The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1905-12-15

,OeS not come from formal KnOWl-
edge of whence the colonist of this
country Immediately came and then
wars with the Indians, the English, and
themselves, but from love of human
ity, stimulated by a knowledge of it
from it's childhood, with it's misappre-
tensions to its sturdy manhood with its
science.
81 therefore believe that we should
bring to the young children a general
knowledge of the earlier peoples, their
habits and their traditions while their
minds are in childish sympathy with
their myths and fables and while their
memories are sufficiently retentive to
keep without effort those things which
give as much of the history of the hui
man race as the recorded facts of latei
years; also that they should know The
national characters who have made the
history. | believe also that the children
in the middle grades should study the
history of the United States in the form
in which it appeals to them, the story
form. and should learn the essential
facts, becoming acquainted with the ma
tional characters who have made the
country and whose biographies are its
history.
| again, it is impossible that there
should be any clear understanding OF
the history of this country without
some knowledge of the people who
founded it, and therefore it becomes
pertinent, before formal study of the
United States is taken up, that it
should be anticipated by a simple study
of English history, again in history
form.
GIN order to accomplish all this or
part of it l have placed in the hands o.
the teachers in lower grades outlines
providing for a general study as indi
study of United States history. TIC
Gated, leading up to the elementar!
work out the other conditions of which
| have spoken I would recommend that
in the 5th grade during the last semes-
ter a simple text be placed in the
hands of the pupils covering the United
States history in story form up to
the presidential period; in like manner
during the last semester of the 9th
grade the remainder of the United
States history treated in the same
manner. Also in the seventh grade in
the second semester l would recommend
that on elementary study of English
history be taken up in the same way.
SIT is not my purpose that formal
and laborious study of this work be
made in these grades, but that the les
sons receive about the same amount OF
preparation as lessons in reading, and
that the class work consist of a read
ing and discussion of the subject mat
ter.
''The books from which the selection
of texts should be made have been eX.
amined by the teachers and are now
in the hands of the committee of the
school board. E $50
81 would recommend that action be
taken in this matter at once in order
that the work may be taken up during
the next semester"
Mrs. Smith, for the committee on
schools and text books, reported that
the plan recommended suggested by the
superintendent is most excellent, but
the matter of expense had not been con
cidered.
Mr.. Mcconnell estimated that the
books would cost about $3.50, but that
they would be good for five years. The
school board could buy them and gel
the discount and sell them to the stu
dents at cost, and then buy them
back at what they were worth at the
close of each year.
On motion of Mr.. Currier, the com
mittee on schools and text books ant
the superintendent were authorized to
j get the books and to sell them at cost
to the pupils, the matter of buying
them back to be left to the superintend.
ent This action was taken after con-
+. siderable debate. The books will cost
. so to so cents each.
Superintendent Mcconnell presented a
request from the secretary of the Y. NJ. c.
A. gymnasium apparatus. The high schoo,
pupils largely patronize the Y. M. c. A.
gymnasium, where liberal rates are
made to them. The high school room is
not large enough or well equipped for a
gymnasium.
After considerable discussion, mo-
ton by Mrs. Smith was carried that the
request for the loan be granted, but
that the property be subject to demand
1t any time, that it be checked up once
4 year, and that value be placed on
each piece.
Mrs Smith said that the apparatus
was bought in 1891 and that the first