Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-05-21

cent interview he says: while we
have added many new things to sehooi
work, we are keeping up the instruc-
ton in the three RS We are now
giving the pupils even better anG
stronger instruction in the multiplica-
ton table, mental arithmetic and old
fashioned spelling, than their elders re-
ceived in the old red school house.
Mental arithmetic was introduced IN
the schools here last fall and has prov
ed of great benefit to the pupils. Our
plan of holding spelling contests twice
Il year. has also aroused much helpiui
interest in the study of spelling in all
the school rooms of the city. We are
doing the same thing to educate the
children as of old. but with this diff
ference, that we can now offer them
much in addition without detracting
from the teaching OF the elements.
superintendent Collins idea is a
most excellent one and he might well
be followed by many more Iowa sup
erintendentsh There is no getting
around the fact that the pupils of the
schools today do not receive instruction
in some of the more important branch-
school graduate these days is unable
to spell correctly and very many of them
do not use the English language as
one should, after having completed
high school course. 1t isn't the pupil
fault for he has not been sufficiently
schooled in the branches in which he
is deficient. 1t is not the fault of any
one in particular further than the sys-
TEN is wrong. In geography. for in-
stance. and geography is one of the
most important studies, pupil In the
fifth grade of most schools studies
North Americal This is the first text
book on geography he sees, excepting
possibly he has had primary geog-
raphy in the fourth. In the sixth grade
he is supposed TO complete all of Eu-
rope. Asia, Africa. South America and
Australia That is all the geography
he gets. He receives a smattering OF
his own country in one and is cram
med" with the geography of the other
important countries in the another.
This comes two and three years be-
fore he enters the high school and in
many schools three and four. for the
high school course in most of the
grade. When he enters the high school
he finds himself without general
knowledge of a most important study
Superintendent Crane. for one. recog-
nizes the fact that geography is not
being taught here completely, or as 1T
should be, and is going to recommend
it's extension into the seventh grade
next year, and that it be more
thoroughly taught in the lower grades
Our forefathers may have had some
old tangled notions in their studies.
and the old fashioned Schoolmaster
who boarded around" may have been
severe but what WAS taught was
thoroughly taught and that which was
learned was mastered.
City Health Physician Lierle's sug-
geston to the board of health, to the
effect that the city conduct each
month meteorological examination OF
it's water supply, the surface wells OF
the city. and the milk supply. is I,
good one The board, no doubt. will
act upon his suggestion. Such an ex-
animation. and the report on 1T. provid-
ing at all times the report is favorable.
would be the best kind of an advertise
ment for the city. If this had been
commenced years ago, there is no
doubt but that the city would have
been saved much of it's illness from
typhoid fever, for an examination
carefully conducted. Will show whether
or not there is anything radically
wrong with the water and milk sup
plies. At the small preliminary cost
in fitting out the city physician with
the necessary instruments. to work
with, and the nominal cost for main
tenance, the investment will be a pay
ing one. if for no other purpose than
to know. once a month. that everything
is satisfactory.
With the advent of hot weather
members of the Country Club will APP
preciate their beautiful grounds. Con-
veyances are now running every after
noon at the hours OF 2 o'clock and 4: 80
o'clock, and will be shortly run every
hour during the afternoon. There is
not a prettier resort in this vicinity
during the summer time and 1T is about
the only place our citizens have for
picnicing or recreation. With nearly
100 acres all In grass and about one
third of 1t wooded, the grass being kept
as closely cropped as a Chicago park,
the grounds afford park facilities even
to those who do not play golf. The
club this year has provided a nominal
charge for honorary membership car
rying with it all the privileges except
the game of golf and those who have
been favored with an invitation to join
should seize the opportunity.