The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-10-24
international Correspondence of
Scholars Works Well.
Large Number of Kansas Schools
Take 1t Up.
OAKLAND THE FIRST.
John Macdonald Now BeSieged
For Foreign Addresses.
He Talks of the Benefit of the
Exchange of Letters.

The system of international corre-
spondence between school children of
this country with those of foreign coun-
tries is beginning to prove popular one
and the idea has taken deep root upon
the minds of the educators of the state.
Since the announcement through the
State Journal exclusively, recently, of
the success of the experiment tried by
the scholars of Oakland school of To-
peka in correspondence with the
scholars of Sunnyside school of AIloa,
Scotland. at the suggestion of John
Macdonald of the Western School Jour-
nal, a number of schools of the state
have decided upon adopting the same
method.
Within the past few weeks John Mac
Donald has been besieged with requests
from teachers and principals of schools
all over the state, from Leavenworth,
Ottawa, Hutchinson, Newton, Wichita,
AtchiSOn, Salina, Lawrence, Hiawatha
and other points for suggestions and
addresses of other schools in foreign
countries that could be gotten into cor
respondence in the same manner as was
the school at Alloa.
All of these requests have been met
in an encouraging manner and the in
quirers advised of schools that could
well be communicated with.
About thirty letters were sent to the
Scottish school from Oakland Consid-
cradle time elapsed before replies were
received, but when they did come they
were more than enough to repay the
scholars for their time and trouble in
writing the letters.
The letters received firm the scholars
at Alloa were intellectual in their char
acter, and much historical data were
gained from some of them The sur
rounding country at Alloa, Scotland, is
well known in history as is nearly all
the localities in Europe. The manner
in which the letters were written was
enough to excite interest in the places
and things told of that could be salts
fed in no other way.
THE plan of international correSpon-
dence," said Mr. Macdonald to state
Journal reporter today, lis not exactly
new one although it has not been
known or used in Kansas until recently.
'1t has been tried to advantage in
other and older schools. 1t is one of the
best methods to interest the student in
school work and I believe will one day
be a regular part of all school work. l
will be glad to see it so.
1.-THE correspondence need not be linn
tied to a single foreign school by the
scholars of any school of the state If
it is found that the scholars have the
time and it is convenient there is no
reason why they should not correspond
with scholars in number of different
foreign countries.
"One point and one which is a strong
one in favor of international cOrreSpOn-
dence is the fact that it brings the com
ing generation into closer touch. If the
scholars of all schools were to be in cor
respondence, although they may never
have seen each other or perhaps never
may it is apparent that a kindlier spirit
will exist, and the children of today
who will be the people of tomorrow viii
entertain more of a spirit of comrade-
ship for each other. 1t should act as a
means of bringing nations closer to-
gether in bonds of sympathy and
hrOfherlV feeling