Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1914-04-29
N. E. OSBORNE
COMES WITH FINE
Recommendation
(Continued from page D

Continued from page u
chosen wisely. In addition to the
commercial work itself Mr.. Osborne
has picked supplementary studies
which will give the student a broader
foundation than the average CONNER
cial institution could hope TO furnish.
There is the bookkeeping branch of
the commercial course which has its
attendant study in practical English
and business forms Commercial ge-
ography also is taught.
Then there is the teachers course.
The normal department is one of the
best ever attempted in high school.
1t comprises "a four-year course, of
which three years is spent in the high
school grades and the fourth exclusive
ly in the normal department In adj
dition TO training the students TO get
actual experience teaching in the low
er grades and in the test school Then
there is a general course and this
year will see the establishment of an
agricultural course.
This will be the realization of the
superintendent dream 10 make the
Hastings school ideal. Hastings is
the center OF one of the best agricul-
tural districts i'm the middle west,
place ideally situated FOR the estab
lishment of an agricultural school.
Supt. Osborne has his plans all ready
to put into execution and 1911 will
see the Hastings school one OF the
few of its grade in the world giving
practical and complete agricultural
course OF study,
mere are also courses in music,
cooking, manual training, sewing and
/ art The regular COURSES include
certain amount OF instruction in eacn
of these, but special courses in which
these eminently practical studies pre-
dominate are arranged and may be
taken by any of the students.
Some little idea of the popularity of
Supt Osborne's methods may be
CLEANED from the fact that in 1907
when he took hold the enrolment in
cluded 100 members. This year 1t is
a trifle less than two hundred and
fifty, of which now fewer than one
hundred are students from outside of
Hastings who gladly pay the tuition
fees for the privilege of instruction
under the Osborne methods.
peculiarly interesting ideas aside
from his arrangement of the courses
of study. For Instance he believes the
school building is not place TO be
Stunned by the scholars during all
other than school hours. He says the
school should be the workshop OF
the student. And SO he instituted the
idea of keeping the buildings open,
lighted and heated until o'clock.
And there perhaps is not another
school in the state where the percent
age of scholars who voluntarily re-
main after school hours is SO high.
: The click of the typewriter may be
/ heard long after dark on winter after
moons The students in music remain
for practice work. Every school room
is occupied by from two to a dozen
students who are anxious for advance
ment and thankful for an opportuni-
" to aid them in making high show
ing in the school reports.
In the matter Of equipment again
is reflected the superintendent prac-
tical ideas. There is notable lack
Of lacquered brass and nickle work in
the laboratory, for instance. The APP
I DaratuS is nnlSneu III eHdiAtl anu pam
iron. 1t Is made for service, not for
the appearance and IL is the surest
I thing in the world that every bit of it
sees service-good hard service. Some
of the apparatus, too, has been fur
nished through the spirit of loyalty
that has been made manifest among
the teachers since he took hold and
began to inject energy and ingenuity
\ into the conduct OF the schools of
Hastings.
one of the prettiest pieces Of equip
/ ment in the high school building is
I the projectescope for use in illustrat-
\ ing lectures. il is an ingenious affair
! which can be used equally well as a
microscope, for projecting ordinary
lantern slides or for microscopical
projection. 1t was bought, or is be-
ing paid for from funds raised by the
teachers club. This club has been
singularly active in its campaign to
create better spirit in the schools and
raise funds which are used, eXclusiv-
aIy for tho bettermput of the students