Newark post., 1920-02-25


"Holy Grail" of idealistic youth
and the shibboleth of successful
manhood. Especially apt there
fore was the choice of this name
for a class recently formed at the
grammar school for pupils of all
grades who through illness, loss
of time from other cause or simi-
lar unfortunate circumstance
find it difficult to keep up with
the regular work of their grade.
This class now numbers % .
pupils 9 girls and 10 boys all of
whom are making progress far
and away beyond anything that
Superintendent Morris, Miss Snyd-
er or Miss Mary c. Hoey who was
chosen their teacher, dared hope
for.
The first day was devoted to a
getting-acquainted program, dur
ing the course of which series
1 of questions were asked relative
to their interests in the home and
in the school. A number of test
lessons were also given so that
definite idea might be obtained as
to what help the individual child
needs.
Then began the work of the
term which doesn't follow the con-
ventional routine of ordinary
school work for every one may do
as much as he can. This sounds
revolutionary in a class contain
ing 10 boys but so far according
to the teachers diary, more arith-
metic is done than she can grade
in an evening. When history
chapter is finished that is marked !;
when fifty spelling words are
learned, they are given out; and
each boy and girl does as much of
his favorite subject as he has time
for and is given due credit. In
the subjects in which he is weak
the teachers give individual and
personal aid. In this way the
handicap which made the keeping
up with his grade, discouraging
thing, is soon overcome and the
child is placed in whichever Of
the grades his progress and pre-
paration best fit him.
Each child keeps a diary of hi:
daily activities, in school and ou
of school. This is done neatly il
ink during the last 10 or Is min
utes of the daily session and i
then handed over to the teache
for her inspection. She is thu
enabled to obtain an approxlmat
idea of the interests and activltle
of individuals in the group, bot
in the school and in the home.
A typical diary follows:
February 5, 1920. This is tn
fourth day in the opportunit
class. This class is to give an
one the opportunity to work a
hard as he can. Then they wi
put you in class that your Wor
compares. -,
I have done seventy-three aritl
metic problems, twenty-five HI
tory questions, a writing lessc
and fifty spelling words. We a
also going to be clean and nes
February 6, 1920, got to scho
about twenty minutes of nine.
PLAYED until nine o'clock. Th'
went inside and started to work
arithmetic. Then went out to
cess. Came in and had spellll
lesson with fifty words in it. Aft
that reading. Then went to di
ner, after dinner, I went back
school we had history until
cess. After recess we worked
a diary until it was time to
home.
February 9, 1920, this MOI
ing | came in and said t
Lords Prayer and saluted the fl
Then l did my arithmetic. tn
went out to recess, when l came
studied spelling and arithmetic
Then is was time to go no
to dinner. l went home and
INV dinner. l came back to sch
at | o'clock. | worked on hist
until recess. We played all
cess. When we came in we ha
nature lesson. Had penmans
lesson. Then we all worked o
diary until we were dismissed.
February 10, 1920, this is
light day of the opportunity eli
I have a hundred and fifty ar
metic problems and two hund
history questions. l had a ST
ing lesson. Have finished
story in my reading. We are
ing to try to have every one