Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-09-09
SCHOOLS ADAPTING
WORK TO THE PUPIL.
Departmental Teaching in the
Grade Schools Is Now
Being Extended.
PUPILS MAKE OWN CHOICE

wear brings further evidence of
-. 4. .-;.,J.a, ..
.."uehey 10 suAp' 'ne . y
the pupil rather than 10 make tne
pupil adapt himself to hard and
fast course of study. The idea OF
departmental teaching IN the grade.
.t..,. 4. -. 49,, .~...d.a ~.
'ehooi' 20 a''o 'e"s 'nS
experimental stage having been pass
ed and its practicability established.
The first departmental work in the
or.d. .ohools u,. ~, ;r,rodrc.d -
~ '."oo'' " .
Long school ten years ago, wnen the
late Sarah McShane was principal.
Martha Powell. the succeeding prin.
c;nal toni. the work no and TODAY
she L The most enthusiastic propon-
emf OF departmental education for
| fifth. sixth seventh and EIGHTH grades
Within the last few Years th;s avs
TEN was introduced atfEdward Rose.
water' Columbian. Garfield Windsor
and Train schools Beginning with
the school year now being started. the
following Schools have been added 10
IN I;st. South I .;ncoln, Miller parry
Monmoutb Psrk. SARATOGA Clifton
Hill Walnut H;il Lincoln and Saun-
ders
dundee Coe. yFurtber
RI. 49,. .IL..,
h: DI I 'smoo ~ soms one
known as the differentiated course Of
study, which means that the pupils
are required to take specified essen
tials and may make two selections
from the following studies; manual
training, domestic science. physical
training, music, drawing, German or
French. This system Is made neees-
sary because the Dundee school IS
the only grade school OF the Greater
Omaha system having domestic
science and French. To ask any one
pupil to take the whole course would |
be unreasonable and unwise. the
school officials explain.
Principal Powell at Long school
believes the departmental plan has
justified itself for the sixth, seventh
and eighth grades, and she believes It
will apply with more or less success
in the fifth grade. This year she is
including only the sixth, seventh and
eighth grades, for the reason that her
sixth A class Is so large she was re-
CURED to divide il into two classes,
NJ, making N all seven classes now
'aA's '"' ueps''''sha' ~o'A'
Teachers May Specialize.
There are several GOOD reasons
why would recommend the de-
partmental plan" said Miss Powell.
aFor one, thing. Il enables these
teachers TO specialire IN one or two
branches Of educational work. gen
orally one branch. How can any !
eighth grade teacher. for instance.
cover twelve subjects and do her work f,
we'll? The teachers who have been
working under this new plan become
It's most ardent advocates.
YThe plan lends itself ID better
The nuoiis. ~ chanrino l,
from, room 10 rodn for their, recita.
tion or studv neriods. meet d;fferrnt /
during liz dav' and II thers /
is any friction It Is not carried along /
IN he same room for dav or days
In many instances 4 teacher Will III.
INV I'M same pnnil IN her branch az I
the work for three OF four wears and
IN that wav Il better able "a determine
The pupils abilities or disabilities,
Pupils Move Around.
And another thought: A pupil
may be in the lead In arithmetic an
behind in geography. In the de-
partmental plan he does not have to
carry his deficiency In the same room
all day and thus he is not so easily
discouraged. The system gives the
pupil more interest In his work.
At the Long school, for instance.