The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-10-03
WORK THAT TELLS
Course Of Study in Topeka
Schools Revised.
Special Stress Is Put on the
Practical Things.
48-PAGE Pamphlet ISSUED
Supt. Wilson Gives Suggestions
to Teaching STAFF.
He Is Expert ON Economy Of
Time In Schools.
48-PAeE PAMPHLET ISSUED

With a view to putting special en-
phasis on the practical side OF work In
the city schools and promoting higher
degree of efficiency. II: B. Wilson. su-
pamphlet entitled, Course Of Study
Directions and Suggestions.'' for dis
tribution among the members OF the
teaching staff of the elementary
schools.
Superintendent Wilson il considered
an expert on the question Of economy
of time" In fact he is chairman Of a
committee Of the national department
Of superintendent of the national edu-
cation association which was created
| three years ago for the purpose OF cut
| ting out what is obsolete in school work
and retaining that which is vital. Su-
perintendent Wilson expects to attend
a meeting of his committee in Chicago.
October Ii and II. The committee Will
submit an exhaustive report next Feb
ruary at the meeting OF the department
of superintendent.
Make Work Practical.
In speaking Of the work Of his COM
mittee Superintendent Wilson said:
Large Examinations of obsolete and
non-significant subject matter are GER
tain to be recommended by this com
mittee. At the game time, undoubtedly
some valuable additions to the content
Of some subjects will be suggested. I
trust that by the close OF the year we
may feel justified in combining our own
efforts with the results produced by the
formulation and printing OF course OF
study for our school system.
| In the pamphlet issued for the use OF
the Topeka teachers special stress is
placed on the common studies such as
reading, writing. and arithmetic.
| In speaking of the work in reading
Superintendent Wilson says in the PAM
phlet:
1.-THE amount of reading is important.
that all types Of children's interests
may be appealed to-. that extended
practice may be supplied. and that the
child's range Of acquaintance may be
widened. In reading, nothing contrib
utes to an active interest, to eagerness.
SO much as an abundance of new. fresh
material.
| Ingenuity Shown.
Nothing was more surprising
Throughout last year than the ingenuity
of the teaching staff in devising profit
able and interesting ways OF increasing
the amount of reading-matter. This
was done by the extensive use of the
blackboard, by devising flexible charts
containing the vocabulary of the chill
i dren, by using the books and stories
! which the children brought from home
by usng newspapers and Sunday school
papers brought from home. by loanine
the children copies of desk books be-
longing to the teacher. by cutting uT
books and stories and mounting the
same in ways convenient for distribu.
ton to the children, and SO on.
'Printing-presses and price-markine
outfits rendered large service in supply
ing additional reading matter. One
teacher developed a forty-tw0-page
chart. Another teacher developed q
vocabulary chart which proved SO flex-
ible that an almost endless amount OF
reading and Of interesting drill became
possible"
In all studies the practical side i.
strongly emphasized.