, 1923-06-14

rent Topics" etc, In the GRADES. and
some weekly such as The Literary
Digest" in the high schools. We
are using aids such as those men
toned, to a certain extent, but we
should teach contemporary history
more than we do. 1t is just as i'm
portant to know what the Russians.
Germans. French. English etc. are
doing today, as 1t to know what the
Greeks and Romans did 1000 years
ago.
a Thrift. A great many schools
throughout the country have adopt
ed plans whereby the pupils are en-
couraged to be thrifty, save their
money, and deposit It in school sav-
ings banks and getting interest for
it. The American Bankers Associa-
ton has made a thorough study Of
this work and has published some
surprising figures as to tho amount
of money saved by school children
in this way. The encouragement of
thrift and the checking of a tend
ency toward extravaganza in the
coming generation. Is certainly a
laudable endeavor.
(. Parliamentary Law and Public
Speaking. Rules OF Order as we'll
as the ability to make short talks
In public should he a part of the
regular training that the pupils in
our public schools secure. A great
many pupils 20 through school in
our public schools without learn
ing anything about parliamentary
law, or how public meetings should
be conducted. neither do they get
sufficient training or practice t get
up in public assemblies and express
their Ideas and opinions. A good
deal of this Is being done in some Of
the high school English classes. but
1t should be used more extensively
than 1t is, and even the children in
the grades could profit by this kind
of instruction. 1t can be worked in
incidentally in connection with re-
gular class work.
& Moral and Religious Instruct
ion and Bible Study. We believe
that religious instruction should not
be given in the public schools.
However. there are many children
who do not attend sunday School
or church schools of any kind. and
as they do not get religious or moral
instruction and Bible Study either
IN the public schools or the church
school they are growing up in com.
plete ignorance of the Bible or OF
religion. which Is q condition Ia
be deplored In as much as we call
ourselves a Christian nation. Some
states have already attempted TO
solve this problem in n practical
way. The plan which seems most
satisfactory and which is now be
ing tried in many communities IS
that of allowing the children 10 at
tend a class for religious instruct
Ion In their own particular church
or the church OF their choice each
school day rs a regular class. and
receiving school credit for Il. These
classes are conducted by the minis
ter or by the church people. and the
work must be equivalent 10 that OF
n regular class at school. Each com
munity will have to decide for IT,
self whether or not the plan IS
feasible.
h The Junior High School. on
account OF its separate organization
ana diversified curriculum, the Jun
Tor High School Is proving to be the
solution Of the problem OF Keeping
II seventh. eighth ana ninth grade
pupils In school longer than we have
'''A Wv w W. lhfHf hit the EN8lH
% In which most OF the pupils who
leave school early drop out. as soon
as they are past tho cumpulFory
school age. The School ATTRACTS
these students and keeps them In
school longer than the old form OF
organization.
I Printing, when the new high
school IL being planned II would b.
well TO try to make provision for a
course In printing. Many schools
md this 10 he n popular and ynlu-
able course In many ways. II a. a
course that can be Installed without
n great deal OF expense. II ~ com
parativcly "ary TO install. and In
many cases II IN nlmo1t self-support-
Ing as much ~ tho school printing Is
done In the school shop. II also OF.
fors valuable training to those TAX.
ing IL. not only as a vocational work.
but also bocauro II aids In teaching
accuracy, spelling. ugc OF good Enc.
lirh. punctuation. the training Of tho.
hand. etc.
} Machine Shop and Forg1 Wort.
Since many OF u students 81 20
work In the Union Pacific railroad
shop. II would bo Desirable u tho
school could offer courHci that would
bottor NJ these students 10 WORK In
tho fhop1. As tho school crows and
tho organization expands. IL may be
possible In IN" near future 10 offor
courses In machine shop work, black.
smlthing and forge work.
some OF tho suggestions made
above are no doubt somewhat pro-
mature. but an architect or an on
ginecr plans ahead for tho futurn a.
well as taking care OF tn. immediate
needs and II seems to mn, that 40
school people can profit by ,holr &
ample.
The best way that w. know Of
at present TO Judge or measure the
efficiency OF our teaching Ia by