Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-03-10
SPELLING CONTESTS
AWAKEN INTEREST
All the Schools of Polk County Now
Taking Part and Spelling Is
Much Improved.

Independence, Ore, March S.-The
results Of the Polk county spelling
contest, as received in Independence,
are gratifying to the students in the
school here. The contest was started
three years ago by County School Su-
perintendent II. c. Seymour, to i'm
prove the records Of the students in
the common school subject that, in
this section Of the state, proved hard
er to master than any other study.
Once each month the superintendent
sends out to each principal Of the 81
schools in the county list Of so
words to be spelled, and, after the stu
dents have written the words in the
form of an examination, their papers
are corrected in Seymours office.
Then the results are announced inn
mediately throughout the various
schools Of the county. At first only a
few schools took part in the contest,
but after the good results were made
known in these schools, others grad.
ually took part. At the present time
every student in Polk county above
the third grade, has a share in the
spelling work The origin Of the idea
to improve the school spelling by in
vlting competition among the schools
Of the county is of a peculiar nature,
as several educational men, who at
tempted to devise means for the bet
terment of school conditions in this
branch seemed unable to arrive at a
successful conclusion. The superin
tendent, however, made a thorough
study Of school conditions, and was
snncessful in adopting a plan of his
own. A similar contest has never Le-
fore been tried in the state Of Oregon,
and is being clcsely watched with
argus eyes, by many.
The result of the spelling contest
for the last month, according to the
superintendent report, just filed, fol-
lows:
Glass A schools of more than five
teachers). Fourth grade-First place,
Dallas, 9S per cent; second, Falls City,
81; third, Monmouth, 97 Fifth grade
First place, Monmouth, 9S; second
Falls City, 81; independence, 81,
Sixth grade-First place, Monmouth,
81; second, Falls City, 81; third, Dali
las, 81. Seventh grade-First place,
Falls City, 9S; second, Independence,
SO; third, Dallas, 81, Eighth grade
First place, Dallas, So; second, Falls
City, "a; third, Monmouth, So.
Glass b schools of two to five
teachers. Fourth grade-First place,
Rickreall, SO; second, Bethel, SO; third
Perrydale, 81. Fifth grade-First place
Red Prairie, 100; second, Rickreall,
9S; third, Perrydale, 97 Sixth grade
First place, Rickreall, 100; second,
Buena Vista, 81; third, Ballston and
Perrydale, 96, Seventh grade--First
place, Rickreall, SO; second, Bethel,
95; third, Perrydale, "a. Eighth grade
First place, Rickreall, So; second,
Black Rock, "a; third West Salem, SO.
Glass c schools Of one ROOM.
Fourth grade-Flrst place, Red Prai-
rie, Fairview, Mccoy 100; second,
Bridgeport, 80; third, Pioneer, High
land, 9S. Fifth grade-First place Red
Prairie, Oak Point, Crowley, 100; sec
ond, Mistletoe, 9S; third, Montgomery,
o. Sixth grade--First place, Fair
view, Montgomery Suyer, McTim-
mond's Valley, Lone STAR Mccoy, Pion
eer Mistletoe, 100; second, Cochran,
9S; third Crowley 81 Seventh grade
First place, Fairview Buell., Har-
mony, Lone STAR Mccoy 100; second,
Red Prairie, 90; third Smithiled, 9S,
Eighth grade-First place, Fairylew,
Buell., Lone Star, 100; second, Buell.,
80; third, Oakhurst, 97
Schools making the highest average
for all grades: Glass A, Falls City,
97; class b, Rickreall, 9S; third, Fair
view, Lone STAR Mccoy, tied, each 100
per cent.
The following schools made 9j per
cent or more in the following grades
Fourth grade-West Salem, Buena
Vista, North Dallas, Black Rock.
Smithrleld, Parker Oak Grove, Ward.
Oak Point, Lincoln, McTlmmond's
valley Mistletoe, Fifth grade-Dal-
las, Ballston, Buena Vista, Mountain
View, Black Rock, Bridgeport, Green
wood, Oakdale, Oakhurst, Hopville,
Fern Sixth grade-West Salem
Ward, Elklns. Seventh grade Butler
Montgomery, Crowley, Pioneer, Oak
hurst Hopyille Eighth grade-Crow.
ley, LuCGEN p, ARANT,
MOnmouth Orc