The Oskaloosa herald., 1902-12-04

adapted as nearly as possible to the
| peculiar needs of the community and
of the greater number who will at
tend the school and this without too
much attention to articulation with
the higher schools. President Eliot
of Harvard had something like this in
mind when he said: Direct revela-
ton from on high would be the only
! satisfactory basis for a uniform pre-
scribed school curriculum. The i'm.
mense deepening and expanding of hui
man knowledge in the nineteenth cen
fury, and the increasing sense of sane
tity of the individuals gifts and will
power, have made uniform prescrip-
lions of study in secondary schools
] impossible and absurd. We must abb
solutely give up the notion that any
set of human beings, however wise
and learned, can ever again construct
and enforce on school children one
uniform course of study"
1t is believed we are not far from
the truth in saying that good high
school graduates, whatever the course,
are not the greatest problem In the
classification and management of the
colleges.
Other letters inquire concerning
needed legislation for the schools, how
to secure greater efficiency among
teachers, how to improve conditions
in the country districts, the question
of wages and taxes, whether the eighth
| grade should be united to the high
school and it's work specialized, what
subjects should be taught earlier in
the course and so on with topics some
of which are only professional and not
Of general interest. Regarding the
question of beginning Latin and some
other high school subjects down in
the grades, where it is claimed by GER
tain psychologists they are peculiarly
suited to the minds of the children,
we have to say that we are utterly OPP
posed to the idea and believe that the
present studies of reading, writing,
| spelling, drawing and sense training,
arithmetic, grammar, geography, and
nature study, physiology, history and
music are good enough for foundation
work. Indeed the list seems almost
appalling in it's number of studies al
ready but as they do not all come at
the same time, and as so-ca of them
are merely exercises we manage to get
along. Should the child leave school
before finishing the grades or before
entering the high school these sub
jects will prove as valuable to him as
any others he could have taken.
| $50
The next general teachers meeting
will be held at the high school Satur-
uay, Dec. 6, at $3.50 a. m.
The children of the First, Second
and Fourth wards made the usual do
nations of fruit, vegetables and cloth
ing as Thanksgiving offering for the
benefit of those less fortunate than
| themselves.
Several of the high school girls will
give a musical recital before some OF
their friends Tuesday after school
closes. Their object is to raise some
money in aid of the athletic associa-
| ton.
1t is a great pleasure to note the
zest with which the children, especi-
ally the younger ones, entered into
the exercises for Thanksgiving and
Christmas time. If we older peo-
pie would but try to keep our hearts
young like theirs the world would not
seem half so dull and dreary as it
does. Go around to any of the primary
schools some morning and ask for the
song about the Turkeys Wish Bone"
You will understand what we mean
wnen you hear this song.
Mr.. Parmenter's miniature volcano
in the assembly room of the high
school just before dismissal Wednesday
had all the characteristics of a MI.
Pelee except the destructive effects.
There were showers of sparks, lava
and ashes shooting into the air an
falling on the sides of the little sand
and cinder mountain.
A letter of recent date from Presi-
dent Seerley calls attention to the
fact that the NorEia! School will open
it's winter term Tuesday Dec. 2.I9O2.
This arrangement is adopted because
it suits better the district schools and
enables the Normal School to make
each term twelve weeks in length. At
the opening of each term, beginning
classes are organized in all courses
and subjects, so that the students can
begin as well then as in the fall term.
The trustees have already made ar
engagements for summer term, be-
ginning Saturday, June 10, and every
line of work viii be offered that is de-
manded by teachers in all grades of
public schools Suggestions regard
ing the specialneeds is respectfully So
licited as the trustees particularly
wish to meet the public demand"
Yours truly,
H. H. Seerley, President.
1t is the Puritan's Thanksgiving Day,
And gathered home from fresher
-