The Oskaloosa herald., 1909-10-21

The enrolment in all departments
OF the public schools is slightly above
that of last year, the most marked
Increases being at Third ward and in
the high school. The Second ward
but fairly satisfactory accommoda-
tions have been provided for the
housing of the children. The Kdg. and
first three grades are running on half
day sessions in the First Reformed
church on South d street; Fourth !
grade is housed in the Pentecostal
Mission; Fifth and Sixth grades at
the Fifth ward school; Seventh grade
a: the Swedish church on South Sec |
ond street, and Eighth grade in the
high school building. The kdg. at |
Fifth ward suffers considerable in
convenience from the fact that 1t was
necessary to give up the room and
carry on the work IN the west hall on
the second floor. 1t is hoped that the
school will be able to get into its new
home about the hrst OF March.
=
The N. e. |. T. IA. convenes at Ce-
dar Rapids Oct. 1916. A strong pro-
gram has been provided and large
gathering is anticipated. The 1. S. Il.
A. meets in Des Moines Nov. A. 5, and
| 6. Previous to this year the meet
ings have been held during the
| Christmas holidays. The change was
made largely to accommodate the
teachers who cannot come at that
time. The time of the state meeting
in other states has changed and the
enrolment greatly increased as the
result of the change and 1t is ex-
pected that several thousand teachers
will be in attendance at the Des
Moines meeting. Addresses will be
given by such men as Dr. Frank
OF the University of Missouri; Dean
James E. RUSSELL of Columbia Uni
yersity; Hon. A. s. Draper, the COM
missioner of education for the state OF
New York, and many other education
al lights. A large percentage of the
local force of teachers is planning to
attend. The Board of Education have
granted two days to attend this meet
ing, as a further inducement the rail-
road rate will be one and one-half
| fare.
Simplfied spelling will not down.
Circular No. "a Issued by the Simpli-
fed Spelling Board, emphasizes
strongly the de3irability of teaching
the child of today the simpler forms.
The contention in the main is that it
may be proper for those whose habits
arc fixed and 90 not desire to change
to continue the old spellings. The
case with the child, however, is diff
ferent; the simplified forms do not
CRATE on his sense of fitness, as he
has never learned the older form of
! spelling, hence for his sake, as well
as for the sake of unborn millions, as
well as on the ground of reasonable
! spelling, the simpler forms should be
taught in our public schools. In line
with this argument the Educational
Council of Cook county have issued
among others the following resolution:
1.-zResolved that the children be
required to learn to spell those words
only that come in general into their
| grade-work and conversation.
2.-ResOlved, That We hereby ex-
press our hearty approval of simpli-
| fed spelling, and that in behalf of the
English-speaking children of this gen.
Grafton, and of all those to come, we
use means for furthering the progress
OF it. .....
We shall follow in these columns
the simplified spelling forms, first,
because we believe in them, and Sec
oId to show that tie changes sugges-
ted by the Simplified Spelling Board
are perhaps not as radical as the
average reader would suppose
a = ...r
Sanitary drinking fountains have
been installed in all the public
schools of the city, the work being
completed during the first week of
school. The common drinking cup
with the possibilities of transmitting
disease. besides being uncleanly, has
been. cast aside. The fountain INSTALL
e. consists of cup attacht to the
faucet and open ct the base. A /
small stream of water the size of a
lead pencil and which can be regu-
lated, issues above the top of the
cup two or three incnes. The child.
rem can qucnch thoir thirst by merely
placing the mouth over the stream
until satisfied.
s
The Board OF Education at ita last