Omaha daily bee., 1914-08-30

NUNBURNED and tousle-headed the
~ youngsters of other days watched the
summer fade and with great sadness
in their hearts heard the melancholy
I2SS5fSa tolling of the bell on the first day of
~ school. Behind them lay thousand
joys, for they had been knights of the
willow fishing pole and many a mullen stalk had
fallen before them in battle. The future stretched
away as numberless days of grinding, heart-rend
ing labors, under the watchful eye of stern
who believed in the books and looked upon the
rod as holy instrument and could see little use
for fun or play.
So have 10000 boys and girls in Omaha, in
other days. looked forward to the beginning of
school and trembed, but when the public schools
are opened, September 8, there will be no terror
in the occasion for the little tots, irksome grind
for "the higher ups" The men who are held re-
sponsble for education, often planning wisely dur
ing vacations when others play, have sought to
invest books and blackboards and desks with the
spirit to which the young ever pay homage "These
the things you will do when you 60 out into
real life" they say. I'VE are making school prac-
teal. You going to school to learn wonderful
things, but at the same time you doing what
your father and mother are doing"
And here are the reasons why the old terror
has vanished Boys and girls may spend much of
their time at school in laboratory work; a large
class in sewing will be started manual training
tional schools; and at the Omaha High school the
agricultural work will be extended to include odd
experiments with soils; the German language will
be taught in the grades, and there is at this time
peculiar attraction in this cultural speech for the
war-like young males.
Nearly score of teachers have come back from
the heart of warscarred Europe and they will have
tales to tell and in the afterwork hours there will
be interested audiences, for Indian battle story
he MI han he
awful war the continent and in the air over
Europe. And skilfully told the tale will point a
mighty peace moral.
There is therefore, some romance in the open
ing of schools this year, but there is more than
romance for many vital changes have been and a
few interesting experiments will be tried. Princpa
C. e. Reed of the high school has arranged for a
class of photography, under the supervision of
Michigan university man, Lee w. Harrington. The
agricultural students will be given a free rein il
experimental work, assisted by Miss Caroline
Stringer, head of the natural science department
Principal Reed has arranged to give high schoo
students opportunity to choose their own teach
ers. This they will do when they enroll. Severa
teachers. owing to the large classes will teach TIL
subjects and if a student has preference h
may select his favorite teacher.
The chief innovation at the high school, how
ever, is a sewing class to which either girls Oh
boys may aspire Hearing early of the intention
to start this class something separate from thu
domestic science work. 1870 girls have applied TO
admission Only about 120 can be accommodated
and the principal and the supervisor believe girl
should be given preference over boys, which vii
practically eliminate boys from the first year
work. Principal Reed, however, intends to en-
large the class as opportunity offers Rooms hav
now been fitted up for it, sewing machines In
stalled and thread and needle laid ready to han'
1t is Principal Reeds opinion that this worl
may be increased ultimately to include fancy sew
ing and dressmakng and the art of millinery. TIL
classes will be enlarged from year to year and tn
length of the course may, after this year, be In
creased from TO two years. Miss Verda Wi
Iiams, graduate of the University of Chicago, hs
been secured to supervise this work. superir