The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-04-23
Central Students Once a
Week Criticize Their
Fellows Speeches
MEANS BETTER TALKS
English Director Hopes Work
Will Develop Citizens
Before Public


members Of ono of tho English class
os Mt Central high school every
morning. In It's weekly require
mont Of oral themes with their ac-
companying criticism, this is Just
what the English department. Of
Central high is helping It's students
10 do.
TO think on ones feet and 10 be
able to express those thoughts CO.
hcrently and maintain polso Mt the
samo time IL an achievement that
IL not as universal as might be in
divldually wished for. There is many
n Tulsa business man who, finding
himself ~ an active member OF the
CiVlc club TO which he may belong
faced with the necessity of arising
ana verbally declaring himself be-
fore that club. has heartily wished
himself In Timbuctoo or somewhere
east of SueS or anywhere but where
ho is. Ward II. Green, English de-
partmcnt director believes that abil-
ity TO speak publicly may be- devel-
oped by training; no believes that
such ability means not only Hssur-
ance of poise but development Of
personality M well and II Is this con-
Niction that has prompted the week.
ly English class habit OF oral
themes.
MADAM Chairman. he said most
best thinkers
MADAM Chairman. his subject
matter was well organized but he
failed to speak loudly enough for all
tho class to hear"
II -
word, 'boughten'. Is there such n
word?"
Madam Chairman, he stood with
his hands IN his pockets all the timo
he was talking"
A Terrible Ordeal.
One after another the students
make their criticism OF the student.
his talk and appearance after he IN
d. through. The student remains fac
ing the class while such criticism IL
offered. II Ia all done In that friend
ly and Interested way. But the thing
that impresses the casual visitor
most. perhaps. is the earnestness OF
the students. The entire absence OF
any self consciousness. A student
IL in the chair as chairman, the
order of procedure In ordained and
everything runs smoothly. A theme
is given, comments are called for,
the weak points and the good points
OF tho talk and speaker are stressed
by the crltics,-everything noted
and discussed, from mistakes In
grammar to assimilation and yer.
bal treatment of material.
OF course, grasp OF the subject n,
well as poise varies with tho mental
ity and personality of the student
But the noticeable thing is that
called upon. each student rises TO his
or her feet and is perfectly capable
of giving an impromptu talk. There
are several classes given over en-
tirely to students less quick than
their fellows-''repeaters," some OF
them are called. classes made up OF
students who have flunkcd and are
taking their work over again. with
tho responsibility OF talking devolv
ing entirely upon them, they tall,
and are developing qualities initia-
two and assurance that probably
they would never have acquired In
classes where their more versatil,
mates naturally took the lead away
from them.
Glasses from repeaters md begin.
ners' English to the elective senior
courses have their oral themes every
Monday. Tho subject matter variei
in complexion from content OF The
Atlantic Monthly to newspapers
from Greek mythology TO want ads
from Emerson to movie censorship
They Talk of World Ads.
'"rhe Tulsa World advertisement
don't hctrny your confldence---yo,
don't feel that you are being tricke,
by them"
Somebody said n little while ag
that the ads In The World were Jus
put anywhere don't think 80. See
how they are built up from the low
or left of the page TO the right"
"This ad in Tho World says TO m
This Is what we have. Come an
see. This other ad says 20 me "ThI
is what we have. Come and buy
"The World has a Monday bus
ness page that seems 10 stress IN
optimistic and the progressive sid
of business life, The business stor
IL surrouned by standing ads and
achedule OF civic clubs, and the er
tire page seems TO be well ba
nnced."
These arc n few of the oommen
made upon The World advertiser
I'm oral themes. In one of the Englis
classes last Monday. II merchan
of Tulsa knew with what keei
ness and with what discernmei
Central high students study the
advertising, remarked one of n
teachers. it might give them a ne
and interesting angle on the prep,
ration of their ads. The subie
matter for oral themes deals wit
other phases Of newspaper life {
woll--handling of news, the way
IS played up, the editorial polio
etc. Current events, books. etc. al
discussed in these classes. And Il
debates are feature,
Last Monday the subject of ur
versal physical training for hig
school students was debated. La
october, during debate week, su,
1ects ranging from restricted imm
grafton to the ku-Klux klan wei
discussed, and by this method u,
partment Director Green was ei
abled to pick out "for future rcfe
ence" the most prominent debat
material in the school.
Principal Merle C. Prunty, dl
cussing the oral theme plan, G!
pressed his belleef that the pre-em
nence that Tulsa high has and
obtaining in the state and In n
southwest for Its students ability
public speaking IN directly trac
able TO the training that the or
theme work gives. The plan N
been in operation now for 20
years, and the 1929 senior stude
has had the benefit of II all throui
his course. The training deriy
therefrom. the poise, the enrichme
of vocabulary, the freedom fr,
phIf rnpactouaness ia avid.n. A..