Omaha daily bee., 1915-11-20
SCHOOLDAYS NOW
AND THEN In OMAHA
Many Changes and Improvements in
Omaha Teaching Facilities
Since Days Of Long Ago.
MACHINERY NOW IN MOTION

An Omaha man who attended
school here thirty years ago. but who
does not regard himself in the Older
set" as yet, commented the other day
upon the difference between school
days as he knew them and school
days he hears his kids talk about to-
day.
II remember attending the Leavenworth
school for several years" remarked this
man. we had double seats. the boys
and girls being divided. Teachers those
days had varied ideas regarding punish
naent- One afternoon brought into the
school a live crawfish I caught Mt the
old Cutoff lake. As punishment the
teacher made me sit in a seat with n girl
for an hour. The girl assumed the atti-
tude Of helping the teacher punish a
naughty boy,k The embarrassment ]
would suffer sAs to be my punishment"
Intensive education az II IL knowr to-
day was not In vogue thirty years ago.
There was a general supervisor OF draw
ing. who made the rounds of the schools.
and another supervisor who taught music,
but that was about the extent OF the
specialized instruction In the grade
schools. KIndergartens and manual
training were but dreams Of pedagogy.
Present system BiEs Machine.
The public school system of Greater
Omaha today IL big machine. with i'm
provemcnts appearing every now and
then. The last year has been marked by
various innovations.
Aside from the regular teaching staff.
there Ia a corps OF supervisors and spe-
ciai instructors At Central High and
South High schools there are deans who
look after the particular interests OF girls
who need special help or advice An as
eistant superintendent is visiting all of
the schools, unifying the new course of
study and holding teachers meetings.
commercial high school Is OF COM
paratively recent beginning and an eve-
ming high school has just been started.
Evening grade schools were started
within recent years. A special school for
boys Is known as the Fort school, whore
printing, woodwork and metalwork are
taught. German and Bohemian are be-
Ing taught In various schools and any
modern language must be taught In any
school when a petition OF required sigma
lures lie filed with the Board OF Bduca-
ton.
In few OF the grade schools the de-
partmentai system OF education IL being
followed, the fifth. sixth. seventh and
eighth grades being taught by teachers
who specialize in various branches. i'm
stead OF the old system of one teacher
instructtng all branches in one particular
room.
Many Facilities Available.
Branch public libraries have been es-
tahlished In some OF the grade schools
and a comprehensive library In available
to pupils OF the Central High school.
Pupils at this institution have such adj
vantaEcs as domestic science IN its var
iors branches. cen TO laundering other
features at the Central High are: athletic
coach. hand. cadets. glee clubs. dramatic
club, school publication. students couu-
oil and auditorium.
Pianos and victroles are common sights
In the schools today and some have pre-
tentious collections OF pictures and stat
uary. The school board made n liberal
appropriation for athletic apparatus for
the grade schools and an expert director
vislts the schools and instructs the boys
ana girls how to play the games to best
advantage.
NhAtoNNi ANAhk II FihNts ItHlOte from
three public schools are hauled TO school
every morning, returned for lunch and
taken home after the close OF the school
day.
Doors OF schools have been equipped
with anti-panic devices and fire drills
are called at irregular times.
Numerous scaoos examinations.
In recent years the teachers have
taken more than an academic interest
In the children. There are many organ
iEations In the schools. At Central Park
and Park schools. for instance, the
teachers have organized boys clubs
whose members agree not to smoke until
they are n years OF age. South High
has Heip-a-chiid club. orchestras have
bean formed at comenlus. Kellom and
Long schools by the supervisor OF social
extension. new position.
The social centers In schools Is a
recent feature, the school board recog.
MIXING the recreation board TO the extent
OF granting use OF certain schools FOL
evening activities. such as music. ath-
letics, Improvement clubs, mothers club,
and other purposes.
There Is not much excuse for the DO,
or giri who does not get an education
these days" remarked the man who
attended school here thirty years ago
but who does not regard himself one O
the ''oider set" as yet
S0uth Side Girl