of
School Commissioners unanimously
voted to increase the salary of every
teacher in the school. The surest sign,
we take it, of appreciation. on the part
of the Board of the earnest work of
our teachers whose labor is worth more
than they will ever receive from school
authorities. But the splendid provision
of the Board for our high school is
especially worthy our notice. For the
four classes chat will make up this de-
partment next year the principal and
two assistants have been employed
With this teaching force, a purely de-
partmental system will be employed
the work for which special preparation
has been made. 1t is our purpose to
emphasize the English department,
without neglecting anything, until we
will be able to do ideal work in this
most essential line. The teacher who
has been employed for this department
of work at a salary of $50 per month is
graduate of Vassar College and brings
excellent testimonials of eminent fit
ness for work along the line of history,
literature, and the English language.
Miss Houseal will have charge of the
work in mathematics and elementary
sciences, while the languages will be
taught by the principal. 1t is the pur-
pose of the school authorities to give
thorough and excellent training to
the young people of Milford which will
fit them for life's work or for entrance
into first class college without further
preparatory study.
The people of Milford seem to be
wide awake to the highest interests