Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1911-08-25
OUTLINES new COURSE
SUPERINTENDENT IDEAS OF
ESSENTIALS IN SCHOOLS.
Clean Finger Nails, Well Brushed
Hair, Neat Clothes and Shiny
Shoes Important.

SALEM, Aug. 21--A shorter course
| i'll technical grammar, complete
course in drawing, nature study, agri-
culture, industrial work and music
and manual training, opening with a
course of study in physiology and
hygiene, in which special emphasis is
laid on practical hygiene, are some of
the features in the new course of
study for the schools which has been
prepared by State Superintendent AL
derman. The manual of the revised
course of study will be ready for dis
tribution about August 80. Clean
finger nails, well brushed hair, shiny
shoes and clean clothes are other re-
concentrations.
In commenting ON the new courses
the superintendent says:
In carrying on the work outlined
in this course Of study l hope the
teachers of Oregon will, first of all,
look to the health Of the boys and
girls. See to this, and then if there is
any time, teach the other work offer
ed in this course. The primary object
of the study of physiology is our
schools should be to teach an intelli-
gent care of the body"
Old-Time Recess Favored.
Teachers are advised to return to
the old-time recess of not less than
Is minutes during the forenoon ses-
sion, and again in the afternoon, but
it is said that the recess will do no
good unless the teacher makes a su-
pervision of the playground serious
part of the days work.
The more simple facts Of sanitation
are expected to be taught. In speak
ing of this Mr.. Alderman says that it
is of more value to the boy who ex-
poets to live in the country to know
that the well should be dug in place
where it will not receive the drainage
from the barn or the closet than to
know the exact number Of bones or
muscles in the body. The teachers are
also advised to teach this work by ex-
ample as well as by direct method
The school grounds and the out
buildings are to be cared for; the in
terror of the buildings should be kept
clean, and, where the buildings have
no special ventilating system, every
window is to be provided with win
dow board, so that the children may
have an abundance of fresh air.
Teaching Self-Reliance.
The course in language has special
emphasis placed upon learning to use
the best forms of expression in writ
ing and in speaking. A list of pic
lures, which are reproductions of
masterpieces, is given for each grade.
The pupils are to study these in the
earlier grades; they are to talk about
them, and, in the advanced grades,
they are to be made the basis of com
position work II is especially urged
that the teachers show the pupils how
to correct their own errors instead of
doing their work for them.
In the first three grades the pupils
are to study the pictures, reproduce
short stories told by the teacher and
correct their most common errors in
speaking. In the intermediate grades
they are to reproduce in writing
short narratives, to memOrize certain
amount of poetry and TO write friend
ship and business letters. The work
in technical grammar is given in the
sixth, seventh and eighth grades. A
careful outline has been prepared so
that the teacher viii not spend too
much time with this work, and yet a
sufficient amount is given so that the
pupil completing the eighth grade will
understand thoroughly the essential
elements of sentence.
Value of Drawing.
A modern course of study in draw
ing is offered and one that will be
very helpful TO the teachers. In this
Mr.. Alderman says:
"Of late years there has been a
wonderful change in the teaching Of
drawing. New methods have been de-
veloped, methods which charm the
child " In speaking Of the value of
this course Mr.. Alderman says:
Zone of the worst tendencies Of the
age is towards dependence on others
for amusement, the love Of pleasures
that cost. Public school drawing
should work against this; the search