The theocrat. [volume] (Zion City [i.e. Zion], Ill.) 1914-1949, 1919-06-14
School Exhibit at Zion College Building
Zion Educational Institutions, Held on
June 9th and 9Th
&C. B. W.

1t is the verdict of competent judges that
the School Exhibit of Zion Educational In
.stitutions, held at Zion College Building on
June 5 and 7 eclipsed anything of the kind
previously seen in Zion-even surprising, In
a measure, the splendid exhibit of last year.
! Indeed, as one delved into the character of
the work accomplished during the school
year now closing, he was surprised at its
scope and depth; also at the wonderful ad-
vancement in the methods of instruction now
used over those of twenty-five or thirty years
ago, and the multifarious systems for keep
ing even the dullest students interested.
When one can manage to enlist the alert in
terest of child in what would otherwise be
prosaic task, the battle is three-fourths
won.
In Zion Schools, the object continually is
to place the work on practical basis. In
stead of it consisting of a lot Of fine, fanciful
theories which the student would fail to
grasp and which he never could apply in
after life, the work is interviewer with
everyday affairs, so that when he is pushed
out into the business or professional tide, in
stead of being helpless and inexperienced,
ne is equipped to take his proper place.
| Common, hard labor, under the methods
of instruction used, instead of being prosaic.
becomes attractive. The more abstruse
branches, such as Geometry or Latin, are
presented in such way that the pupil not
only gets an intelligent grasp of them but
becomes intensely interested and regards
them as wonderful new fields of knowledge
and adventure, which he is eager to explore.
In other words, the teacher does not talk
over the heads of the children, but the sub
Jects are brought down to their level and
presented in such a way that they instantly
see ways in which the knowledge acquired
can be applied.
| FOR instance, if you suggest the study of
physics to the average boy, he is likely to
! look tor way of escape; but if you take
MIN into the class room and show him a
wonderful glass instrument by which crude
petroleum is converted into the commercial
product, you can hardly tear him away. He
wants to experiment with it all day. The
mechanical part of it appeals to him.
The work on display at the school exhibit
was not prepared especially for the occasion,
but consisted entirely Of portions of that
done. at periods all through the year. In
many cases, the exhibits were arranged to
show the progress made as the school wear
advanced. One was filled with wonder that
SO much could have been DONE and vet that
presented was only small percentage of
the work actually accomplished.
Many gratifying remarks were heard
from persons OF wide experience in school
Work-people who have made a careful
study OF educational systems and who have
kept IN close touch with schools in various
places, especially the larger cities of the
land. Some said that the exhibit fully
equaled anything they had ever seen others.
that 1t excelled in certain respects. such as
accuracy, thoroughness and careful pains
taking labor.
In tact, the standard of school work is I'm
to that OF any school in the land, either in
grade or High School work. We would not
hesitate to put the graduating class this wear
against any other in the country.
One OF the chief aims in Zion Schools is
thoroughness. Whatever is done, is done
we'll 1t must bear the most careful ANALYSIS
the most searching criticism on the part Of
the teacner. 1t must come up to a high
standard before being passed. Ninety-ive
per cent III Zion Schools means ninety-Hve
per cent. Perhaps ninety-hve per cent in
some schools and under the standards of
some instructors would not mean more
than elghty-hve per cent in Zion Schools
Instead of the pupils being hurried pell-
nell, haphazard, through their course in
order to gain their marks, every subject
IS mastered in detail They must delve
under the surface instead of skirnmino-
over the top They must crack the mt
and extract the kernel.
One of the foremost ideas carried out
in Zion Schools is the writing of compost
ton in book form. On exhibit were hun
dreds of these books, neatly executed and
bound, dealing with an immense variety of
subjects. In preparing them, THE pupil
was required to search every known field
OF information for material, and the vast
array of facts produced, for instance in
the study of History or Geography. was
amazing. Things learned in this way earlv
IN life are never forgotten.
| This is not only an excellent training in
| the requirement of knowledge, but also in
a literary way
General Grant in his Memoirs remarked
that while he was always at loss for
words in attempting to address an audience
he could express himself with facility and
ease in written language, for the reason
that while at West Point he formed the
habit of always writing his lessons out in
full. Longfellow made a somewhat SINH
lar statement at one time when called upon