Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1905-03-24
OFFICIAL REPORT OF SUP
ERlNTEND OF CITY SCHOOLS
Continued from first page

training-and also music for both |
boys and girls are as much essential,
if we are to prepare the pupil for life,
as many other subjects taught today.
The amount of time actually used
for these subjects is twenty minutes
in the morning for muSic-and twenty
to twenty-five minutes for drawing
in the afternoon. To this is added
one hour each week for sewing AS
we have suggested, this amount COM
pared with that given at Menomonie
and many eastern cities is small.
Another phase of this question which
should not be overlooked is thiS-the
amount one gets out of given time
spent on a subject-such as mathe-
matics and reading depends on the
intensity of the attention given. Any
one who have given the matter any
thought knows that the length of
time during whichaone can give in
tense attention is relatively short.
Even adults would find it extremely
difficult, if not impossible, to give in
tense attention studying or reciting
three hours in the morning and two
and One-half hours in the afternoon.
Frequent periods of relaxation are
necessary. The newer subjects furnish
these and the time spent on music,
drawing, or gymnastics is by no means
all time taken away from other sub
jects. A large part of it is time the
| pupil must have for relaxation.
Newer Subjects Appeals to the Childs
| Interests.
Still another phase of the subject
which must not escape our attention
is: These subjects appeal to the
childs interests in very intense way.
Often the interests which a child de-
velopS in these newer studies, in max
ing things, basket, box, ETC., makes
him better boy and a better student
in all other classes. Teachers who
have had experience with this work
have had many examples of children
who were reached in this work-when
no other school work appealed to them
land when truancy and the street
were the next step for the child.
Expense Of all the Newer Subjects.
The person who pays taxes on one
thousand dollars, pays for music:
kindergartenS, drawing and manual
training very little more than the
cost of two tickets to one fifty cent
show each year.
School Instruction is Practical.
We often hear complaints that the
high school instruction is not suffici-
GENTLY practical to meet the needs of
the average boy and girl. We must
confess that it seems to us that this
in measure is true. But if we look
little farther into the work that is
really offered aud the tendency of the
high school work today we will find, /
believe that the high school is moving
in the right direction.
Courses Offered in the High School.
We offer classical course embracing
Latin and German to those who wish
this training. We offer also a course
including German without Latin.
We offer course which includes
neither Latin nor German. We offer
also course which includes two years
in Manual Training. The boy who
does not wish to go to college-or who
must earn his living at once when he
leaves the high school may elect the
Manual Training Course. He has
had drawing and manual training for
eight years-including two years OF
training in making working drawings
Of articles which he wishes to make
and using the ordinary carpenters
tools in constructing these articles in
the seventh and eighth grades. He
takes two years more of manual
training. This gives him skill which
he can turn into money very readily,
The boy who enters either the manual
training, English or German Courses
gets in the high school, two years
work, five times week, in English
reading and composition. There is
also offered one-half year of business
arithmetic, followed by half year of
bookkeeping. A half year of civil
| government, year of United States
history, and half year of grammar
are all included in all these courses.
Surely these things are practical
The high school work is practical in
other ways. The pupil has regular
work in defamation and public speak
| ing in the grades. This is followed
| up in the high school. Two literary
societies are maintained, one for boys
and one for girls, which offer training
in debating and public speaking. The
ability to stand erect before ones
fellows and express ones thoughts is
surely one of the most practical things
a school can give.
Physical Training.
Regular exercises in gymnastics are
given to all pupils in the grades up to
the eighth twice each day. All pupils
in the eighth grade and in the first
year of the high school have regular