The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-05-23
WORK DONE IN THE SCHOOLS OF MINNEAPOLIS
H.--LANGUAGE AND GRAMMAR, GEOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
q SMITH EDITOR SCHOOL EDUCATION

Conrnendable work is done by many .pu-5
pills and teachers In technical grammar,
work that could not easily be presented in
type. but the language work in grades
seven and e1ght is not more satisfactory
than IN lower grades. MI 8S
The weakness. IN my opinion, is not in
the teachers' ability, but In lack of practi-
cal purpose and intelligent conception Of
the essentials OF results. a new look out
from or into language and grammar, must
be had before pupils will command Eng
ltsh commensurate with their knowledge
Of and appreciation Of other subjects in
these grades. Pupils write too much
about that Of which they know nothing
Or very little, and thus often harm their
English. because they do not know what to
say. No writer can secure readers who
does not know his subject
l GEOGRAPHY.
The old time method Of studying
geography by definitely locating on the
map. cities, rivers, mountains, lakes,
straits. etc, had merit. The same Is
true OF the old-time method Of learning
dates In history. # compelled to accept
all the work in school on the old line plan
or the new, I would accept the new, but
1t is evident that the pendulum has swung
too far away from the method OF learning
definite facts in both geography and his
tory. Pupils are not scarce in Min
neapolis who can talk glibly Of causes Of
seasons. or general contour Of coast lines,
or who can give fair reviews of the
products Of the nations, but who cannot
name the states that touch the Missis-
sippi; cannot tell whether Pixies Peak is
| IN Utah or, Colorado; cannot locate even
the states In which many Of the most i'm
| portant cities Of the United States are, to
say nothing about those Of other coun-
| tries.
Many OF the children who can write
facts about "The Pilgrims do not know
where Plymouth Is located. The fact that
| a pupil can tell the causes of the Revolu-
t1onary war or the War Of 1872, does not
prove that he can tell any definite thing
about any leader in either army.
do not urge that children know less
| OF the causes for climate, for revolu-
lions, or for@.any fact Of geography OF
history, but unhesitatingly assert that
the good old time method of learning
things exactly should not be dropped. The
sacrifice is too great.
In geography in the A 9Th grade:
Give three reasons why the change from
| winter cold to summer heat in our northern in
terror Is very great.
why is the northern part OF the wester,
coast well watered? -.EI
.S-What two states take the lead in the pro
-four mills in the world?.
4-What valuable forest trees grow on til,
coastal plain? Where is redwood found?
! 5-What state ranks first in the manufactur
OF boots and shoes? In dairy products?
6-.Nane and locate the city which leads in til
manufacture OF woolen carpets. Name the cit
famous Tor salt mines, for having large sill
yard. q.
! Name the southern states both eastern an
western sections. Which Of these states have h
coast?
NIT. /. - :
for inland commerce? Name two important IL
dustries Of these states
The time for examination was tw,
hours. Three papers were marked owe
95, nine between 80 and IS, ten between
70 and 80, and the other ;twenty-f1v be
low 70. Here is a sample set of answers
/ THE change from summer. heat to swinte
1 cold is SO great in our northern interior be
cause the summer sun is high and the daylight
long and the winter sun is low and the daylight
short ~ And the temperature changes more O
land than co And the northern interio
cannot feel the breeze and current as the land
near the coast.
THE northern part Of the western coast ]
| we'll watered because the westerly winds alva
reach their, and these winds carry much rail-
Z fall.
s-The two states that lead in the productio
; OF cotton are Georgia and Texas. Minneapoli
has the largest -four mills in the world
Valuable forests Of pine grow on the coasta
plain. Redwood trees are found in California.
5-New York ranks first in dairy products
Massachusetts ranks FIRST in boots and shoes
Philadelphia in the southeastern part Q
Pennsylvania, leads the world in wooden carpets
4 Syracuse Is famous for its salt mines. Pittsbur
is famous for it's iron and steel goods Paterso
4 has large silk factories. Opposite Portsmouth,
Kittery, there is United States navy yard.
8 S-The southern states Of the eastern and wes
tern sections are North Carolina, South Carolina
Georgia, Florida, Alabama, mississippi, Ter
nessee, Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas and tw
territories, Oklahoma and Indian Territory. Th
states having no seacoasts are Arkansas an
Tennessee.
i s--sayannah in the northeastern part of Geo.