The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1913-04-24


panied by their teachers, go to the
theatre on Friday afternoons. The
week following one of these educa-
tional picture shows the pictures are
used as topics for oral and written
discussion in the language, history,
and literature classes.
- - -
The Simplified Spelling Board held
ia meeting recently in New York and
further enlarged the lists of words
that should be simplified. A para
graph of their circular reads as fol-
lows: The movement for the simpli-
fication of English spelling has reacht
a point of advantage. 1t has been
made known to a great part of the
educated pubic in am English-speak.
ing nations. 1t has been approved by
Ia great number of the most intelligent
persons. Fifty thousand men and
women hav signd the card agreeing
to use in their correspondence the
simpler forms of spelling that ar re-
commended by the Simplified Spell
ling Board. Among these ar many
teachers in the universities and col
Ileges, in the state normal scools, and
lin the primary and high scools
(where English spelling is the daily
burden). The majority of the fore
most biologists and OF the chief edu-
Gators hay joind the movement.
Presidents of colleges and OF the
chief educators hav ioind the move
fnent. Presidents of colleges, super
intendents of public scools, men OF
letters, fysicians. lawyers, clergymen,
business men in great numbers, hav
texpresr their approval ~ ia.
&tE s ,% - - - ++%.. Y.
School gardening is demanding in
Creased attention from school author
titles and the time is not far distant
when it will become an important
part of school work. Agriculture has
already found its way into local high
school. The Bureau of Education
gives the following Information con-
corning school gardening In Memphis,
Tenn: A supervisor gives all uis
time to school gardening, which has
been made part of the regular
school course. A part of the work of
the children is to keep records Of the
expenses incurred and of the quanti-
ty of vegetables produced.
About thirty garden sites, varying
from half an acre to an acre, near the
espective schools have been secured,
fortified and plowed. Two thousand
boys from the fifth to the eighth
grades, inclusive, devote one and one
half hours each week to gardening
under the supervision and principal,
while the girls of the corresponding
grades sew. Each bay this year will
have a plot 1Ox20 feet, and he will be
held responsible for results. The
hoes, 500 Weeders, and forty wheel
barrows to be used by the boys in
their work. The board also furnishes
seeds. The boys are encouraged to
have home gardens and the interest
of parents is stimulated by circular
letters. An attempt will be made to
induce the seed companies to furnish
seed for the boys for their home gar
dens at wholesale prices.
The garden movement in Memphis
is not only literally supported by the
school board, but it has been indors-
ed by the Business Mems Club, the
City Club and the Nineteenth Cen
fury Woman's Club. 1t was through
the efforts of the Woman's Club that
gardening was introduced into the
schools several years ago.
The following results have been Sc
cured: Q Children have become in
terested in plant life; GU waste
places have been made useful and
beautiful; (3) children have earned
some spending money by wholesome
and instructive outdoor work; (D
fresh vegetables have been furnished
for the home; go homes have been
made more beautiful and attractive.
II is planned by the Memphis
school board to procure twenty or
more acres near car line, where the
larger boys who are not otherwise
employed during the summer months
may under intelligent supervision
make truck gardening profitable and
educative.
r. w. ELSE, VIZ E-
Supt. City Schools.