The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1902-10-02
Educational
Department
s. ,. Finley. SuPt Of the city
schools. Editor.

@~N~~% ~@%% e~~~@e $500 " ~e~~
More than 1900 pupils were
counted in our city school enrolment
at the end Of the first week. OF these
1871 were in the kindergarten, 255 in
the high school and the remaining 1900
distributed through the grades.
In the Second ward where eight
teachers had been assigned the en-
rollment showed 362 names, an aver
age Of over AS to the room. AS it was
necessary in classifying to give three
divisions, or classes, to each of three
teachers it was evident from the first
that an additional teacher would be
needed in the building and arrange.
ments were made to start new room
as soon as possible. This room is on
the third floor and will be occupied by
children of the fourth and fifth grades
Miss Fife Toyera of the supply force
is the teacher.
Over at the First ward the enroll.
ment ran up to 400. Sixty-fiye Of these
were second grade pupils crowding
the room to oyerflowing. The cores
ponding grade IN Fifth and Second
ward schools being too full to receive
any of the little people by transfer
the baord granted an additional
teacher for First ward, making ten
teachers for that building.
Miss Lizzie Jackson who was in
training as cadet all last year in the
Fifth ward has charge of the new
room. All the room of First ward
school, including the two new rooms
added year ago, are now in use.
The schools never made better
start than they have made this year.
Beyond the always difficult problem of
adjustment and of properly balancing
the work and number of pupils among
the different teachers, the great sys-
tenn was ready to move off without
Jar or friction in any part of its ma
chinery. A Few mistakes were made
by pupils in purchasing books and by
some of the teachers, perhaps, in
marking the slips, but nothing serious
of the kind happened. Most of the
pupils knew their own classification
and the teachers knew without much
reference to school records which al
ways serve in doubtful cases.
Perhaps few citizens realize what
an immense institution our school sys-
tenn actually is except when taxes are
to be paid. Then they doubtless con-
clude the school system is the biggest
thing in town and, measured by its
cost, if it is not the best thing it ought
to be. Well, it seems all right to look
at the matter just that way Largest
and best are good terms to use when
speaking of the schools of town.
They cost money, heaps of it, but
what good thing does not? Stats
tics are plentiful to prove the wisdom
of a liberal policy in connection with
the schools-we may give some sta
tistics at another time. The states
that have done most for the public
schools have been the most prosper
Gus.
Franklin was right in his opinion
about the best investment being an
investment in knowledge. The
thought is broad enough for entire
and states to adopt and
rrofit by. The best grade course and
High school course is none too good for
our children if the minds of these chill
dren through properinfuences at home
and in school are open 20 receive what
is offered Education Tith all 1t i'm
plies Of book lore and scientific at
tainment and the power 10 think and
to enjoy and to 1--we more completely
must mean more III the future than IN
the past because OF the higher plane
of general intelligence among those
with whom the student is to live.
we SPOKE Just now of our schools
as a system to conserve time and
energy, but all the willie it must be
kent in mind that the schools sho"li
he as free from machine methods as
nossible. because individuals are be-
ing dealt with and individual poten-
tialities are to be given an opportunity
to unfold. There is not in our schools
and there should not be any unyield-
ing form or method of work and CLASH
1ieation. The system should be fiex-
ible enough TO place child just where
he can get the things he needs and do
the most good With this in view our
classes are working only half year
apart and missing links in the half
grades are now filled up with one or
two exceptions.
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