Omaha daily bee., 1905-06-16
CLOSING PROSPEROUS YEAR
Superintendent Davidson GratiAed with
| Work Of Public echoolS.
GOOD SPIRIT PREVAILS AMONG ALL
Manual Training and Change in Plan
of Determining standing of
Pupils Two Innovations
Introduced.

reel that We are. closing most pros
pPerous and progressive yepr in the public
schools" said Superintendent of 1nstruc-
ton Davidson" OF one thing j am certain,
and that is that both teachers and pupils
Iro quitting work for the summer vacation
IN the best possible frame of mind. 1t has
been my constant endeavor to promote this
spirit of good feeling and fellowship in the
schools, as l believe 1t is conducive to the
ends for which the public school system
is maintained. For every bit of strain and
anxiety saved something in the way OF real
education which makes for the best citizen
ship is gained"
The schools will be formally dismissed at
noon Friday. Thursday and Friday morn
ing will be spent in overhauling books and
supplies, making repairs, checking and
storing away and the making OF final re-
ports and inventories. The real work of
the year ended last week and the remain
ing days used to get things organized for
the prompt resumption of work next fall.
Two innovations were INTRODUCED in the
Omaha schools during the year, which was
the first full year of Superintendent David
sons administration One was the begin
ming of manual training work in the grades
and the other a change in the plan of de-
termining the standing of pupils and their
eligibility for promotion. The latter does
away with tests or examinations as impor-
tant factors in fixing the right of the pupil
to advance from class to class and leaves
the matter largely to the Judgment Of the
teacher.
Manual Training n Success.
II think that manual training in the
grades has been shown to he a success by
the experiment at the Cass school, where
two rooms were fitted up with the proper
furniture and TOOLS" says the superintend-
ent. IAN OF the pupils in the grammar
grades or from the fifth to the eighth in
elusive, took up the work, which consisted
OF two periods of fifty minutes each per
Aweek. A special instructor, Miss Catherine
tux, was installed, and with the valuable
Ynpperation of Miss Simonds, the principal,
the teachers, the experiment seems to
shave met with the best of results. About
200 pupils were In the classes. The boys
and girls were taught clay modelling and
wood carving the boys bench work and the
girls sewing. Without exception every child
displayed great eagerness to participate In
the manual training and the effect upon
other studies was pronounced, the new de-
partment proving a decided stimulus. Fof
!. Zveral weeks samples of the work accom-
shed since the department was opened in
Yember have been on exhibition. The
c4sfsses have been visited by superintend-
ents. principals and teachers from nearly
all the cities in the vicinity Of Omaha and
all have expressed warm appreciation.
think the result of the Cass school expert.
ment will be to extend the work to at least
one other school next year, probably the
Cass, owing to the fact that there are two
upoccupied rooms there.
Old Promotion Idea Dead.
THE change in the plan of determining
the pupils standing consists mainly In
eliminating the old idea of promotion
based upon successfully undergoing Ger.
tain examinations at the end of the school,
year or other periods. My experience ir
school work has taught me that these
tests as vital factors in the standing OF
the pupil are detrimental rather thar
beneficial. tending to create a strain and
nervous tension that is nothing short OF
deplorable. Under the plan introduced lag
year the teacher simply estimates twic,
year the standard of work which tn,
pupil has attained. For all practical pur
poses the matter rests with her Judgmen
and she is the person best fitted to know
Tests are not abandoned altogether, bu
ire retained more as kind OF director.
Element than anything else, as mean
Tor the superintendent to exert his idea
and plans. The old nightmare of fina
examinations is avoided. the teacher re
heved of muoh work. the necessity 70
travelling in narrow grooves removed. an
The opportunities for purely mechanica
education given a blow. The same idea
h this matter prevail more or less anon
progressive educators all over the coun
-"
- sth the enrolment and the averag
VlIy attendance in the schools wer
FsHThtly larger than In previous years
bu. he exact figures have not been CON