Norwich bulletin., 1919-03-29
SCHOOL CURRICULUM MUST
TEST UP FOR RESULTS

Notwithstanding the Indictment wea-
ther large audience met at the
Chamber of Commerce hall Friday af-
ternoon to listen to Miss Gail Harrison
of the Lincoln School, New York, who
spoke on some modern educational
practices. Miss Hamilton, who is a
most magnetic speaker, thoroughly
conversant with her work, was intro
duced by Superintendent e. J. Gra-
ham of the Norwich schools.
Beginning her address, the speaker
dwelt at length on the principles of
education as it applies to all grades,
and the, necessity of making a school
curriculum richer and more worth
while.
Each subject in a school curricul' }
she said, should be tested by the query
as to whether 1t will bring about re-
suits, which nothing else can. The
greatest emphasis Is now being put on
individuality not on uniformity, to find
how few children may be left to find
for themselves. Individual treatment
is emphasized as against group treat
ment, where the curriculum should ar
range to come within the capacity of
the child. Many children are motoS-
minded, and should have a chance to
express that mind. We should have
standards and individual tests like
those instituted by Simon Binet, of
minimum requirement and maximum
effort.
The aim of reading Is to establish a
a love and thirst for what Is inside the
covers of a book. Everyone realizing
the needs of little children, feels that
the elementary school should give the
best education possible for the first six
years, which are very important Il les.
A thirst and mental development for
reading may sometimes be acquired
even in the kindergarten.
Special emphasis must be placed en-
silent reading, with frequent tests to
find out if a child is assimilating what
he reads. Preparation for stories and
class criticisms, so that a child may
read aloud for the pleasure of vi .ors
should not be ignored. nor the silent
assistance of the library hour" when
special books are at the disposal of the
young scholars. Stories should be of a
type to build up standards of choice,
and organize, rather than excite imagi-
nation.
Miss Hamilton, as an expert in child
education, advocates the throwing
away of stereotype system, espe lllly
in writing, which, though of necessity
must be legible, may be allowed indi-
Great stress was placed on the val
liable lesson taught by school dramat-
les, which enables a child to forget self
to put it across" to other people. Ere
quent excursions to industrial centers
where child may see for himself how
things are made, and form his own
critical judgments, are also desirable,
from an educational standpoint.
The acid test of modern education is
activity. and the time schedule is one
of its big problems, but gymnasium
special languages, designing and other
studies may all be worked into the reg
ular programme.
Every child needs daily chances to
initiate his own play and work. Thus
will power be given to plan and exc
cute educational curiosity, which is one
of the most important factors in a
normal child's life. 1t is a big prob
lem to help mothers to help their chill
dren to use up their leisure time ef-
fectively.
Miss Harrison interspersed her in
| teresting talk, with many examples OF
methods and experiments tried at the
Lincoln school, which will be of ines
Unable value to the many teachers