Albuquerque evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1911-1914, 1913-05-09

Ted Is an American hoy, born IN
Japan, ak years ago shall he study
al home alone. with mother for tutor.
or shall he enter model school with
the Japanese ncighbor boys Of his
age. and with whom he playsg lie II
boy who needs competition and com
pnnionship. a visit to the school de-
cided In 10 favor. though no English
L. taught In the Grades.
An entrance application blank was
secured from the school two weeks
before the new term began. April 4,
This II the beginning OF the school
year ln Japan. And all would-be pu-
pills must file the application blank.
The Information required h. fathers
and mothers FUN names. nationality,
age. occupation, number OF children,
residencc, former residence. child =
name, sex. age. former school II any,
and place In family T. e.. whether
first. second, etc. child. The applica-
tion was accepted and Ted asked 10
come 20 school with either or both
parents, A prii A. for entrance exAmi-
nation. OF all the applicants sent In.
one hundred were selected. and from
this one hundred, sixty OF the best
children could be admitted to the
first grade. that being the number
provided for. Ted entered az No. 2S.
ed II he could count 20 90 Then
gave few very simple problems In
addition and subtraction. Another
asked the names Of few objects, etc.
Another examined him physically.
eyes. teeth, ears, chest expansion, etc.
After the chlldren's examination, the
parents were assembled IN the school
gymnasium and instructed by the
principal a. So the purpose Of educa-
81. ~ oh -
health. especially teeth ana eyes; nee
eesary clothing. including the Import
ance ~ handkerchiets, ana so on.
They were told the school would sup
niy all books, states, pencils. paper
etc.. needed, and a bill for the same
would be sent the parents al the end
Of each month. Parents must supply
the uniform school cap 20 boys and
the uniform skirts TO girls; each must
have canvas bag, with shoulder
straps. 10 carry hooks and states IN.
our bill for Tcd's first months sup
plies was eleven cents; the second
month. two cents. The first months
supplies were render 2 cents. ethics
hook.t2 cents. slate, cents; pencils.
cent; eraser, ~ cent: colored cray
ons. a cents; notebook, I cent
The japanese government has
Department Of Education" which
which ranks with other departments
OF the imperial cabinet This depart
mcnt prepares and publishes all the
text hooks used In government schools
In the empire. Hence, the books are
uniform. Compared 60 some Ameris
can text hooks. they are not expensive
works III art, nut they fulfll All the
requircments OF text book. and are
not a burden to parents of i've or SIX
children. what a comfort, too. 10
those who must move 60 have No care
nor expense about new hooks, wher-
ever they may go.
school began for Ted April \. The
higher grades had been begun, IN
order. from twn weeks before. Each
first grader. or. as they say, "hrst
year student" was accompanied mat
momentous day, by father. mother
grandpa or grandma, older brother.
or sister, or a. servant. A Few days
later ! visited Ted's grade and found
two long benches on one side OF tho
room fun OF tho attendants who were
enjoying the recitations too. several
times since, I have been over and al
ways md some visitors there. IL
looks as though every one were IN
terested Ia education In Japan.
The first month the lrst graders
hours are from 10 ~ a. m, only
The first OF May they go from 90 ~.
except Wednesdays and Saturday.,
when they are dismissed at II. There
are 10 minutes recesses at o'clock
and az 10.
The playground OF the school covers
several acres. and has In II every con-
eeivable device for outdoor sport--ex-
cept swimming pool--perhaps'
have never seen ~ any playground OF
school or outdoor gymnasium any
thing sensible which is not here. Each
grade has It's own special time ana
place on the recreation ground, 80
that the children Of different grades
do not play together. nor is the ground
crowded at any time. Each teacher
plays or exercises with his grade dur
ing the fun recess. on rainy days.
or when the sun Is too hot there are
great times for the different grades
I'm the big gymnasium room. NJ each
recess "A few minutes are given 70
physical dr,ll OF some kind.
NV visits. so far, have oeen limited
to the first grade. Ted seems 20 he
holding his own right along with the
other children--though ms shlnN Tow
head il wonderfully conspicuous
nmona 0fty-nine shiny black ones
The first grade seems well equipped
with inexpensive teaching maternal.
Counting frame. Charts--all sorts OF
objects for illustrating the reading
and number lessons--and kinde"gar-
ten material for busy work when
little brains are tired.
The morning they studied 20 ana
g." after using bead frame awhile
teach r took from n little cabinet six
red fishes twith hooks on theml ana
hung them go the top frame OF the
blackboard After the fishes nae
served their turn. row OF soldiers
appeared. Teacher used the black
board 40 did several pupils on whom
she called. and an used their States
IL was a lively lesson.
/ forgot 10 say that all the hfht
grade pupils are IN one class the whole
wear. students are only eINcred tas
heginners) In April. SO each grade
N composed OF only one class TINS
makes u a pleasure for both teacher
and pupns. for all are doing the same
thing At the same time. There "
very little lack of altention-~almosl
no playing or whispering-the ism
time for it--for teacher always has
"somethlng doing" Discipline IL no
trouble at all
one day the reading lesson was the
two words, dove "beans' thhto-.
ma ue). Beans are favorlte food
of doves in Japan. The children hhN,
"A sweet little one-stanza song about
feeding beans 10 the doves which ~
from the temple roof 10 feed. Thi'