The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1912-08-10
Rural, School to
Be Reformed
Agriculture to Be Study Superintsn'
dant Wright VIM Enforce Law

mary school district in Michigan this
year according to the new course Of
study outlined by Superintendent OF
Public Instruction Luther l.. Wright.
The legislature of 1911 gave to the sup
erintendent the power of definitely out
lining the course of study which must
be followed in every district school in
the state. Heretofore the course of
study was optional with every district
board, the superintendents power being
only advisory. Mr.. Wright takes ad-
vantage of the opportunity given him
by the new law and will require
course of agriculture to be introduced
in every district school.
On account of the lack of prepar-
alton in this subject on the part of
teachers, Superintendent Wright only
requires one-half year of extensive
study with text book, this to be CIV
en- in the eighth grade. In addition to
this extensive study, course in nature
study, beginning with the third grade
and advancing through school and home
gardening, crop planting and allied SUBJ
jects, is recommended as most desire
able supplementary work.
FIRST STEP IN WIDE REFORM
The prescribed course in agriculture
is simply the first step tow ard reform
ing the rural schools in the state and
making them reflect the life which sur
rounds them rather than weakly imi-
tating the city school. Supt. Wright
is earnestly advocating the ruralizing
of the country schools; that is, giving
the boys and girls of the farming dis
tricts an insight into the problems
which are in close relation to their
lives, arousing an interest in scientific
agriculture, making their training not
only of culture but of practical value
as well. AS fast as it is practical the
work in agriculture will be extended
to the other grades,
The new course of study does not
stop with the introduction of agricul-
ture, important as that step is, but it
emphasizes throughout its scope the
desirability for making the work of the
rural schools more practical. In Arith-
metic for example the problems are to
be quite different from the convention
al type. They are to deal with pota.
toes. grain, butter, eggs, farm fields,
productiveness OF cows and hens. They
sre not to deal with hypothetical cases
which are not In range of the exper-
neeof boy or girl on the farm and
probably never will be, but they will
be such problems in farm accounting
that their fathers and mothers are call
ed upon constantly to consider.
LEARN PRACTICAL THINGS
The geography in the new course OF
study will begin at home, and the child
will be taught something about his owr
township, county and state before he
has to master the list of European cap.
itals and to bound the various Asiatic
empires. The problems of food pro.
duction and their relation to people Is
of more Importance in the present-day
conception of geography than drawing
of wierd maps and the memorizing Of
the names of various rivers and noun
tain ranges.
Instead of learning the names of al
the bones in the body and being able
to locate the various organs and describe
their functions, the child is to learr
how to take care of his teeth, skin
eyes, ears and other parts of his body
how to revive person who is nearly
drowned, what to do in case person II
burned or suffers broken bone or ;
severed artery. The menace of file
and mosquitoes and other similar ques
tons of hygiene and sanitation will su
persede the technical physiology whicl
has been taught in the country school
TEACH CORRECT SPEAKING
Reading in the new course of stud
is emphasized as probably the most i'm
portant subject in the schools. Teach
ers are instructed to train the childre
to read for the thought rather than 70
expression, SO silent rather than lou
readieg is recommended. The plan
for the children to read silently fror
the printed page, close their book an
then stand before the class and te
what he has :read. In this way tn
child not only learns to read quickl
and for the thought, bnt he acquire
the desirable ability to stand on hi
feet. face other people and use tn
English language. He learns to spes
; correctly, a. criticism is an importar
part Of the work. The idea In thu
habits Of correct speech are infinitel
more valueable to the boy or girl tbs