The daily Alaskan., 1906-11-17
TEST IntM
Skagway Children Show
 Ability to Spell

in order to test the ability of the pupils in the public schools to spell common words correctly, a list of 2l5
 words was pronounced for all pupils in
 the the third grade and above, recently. 1 The words in the list are all common
 words, the meaning of which most every child knows before he starts to school, and of which he learns the printed form before completing the second grade. The results show that there is much truth iu the common belief that we no longer spell well. Of the 90 pupils who were tested, only seven spelled all of the 2l5 words cor rectly, and only 55, 2OOor more correct lv, The poorest record made in the seventh and eight grades was l53 and 1S6 spelled correctly; in the fifth and sixth grades l92 and l95; and in the third and fourth grades, S4 and l34. Among the words causing the most trouble are towel, hooi, bowl, clover mane, cape, and mend.
 In justice to the pupils, 1t should be said that DO opportunity for study was given beforehand.
 Following is the list words:
 Home, jar, tea, horn, jump, rain, mamma, jug, milk, dog, scratch, hail, mother, broom. cream, cat, kiad, sleet, papa, sweep, plate, paw, gentle, warm, father, box, fork, rabbit happy, cool, bench, spoon, sheep, bad damp, brother, basket, cup, mouse, sad, wet sister, bay, berry, frog, sorry, dry, cous'n, keg, apple, fish, love, wood, friend, bottle, peach, pear, bee, like, wide, coal, house, bowl, ant, hate, brick, barn, tub, plum, bug, winter, marble, cherry, fly, spring, gold, yard, bed, grape, worm, summer, silver, fence, pillow, jam, pet, fall. iron, gate, sheet, jelly, pup, time, brass, walk, sleep, garden, kitten, year, tin, grass, water, rake, colt, month, sand, flower, sop, hoe, week, lime, tree, towel, spade, lamb, gay, pin, root, dress, farm, chicken, hour, sew, grain, dirt, window, dinner, wing, wall supper, corn, vest, dust, mend, table, morning, wheat, bird, mud, patch, table, clock, noon, oats, brook, shoe, watch, night, rye, dove, hungry, barley, robin, pond, boot. dish, eat. hay, lark bubble hat, air, cap, pan. meat, clover, crow, wind, bonnet, cook, butter, straw, hawk, breeze, cape, boil, salt, horse, owl, blow, coat, fry, egg, tail, work, storm, button, bake, soup, maue, play, cloud, collar, bread, sugar, hoof, fun, fog, uecktie, crumb, cheese, COW, laugh, snow, flour, drink, OK, smile, flake, meal, hop, cake, skip, pie.
 The result of the test was aS follows:
 Number spelling the @l5 words cor rectly-Seventh and eight grades and high school, 5; fifth and sixth grades, l: third and fourth grades, l-total, :. 2l4 wo:ds-7th, Sth, and high school, ?; 5rh and 9th, 1: 3d and 4th, 1-total, f, 2l3 words-7th and S,t and high school, 3; 5th and 9th, I-tots!, I. PIP words 7th, Sth and high school, 3; 9th and 6thr 2-,o,al, ,. 2lI words-7th and Sth and high school, 3: 9th and 6th, I; 3d and 4tb, 2-totaI, g. 2lO words-7th, Sth and high school, ,: 9th and 6th, ,; 3d and 4th, 2-total, 6. 200 to 2O9 words 7th, Sth and high school, 9; 9th and 9th, $: Sd and 4th, 5-total, D, lsO 10 l99 words-7th, s,h and hi2h school, 3; 5th and 9th, I; 3d and 4th, 9-total, It. lS0 to Is9 words-7th, Sth and high school,