Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-12-31
1000 INSPECTED
WORK OF PUPILS
Unusual Interest Taken in SEe-To-
SCHOOL, Week Proposed By
superintendent Fisher.
FORM PARENT.TEACHERs CLUB
Mothers and Parents Brought Into
Closer Relationship With the
Instructors.


/ place to new, has been demonstrated
in the work of the Rock Island schools
for the year just closed. Much has
! been accomplished along lines laid
down a year ago. and in at least two
Innovations. the Parents-Teachers as
ISOLATION and "Go-to-School" week,
/ the results have been more far-reach-
ing and beneficial than was even
hoped for, The interest developed
along these lines has shown, beyond
a doubt, that in closer relations be-
tween the home and the school are
possibilities for good that are worthy
Of continued cultivation.
The years activity in all depart
ments OF the school work has been
marked by a spirit of cooperation that
! has made possible the high standard
of excellence which is a criterion in
judging the results attained
Slogan Of the Year.
1 That the school board made wise
| choice in selecting Superintendent
/ E. c. Fisher as head of city schools.
upon the resignation Of H. B. Hayden
1 last year. is a self-evident fact. It
was expected that he would readily
grasp the lines so long and ably held
/ by his predecessor and that he would
bring to his aid the results of wide
experience in other fields. and in all
that was expected Superintendent
Fisher has made good.
Taking charge of the schools on
Sept. l, 1914, the new superintendent
announced as the school slogan,
Maximum ability and 100 per cent
efficiency" The work Of the year has
been done with this motto as its IN
spiration Efficiency, in the sense of
service has been alike the thought of
teachers and pupils The concrete re
suits have been many and to these
must be added a splendid cooperation
In the home that has made possible
the organization Of parents-teachers'
clubs in all the grade schools. The
average enrolment per room in the
grade schools is 35.
Maximum ability. with 100 per cent !
efficiency. does not mean that the
backward scholar should be speeded t
up to reach the mark of his highest
competitor, but it does mean that the /
best that is in each individual scholar /
should be brought out-not in compe- /
tition with his fellow students, but in /
competition with himself. +
Go-to-School Week.
A real forward movement in the |
Rock Island schools has been the in
PRODUCTION Of G0-to-School week. and
the period from March % to April
witnessed the awakening of a new in
terest on the part Of the parents They
saw just how the machinery of the
public schools is operated Ineiden-
tally pater familias got acquainted /
with little Johnny's teacher and the
mater snapped stories with the prfn-
cipal about little Mary's love Of study
1t was a week really worth while and
through it all Superintendent Fisher, /
the teachers and the members of the
school board wore a wreath of happy
smiles
Over at the Manual Arts building
hundreds of visitors saw the youthful
artisans at work, keeping time, time,
time, in a sort Of scenic rhyme, to the
music Of the jigsaws, the whirr Of the
planning machines and the steady click
OF the types in the print shop below.
At this building Professor A. G. Hill Y
and his corps Of instructors received 2
the visitors and explained the nitric f
acles Of the arts and crafts.
Go-to~Schooi week was the occasion '
for 1865 citizens 10 visit the grade '
schools. There were that many names y
written in the register at the differ I
snt buildings. No register was kent I
1t the Manual Arts, but adding the {
hundreds OF visitors at this building c
I is a conservative estimate that A. It
east S,50o people participated in the y
observance OF the special week. o
Other Features Of Year. 1T
Aside from the daily work Of the S
school room, the year has seen much Il
.ctiFity along lines that touch the s
Ives OF the pupils in the grades and u
n the high school Organized physi- r.
al training work, the matter of school
aYlngs, social programs and recrea- )
ions, moving pictures, etc. have been O
ONE OF the years opportunities for Il
ne scholars. To these is now added D.
entail inspection. without cost to the "
upils. Ct
The total amount Of the savings ia
lade by the school children and de- as
oslted IN the State bank Of Rock Is al
md has reached a high figure for the
ear.
Night classes for the benefit Of for .
gners wishing to receive an educa- =,
onai knowledge of the English Ian -
mage have been largely attended This ~
ear The night enrolment is now ~
20. III
A novel bit OF equipment this wear ;.
the portable school," built at the -
annual Arts. This IS q building -
xS2. and is heated by steam from -
e school near which ii may be To- 20
ted TO relieve congestion. In the -
On school an electric clock has been IA
stalled that takes care of all bells
eeTieally. The installation Of a ap
ste1ass cafeteria at the high school &c
a recent equipment that is greatly so
'preeiatei III
an