The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1911-04-27

; A NUMBER OF teachers IN the loca
. force attended the Southeastern
Teachers Association and report q
pleasant and profitable session. The
weather was propitious, and some
thing over 900 enrollments were re
corded. According to a vote taken
at the meeting it was decided to hold
/, next years session at Burlington.
However, this matter is left to the
judgment of the executive commit.
tee and definite selection will be
made some time earlier in the next
school year.
A recent inquiry conducted by the
Bureau of Municipal Research" of
New YORK City among the three hun
dred and fifteen cities report civic CO.
operation with public schools in the
| following matters: Decorations 16l
cities give assistance; relief of needy
| 152 cities; Fairgrounds $50 cities;
medical inspection 12S cities: indus
! trial training, 124 cities; medical in
! spectiOn, loo cities; sanitary i'm
! provements, Ill cities, school nurse,
! So cities. Other forms of help have
been given, such as vacation schools,
scholarships, school gardens, athletic
training, drinking fountains, public
lectures, pianos, music, night schools,
Savings banks, teachers retirement
fund. instruction in agriculture. ster.
eopticon lanterns. No doubt the lack
of cooperation and resultant assist
ance is largely due to lack of infor-
nation on the part of the public. I'm
the advancement of education the
first problem to be overcome is pub
lie Indifference. The one vital thing
necessary to bring the school where
it should be. in the most important
factor in civilization, is the interest
intelligent cooperative interest OF
public" Every report should tell
volunteers what they can do next
year to help the schools; what change
the public sentiment or what increase
in public support is needed.
We have an announcement from
Homer H. Seerley which outlines a
summer term for rural teachers at
the Iowa State Teachers College.
In planning the work of this term
five points have been kept in mond:
1. To enable teachers to make a
thorough review of the common
branches.
2. To aid teachers who wish tOl
raise the grade of their certificates.
3. To afford rural teachers an OPP
portunity to specialize in one or more
subjects.
4. To acquaint teachers with the
best method of teaching in rural
schools.
). TO demonstrate to teachers the
use of elementary agriculture, rural
home economics, drawing, blackboard
sketching, common crayon work and
primary methods can be correlated
with the everyday lessons of the
school. In addition there will bel
beginning advanced and review class
es in all the common branches. The
session opens June IL, and closes
July 81. Graduate of high schools
and others who have never attended
a country school and know little OF
country life through actual exper-
fence, need the help and encourage
ment offered by such school. Bulle-
Tins and other information of work
during the summer term will be fur
nished on request by addressing
President Seerley.
- - -
A number of inquiries come to us
each year at the opening Of the spring
term regarding the time when chill
dren may enter the kindergarten de-
partment. Glasses are formed in
this department at the opening of the
first and second semesters and at no
other times. 1t is impossible to con-
duct the work satisfactorily in these
departments II beginners are allow
cd to enter at other than the times
above stated II we may suggest it,
would be better if children were be-
yond five years of age rather than
under IL. as they are then more ma.
ture and can undertake and pursue
more successfully the kindergarten
course.
- - -
The public generally is aware Of
the fact that our three state institu.
lions are now governed by one board
known as the Iowa State Board OF
Education. Mr.. Forrest c. Ensign
holds by election from this body the
position of Inspector Of secondary
schools. Further there is a body
known as the board on secondary
school relations composed Of Inspec.
tor OF Secondary Schools, chairman