Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-12-08
Educational Campaign at State
Retormat"ry at Anamosa At
tended With Good Results
PRISONERS ARE INTERESTED
School is Held Each Evening in the
Week Except Sundays = IIliterate
Compelled to Attend = Advanced
Glasses Have Been started-Work in
Charge of One of Inmates.
special to Times-Kepub!ican


Anamosa, Dec 81 r. Van Tassell,
principal of the school recently started
in the state reformatory and himself
an inmate of the institution, has issued
a report of the work that is being done.
Much is being accomplished for the ed
ucation of the prisoners, a majority
OF whom take great interest in their
studies. Mr. Van Tassell says:
THE work in the educational depart
the exception of holidays and Sun
DAYS. school has been held each even
ing in the week. At the beginning of
the year the large number of younger
men in the institution and the many
who were illiterate made it necessary
to restrict the attendance, to a certain
degree, that the benefit of the time al
lowed for the carrying on of this work
might be given to those most In need
of it. However, as classes were Or
ganized and opportunity offered, those
more advanced We're admitted until at
present none who desire to attend are
refused that privilege.
"The conduct in classes and interest
of the pupil, however, controls the
privilege of attendance when appleo 10
the more advanced pupils.
.Those who are illiterate are COM
pelled to attend school; and, while
there are instances where this is met
with a certain degree of rebellion, II
has been found that such is owing TO
the disinclination of the men to snow
their ignorance before others. But
when 1t is found that this meets WIN
no ridicule from companions In the
school room, or out of it. this is tor
gotten and an interest gradually mani
tests itself. to a greater extent, IN
many cases, on the part of those VINO
enter school against their Will than on
the part of those attending voluntarily.
"The greater attention Is necessarily
given to primary work. Promotions are
readily made when deserved, ana II is
a fact worthy of comment, that mere
as in our public schools, a reduction IN
class or grade meets with general DIS
..The average nightly attendance for
the term was seventy-two. some oi
the classes, especially primary classes,
were SO large that justice could not ne
done them in recitation, therefore II
was found necessary to give advanced
classes less time for recitation, that
the teachers might be able to take oth-
pr classes in greater need of atten-
ton.
progress in all branches has been
good. During the term thirty-tWo were
promoted to higher classes and h1gner
grade. while seven were reduced IN
grade.
"There were nineteen discontinued
turing the term, of which number out
four were expelled for misconduct and
ack of interest.
"The average age of those attending
IS 21.7. while thirty-nine were under
20 years.
"On the whole, the work has been
very satisfactoryNin all branches, ana
The conduct and interest of pupils In
,lass room, worthy of compliment in
every respect"
Much Interest is Shown.
The branches taught are reading,
spelling, penmanship, physiology, geog-
apply, grammar, history, civics, phys
cs, arithmetic, algebra and geometry.
The detailed report showing the
progress Of the pupils shows few to
De excellent the majority to be
good" and almost all the others to be |
fair In the case of No. 1915 the
word poor. is written opposite his
lame, and progress not good" OPP
oosite the name Of No 1851. No. 5776 |
vas reduced from second to third class
md No. STU from sixth to fourth class.
No. $500 is marked mo interest OF
he 131 pupils, thirteen averaged nine
weight or better in all class work, |
md only seven averaged less than
seventy There are four in the geome-
ry class, whose markings are as fol-
ows: Custer, ninety-nine; Boyd, nine
y-seven; Looney. ninety eight; Vivian |
linety-eight. There are thirteen in the |
algebra class, the lowest of whom has !
ninety for the term ending Nov. 30. |
The arithmetic classes number five, the
irst class being known as the mum
Der class. Twelve are studying phys
cs; fifteen are studying physiology,
md eighteen are studying civics.