Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-07-15
Special Sckssi h
Arnold Building Is
Iassrsstias Effort

8nalltOWn is pobbeSBeu VI b0
school OF which there are very Few
II any in cities OF like size IN Iowa.
This special school Is probably new to
many parents In Marshalltown ~ IT
was opened for the first time Oct. 49,
1918, In the Arnold building and 1t has
never been pushed Into the limelight.
It v for pupils who are backward
either from physical defects or other
causes, Tor misfits and for foreigners
without q working knowledge OF Eng-
lish. Last term thirty-six boys ana
girls have been 20 aided by the special
attention given them that they arc
now able to get along faster In their
school work and have @ new outlook.
Az they grow older tho work 10 to Do
enlarged but room Is also to be LETT
for others that may welcome Just such
assistance.
In fact the experiment has proved
so successful that the pupils. II given
a choice. would have no desire to
change back into the regular school
rooms. And It - . much different sys-
tenn than IL used In the regular grade
classes. While the Same general SUB
jects are studied the teacher dnds .
way first TO make the pupils become
interested in their work, their room.
teacher and school. To attain these
results q most circuitous route vas
followed by the teacher.
After obtaining their friendship the
teacher secured their cooperation
thru confidence and kindness. The
next step toward a working basis was
made successful thru the aid Of tho
city physicians and dentists and the
school nurse. Whenever physical de-
fects were remediable the pupils were
given the benefit Of skill and care.
Other physical gains were made under
the guidance Of the teacher. Thru
physical exercises, calisthenics. folk
dances, marching and contests. the
teacher succeeded In arousing seem
ingly insensibls and sluggish Children
to living beings with . desire TO act
THE action gave rise to productive
energy which in turn opened their
minds to receive and absorb what they
could. r.
Then the teaching began In earnest
when the children were taught to talk
understandingly and speak distinctly
thru lip gymnasticA phonics and game
devices. Phonetics in reading was only
a step. Blackboard reading lessons.
utilizing the words Of tho phonetics
chart and words learned thru pictures
and stories, seemed the easiest way.
The next step was using the Beacon
Primer. and, az the primers wereaout-
grown, readers Of the moro advanced
grades were used. Turnout all of the
school work the children were taught
it was big play and same. The con-
test made them vie with one another
for better work and so the teaching
went on. With the reading the child
rem learned to use correct English
forms and the immediate result was
the wisi. to write what they learned
SO they had to know the correct
spelling OF the words.
One lesson worked into another but
so gradual that It was almost imper-
ceptible. Other lessons taken up were
arithmetic In which the principal
things taught were counting, telling
time finding pages in books, making
change, simpler measurements and ele-
mentary combinations and the use Of
the hands thru painting, cutting. col
oring. building and even the care Of
the room. Patriotism was taught thru
stories, maps and songs while religion.
morals and manners were taught as
one.
The nucleus Of tho whole sysrem is
to make the work TT the children, new
er the children made to at into a rigid
system. Pupils from Ill over the city
have attended this special school.
The important work that is outlined
in the report is In charge OF Miss For.
estine Divine, Of this city.