The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1907-12-12
TIL E SCHOo OIL
Problems Of the District School.
BY Prof. Dinsmore.
Part 5.-Kesping Up the Interest.

Tin this article Prof Dinsmore continues his talk
4. In some parts of the country a
day has been set apart for the study
of birds and is called bird Day. II
is rather the elimination of a series
of studies on birds. Country children
have a fine opportunity to study birds
and ought TO know much more about
them than they ordinarily do. They
may first roughly classify them rs
song birds, useful birds and harmful
birds.
These branches may be studied sep
arately comparing different kinds II
the class as the robin and the wren.
Bird Day gathers together the know
ledge acquired in several weeks or
months and makes as great a show
ing as possible. The children have
learned to draw pictures of the vari-
Gus kinds they have studied, to de-
scribe their appearance and habits, TO
initiate OF describe their note, song or
chirrup, to tell where and how they
build their nests, number OF eggs, ap-
pearance of young ones and so on.
A collection Of nests may be made
being careful to take only those that
have been abandoned. The literary
part of the program may consist Of
songs, poems, stories and written de-
scriptions of birds. Bird games may
be played and the small children may
be taught to act birds by hopping, fly
ing and the like. Both the preparation
and the day itself will bring out
much that is interesting and useful.
5. Another equally profitable and
perhaps more entertaining occasion is
History Day" This has an advantage
over BIRD Day" in that all the people
OF the District may take part. Like
the other. 1t requires considerable
preparation on the part OF teacher and
pupils. II need not be confined TO the
History Class" all may have some
part. The children must be made fam
liar with a considerable number Of
historical events so that they can tell
about them readily in their own
words. They must collect pictures OF
important people, places and things
They should make drawings of such OBJ
jects as Lincoln's birthplace. the cab
in where Betsey Ross made the flag,
the Bunkez-I1il monument, the Liber-
ty Bell, etc All the relics of the
neighborhood may be borrowed for the
occasion and be so placed as to make
the best display.
6. The play ground must not be
despised nor neglected. It may be
made a powerful factor in keeping up
the Interest in school. The high
schools and colleges all over the land
make great deal of athletics keep
ing bdndreds of young men in school
by means of the interest in games
who could not otherwise be induced to
remain. Some condemn match games OF
football, baseball and rowing because
of the loss of time and other attend
ant evils but all are in favor of good,
healthy, clean athletics. All children
and most grown people like to play
and it is right they should. 1t is part |
of their development. II rightly di-
rected it may be an important part of
their education.
When the interest in play is on the
wane and the old games become tire
some have a new game ready to pro-
pose. Enter into it with zest yourself
and see if it will not bring new life I'M.
to the school. Outdoor games are the
best but there should be few indoor
games for bad weather. Conundrums,
riddles. charades are all good if right
ly conducted. Much depends upon the
way the teacher goes into It. Never
play in a half-hearted manner. All
look to the teacher as the leading
spirit and any signs Of being bored
will be catching and the game will be
spoiled.
Some of the larger district schools
might have Field Day" This would
give every boy chance to take part
and to choose the particular sport in
Continued Next