The Oskaloosa herald., 1910-10-13
oskALoosA PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

| The following teachers report per-
feet punctuality for the first month:
Lincoln school, Kenworthy, McMurray,
Grace, ConoVer, Tovrea, Owen; Jeffer-
son school, Pendray, McFadden, Smith,
Hoffman; Webster school, Evans,
Washburn, Forsyth, Williams, Leslie,
Crickett; Grant school, Ryan, Binga-
man, Erwin; Whittier school, Drinkle,
Thomas, Ruan, Reid, Vannest The
High school leads in percentage of at
tendance at .9S47, while the Webster
school leads in punctuality at $685.
The total number of original entries
in all the schools for the first month
closing September 30, as shown by the
above table, is 1857. This number is
just 81 larger than the same item last
year and indicates healthy growth of
the school population. The principal
increase i'll enrolment is at the Jeffer-
son school and at the Whittier school.
There is slight loss at the Webster
school and in the High school compar-
ed with enrolment last year. but the
total shows an increase of almost 100
for the entire system.
The Value of Hygiene.-The great
est enemies of the human race are mi
crobes, which annually lay PROSTATE
IN this country and Europe seventy
million Of people, of whom three mil
lion die. The microbes feeding on hu.
man blood have caused the destruction
of armies and the downfall of a nation.
Since the foundation of many diseases
is laid during childhood, and since new
IDEAS are accepted most readily in
youth, every boy and girl during the
school years should be carefully and
thoroughly instructed as to the cause
of human Wretchedness and the means
of preventing it. The facts that in this
country nearly one hundred persons
die daily Of typhoid fever and four
times as many from tuberculosis, and
that these diseases are largely prevent.
able, are unknown to most public
school pupils. Asa result the people
continue to use bad air, bad water,
and bad food. Holmes wrote fifty
years in advance of his age:
God gave his creatures light and air
And water openjto the skies;
Man locks him in stifling-lair ~'~ &
And wonders why his brother dies"
-Davidson's Human Body and Health.
| Apropos of the thought above sug-
gested, the professional study taken
by the city teachers will be along the
line of health and sanitation as related
TO the public schools. The text chosen
for study. and discussion is ALIENS
Civics and Health. The work will be
studied in groups, the corps at each
school constituting a unit. Occasion
ally, lectures by local physicians and
specialists in the High school supple
ment the teachers study and discus
sions.
Simplified Spelling .-,Some persons
are so constituted that an unaccustom-
ed spelling offends them. That is a
mere emotion. Others are so consti-
! tuted that an unreasonable spelling
offends them. That IS the protest of
reason. Simplified spelling rests on
reason, economy, authority. Reason
dictates that what we write or print
should represent only, and exactly,
what we hear or speak. Economy re-
quires us to reject useless letters.
The teaching. learning. writing, and
printing of useless letters cost untold
money and time. Authority for simp.
lifted spelling is found in the sanctions
of the dictionaries, in the true editions
of the standard writer's, in the advice
of the learned, and in the dictates of
common sense. Changes have been
continuous in the history of English
spelling. They have been conscious
changes, made by the human hand and
will, Changes adopted become reas-
enable usage. To expedite the ration.
al process Of change in English spell
ing, and to guide it in the direction OF
simplicity and economy, is the aim of
the simpilfied spelling board, of the
advisory council, of the simplified
spelling society of Great Britain, and
Of the great company of their support.
ers.. The principal of simplified spell
One may begin, by using the simpler
and more reasonable of any two auth
orized forms; for example program,
catalog, rime, tho, dropt, stopt. blest, |
etc. IL. r,r..r ~. .=fay
2 Circulars of information are sent |
free ON request by Simplified Spelling |
Board ! Madison Ave-, New York. |
During the summer vacation the us. !
ual repairs and improvements for the |
betterment of the schools were under /
taken.t "A number of natural slate
blackboards were placed while at the /
new jefferson school. natural slate Is
used throughout. In the course of
time the blackboards, as they wear out
will be replaced and the entire school I
system will be equipped with natural
slater, The, typewriting department of
the High school has been benefited in
the equipment, of three new Smith.
Premier typewriters. The manual
training department has also received
additional equipment Of tools. Book
cases are to be placed In the rooms
at jefferson school very soon.
Very many will, recall with pleasure
the entertainment given by the class
OF 1910 during commencement week
last spring. The class realized neat
sum from the entertainment after all
expenses were met and a portion Of
the surplus was expended by the com
mittee chosen from the class for a Lin
coin memorial tablet. This tablet was
presented by the class.
through their representative Maxwell 4
-, =.