Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1915-09-23

Grangeville the next. The teachers of
Idaho County indorsed this plan at
their institute last week
Study Pursued.
The teachers institute at GrangevilIe
the past week aimed at the initiating
of certain definite lines of action; the
attacking of certain problems in rural
school work. These may be summarize
ed as the general introduction of the
Palmer system of writing; school and
community sanitation; teaching of
agriculture; and working out plan
whereby schools doing limited amount
of high school work may have an or
ganization and curriculum suited to
their needs
Penmanship.
Miss Lillian Sylvester of the Lewis
ton Normal, specialist in the Palmer
system of writing spent the first two
days of the week at the institute. She
was very enthusiastically received and
the WORK which she began will be carri.
ed on by correspondence throughout the
year. Thus has been initiated a cam
paign for better writing in this county
The children will receive systematic
instruction.
Sanitation.
Miss Tyler emphasized the need of
sanitation in the school and in the COM
munity. She gave practical sugges-
tions along these lines and pointed out
that sewage disposal was a problem in
many rural communities.
Agriculture.
G. B. Wilson, principal of the state
school of agriculture at Moscow ex-
planned how agriculture may be taught
in the rural school, His suggestions
were very practical. He emphasized
the necessity for originality on the part
of the teacher. Mr.. Wilson does not
believe in costly equipment for teach
ing this subject in the rural schools but
showed how to secure results from
limited equipment.
There are a. number of schools in the
country which are trying to do some
high school work. 1t has long been a
neglected problem as to what should be
taught in the upper grades of these
schools. President Black spent several
sessions in conference with the teach
ers of high school subjects and a plan
was partially worked out. This plan
looks ultimately to reorganizing the up
per grade work into a junior high
school consisting of the 7th, sth and 9th
grades. A few schools may have the
senior high school work also, consisting
of the 10th, 18th, and 18th grades, such
schools to be located at central points
Mr.. Black made suggestions regard
ing curriculum for 9th grade work
which would harmonize with reorgani-
cation of the 7th and Sth grade work
to be made as soon as practicable and
which would fit in also with the work
of the Senior high school work as it
has already been evolved in the larger
schools which have already adopted the
six and-six plan.
Social Good Time.
On Monday evening the teachers
gathered in the gymnasium of the
school house for social entertainment.
The evening was spent very pleasantly,
the arrangements being made and
carried out by the Grangeville teachers.
The party was divided into two groups,
the Russians and the Germans. A
series of contests were planned, judges
were appointed, the side gaining most
points to be the winner. After a most
exciting series of battles, consisting of
spelling bee, naval fight, song compost
tion, and SO on, the Germans emerged
victorious. Peace was declared and
all joined in a Grand March led by Mr.
Parsons. Refreshments were served
under the direction of Miss Zadie Keith.
Miss Tyler captained the Germans and
Mr.. Leonard the Russians.
Music.
Mrs. Hattabaugh had charge of the
music during the week. Special num-
bers were pleasingly given by Mrs.
Hattabaugh, Lallah Fulton, Dale Fulton
and Mrs A. NJ. Baker.
The Instructors.
Miss Margaret Sweet gave two very
interesting talks on the serving of hot
in the rurcl school.
Charles A. Shaver of California gave
several inspirational addresses much ap
preeiated by the teachers.
President Melvin A. Brannon ad-
dressed the teachers on Wednesday af-
ternoon. His address was powerful
plea for the union of life and education.