Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1916-05-10

no Uul'III0u " Ou PGIJlIl6IIu6IIs
Foster in Report to
Government.
The following article was prepared
for the Bureau of Education at Wash.
1ngton, as an outline of civic work
done In the grades of the Willmar
schools:
We have recently been asked If the
Willmar Public Schools offered a
course in civics in the elementary
grades. If civics in this connection
is to be defined as "The Science of
Civil Government" I must answer
no; but If we are to understand civics
in a grade to mean the dynamics of
right conduct, should answer yes.
We have no course, which covers more
than one month, which is spoken of
in connection with the word civics:
but we have work which is regularly
outlined by the year, which is intend
ed to inform our grade boys and girls
regarding their civic environment in
such way as to stimulate their nat
ural desire for action, and lead them
to grow into g. civic consciousness.
Beginning with the first month of
the school year, some general topic
is given for study by all of the grade
rooms of the system each month. For
instance;
In the fall County Fair with it's
exhibits by young and old is taken for
September's work.
work, fall flowers and vegetables are
taken for the month Of October.
This, in turn, is followed with the
study OF trees of the city just as they
are losing their leaves in the fall;
teachers and pupils meeting in No
vember.
For later November and December,
story telling, relating especially to
the Pilgrims, Thanksgiving and
system.
For the winter month of January,
great people of today, local, state, ma
t1onal, and international are cons1d-
cred with relation to the effect which
their life's work is having upon us.
February, the month of great BIRTH
days, is devoted to storing the mind
with beautiful and appropriate men,
ory gems.
March and April are devoted to the
called civic helpfulness; closing the
years work In May with final study
of birds. -.
These topics are given intensive
study by each grade room during the
| rxr|i to- i01
der of the day; but is not wholly
dropped or confined to that months
work alone. At the end of the period
of study the grade teachers, together
with several representatives from
sembly room Of the high school build
ing for q report of the months work,
and a final discussion of what has
been done. In these discussions and
reports the pupils of all of the grades
take an active part. The representa-
tives from each room outlining to the
rest of the audience in detail what
their room has done. These reports
and discussions include means of rec
ognizing, classifying, and growing
fruits, trees and vegetables, together
with comparisons and discussions OF
|
tions, and means of propagation. In
the story telling meeting, the children
from each room reproduce several
stories which they have learned dur
ing the month. Beside the content
Of the story, considerable effort is ex
pended in preparing the pupils to be
able to stand before an audience and
deliver a message in an effective man
ner. This same end is carried out II
regard to memory gems in the month
Of February.
One Of the very interesting month.
of the year, is the month of Janu
ary when the pupils are searching
their own minds, questioning theil
parents and friends, and reviewin,
the magazines In school, and library
and home in order to become familia
with the Worlds workers of today
and with the work which they ar,
doing, and its effect upon the peopl
Of the World, especially our own com
munity.
In March and April the thought /
more speciacally-civic helpfulness
and in this the pupils first study an
memorize civic creed; discuss prot
lens of local civic administration
duu Iueu OESdu1Zo 1uCO b Juu1Or C1V1
League or Civic Clubs In the variou
rooms; plan lines of effective civi
activity, which they endeavor to cal
ry out. In this work they strive
enlist the sympathies and co-operatio
of other rooms in the buildings of tn
system, the private property owner
in the city, the school board, con
mercial club, and city council. I
this connections the following acti1
tiles are among those which hav
been undertaken by the pupils of th
Willmar schools this year:
One ward building organized tw
teams of boys, during the winte
months, for the purpose Of competin
with each other in keeping the walk
free Of snow on two sides of th
school block. These teams wei
faithful to the undertaking, and afte
every snowfall strove faithfully
free the walks on their side of th
block before the other team coul
] clear the opposite side. This wor
waa concoivod nv The n,1nils and I'll