St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1920-10-16

| made some of the arithmetic combi-
| nation cards for use in the teaching
OF the combinations in the primary
grades with the scraps left from the
cutting OF these perception cards
All OF these devices make the teach
ers work more effective and inter
esting to the pupils. Games may be
played with these cards and the
words and numbers learned without
the child realizing that he is work
ing.
| have not attempted to do any
testing work up TO now, and will not
start With>that for couple of weeks
yet, believing that we should get all
work we'll organized before giving
the new tests. As you know, we
succeeded in improving the instruc-
tion In reading very much last ses-
sion, as shown by the last results of
the reading tests and we are to con-
tinue with the giving of these read
ing tests this year and basing our
instruction on the results obtained
from the first test / am sure results
Will show up even better this ses-
sion than last. The children like
these tests and are inspired by them
and compete with one another in try
ing to- get better scores. In addi-
ton to the continuing Of these read
Ing and spelling tests we are gong
to try to improve the instruction Of
arithmetic In our schools this ses-
sion. AS you know, the subject of
arithmetic Is a big one, and one that
needs attention badly in all of the
schools. There seems OF be an ex-
the country IN this subject this year.
What is the reason for this? II We
have been requiring too much WORK
Of the pupils in the primary grades
(and this Is where the failures seem
to occur most), or IL we are not re-
quiring enough work in the upper
grades, or vice versa, we want to find
out the truth in this matter. Ac-
cord.ng to our present course OF
study, | think that the fault Is large
ly due to too much rigorous work
in the primary grades, and the
crowding of too much into the sixth
and seventh grades, the discontinue
ing of arithmetic in many instances
in the high chools, where it should |
be taught intelligently and practical |
ly and grasped with greater ease by |
the pupils. Our present course Of
study has been revised and work |
ready for completion in the new
course, which will be in use in the |
schools of this state beginning win |
next session, and we hope that the |
situation will he remedied by the |
placing Of the proper amount of |
work in the various grades. An
other fact that has been found about |
the present teaching Of arithmetic is |
that We do not require pupils to |
work fast enough. A short snappy |
period of arithmetic gives better re-
suits by far than a long drawn out
one where the pupils are ready to |
go to selep and are not required to
think fast and accurately. Why then
ask why so many pupils hate arith-
metic? Is 1t q wonder that they do
not? We want our teachers TO
teach more arithmetic and the pupils
should learn to do certain simple
computations without the use of the
or the paper and pencil.
We want teachers also to drill more
in the second and h.rd grades on
the four fundamental processes OF
addition, subtraction, multiplication
and division. If the child Is master
Of these processes he win find peas
ure in working problems involving
his ability to reason and select the
process needed to secure the correct
answer.
Initial tests for diagnostic purpos-
es will be given to pupils in the four
processes and in their
ability to reason out problems. In
struction will be based on the re-
suits obtained from these two tests
In arithmetic.
In visiting the Union Grove school
[ find that the brick 1ue, which was
recently built to remedy the smok-
ing In the rooms, has not done any
good, and Mr. Schilling tells me that
it Is as bad as 1t was before ana
Will have to be done De-
fore the cold weather comes.
/ notice that at the Onward school
the new pump has b.r1 Installed ahc
We. king nicely.
In general, would say hat t.
schools are running very smooth''-
with the exception that thoIe seel.'S
to be considerable crowGing in th'
two high schools.
Respectfully,
MARI II SUGG.
The following report Of the Ex-
ecutiye COMMITTEES was -ead:
Covington, La, uct. 7, 1920.
President AID Members OF
st. Tammany Parish schoo. Board
Covington, Louisiana.
Gentlemen:-We, the Executive
Committee, met in regular session on
the above date in the Office of the
superintendent, and examined and
approved bills to the amount OF
s2,166.15.
Respectfully,
N. H. FITZsIMoNs,
H. H. LEVY,
DAVE EVANS,
Executive Committee.