The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1923-08-19
Schools to
Call $4,000
Students S
Over 1000 Teachers Engaged
to Instruct Omaha's Young
Two Courses Will Be
Different.
To Have Special Classes

Washed, even behind the ears,
with hair plastered down and in their
best clothes, feeling all dressed up
and uncomfortable. pupils of Omaha
public schools will march to their
various classes September 4. The at
tendance Of $4,000 children expected
this. year will be met by 1900
~~Necf1ers.
Two courses will be taught in 4
different style than when dad was
a boy" The history class, for in
stance, will deal not just with dates
and wars and things. but will be
real and of actual interest, it is pre-
dicted
To Study Biographies.
The new method. according to J. II.
Beveridge, superintendent of schools,
Is to start the child in the first
grade with teaching him about his
home, his city. his state; showing
him how his city, in this case, Oma-
ha, has played an important part in
the history of his country. The
state. with its trails and trading
posts and other notable features, will
be emphasized
Biographies of noted men will be
studied for the purpose of insti1ling
in the child the desire to emulate
these men in their achievements and
thereby make them better citizens
In the sixth grade an European
ha xt,f11 fo -,
rect a mistaken notion which the
child may have acquired. that the
history Of the world originated in
the United States in general, and
Omaha in particular.
Get Acquainted With Farmer.
Geography and history interlock to
A large extent. and the system used
in teaching the latter will apply IN
getting the farmer before the young.
sters. The tendency will be to get
away from the old idea of simple
iacts and give the child something
tangible on which to hang his ideas.
The why's of geographs win oe
made clear, with special stress on
local topography. The former tire.
some routine is to be eliminated to-
a marked degree.
Washington school, the only new
school to be added to the present
group. will be ready for occupancy
on opening day. This school is m
.ended to relieve the pressure on
Beal and Dundee schools.
The annex on South High will be
ready, but the addition on Highland
school will not be completed. Two
new rooms have been added to Miller
Park school.
Train Deficient Pupils.
There are IA rooms for deficient
children in Omaha. Here pupils who
are below normal mentality will be
given manual instruction which will
make them self-supporting. Classes
in basket making. broom construction.
sewing and some academic work will
oe held.
There are classes for what are called
accelerated children, or those who
with a little added help are able to
progress more rapidly to a higher
class.
The class for correction of speech
numbers about 800 pupils. Those who
lisp, stutter or stammer are taught to
speak normally. Heretofore one teach
er has taken care of the work, but,
according to Mr.. Beveridge. an as.
sistant probably will be named soon,
May Use Old Buildings.
Superintendent Beveridge has been
considering a plan to use the build
ings on Leavenworth street which
will be vacated by the students of
Technical High school when they are
transferred to the new structure on
Cunning street on September "a.
The plan is to turn the old building
into an opportunity school, which
will care for those who are working
and who wish to specialize in some
subject.
1.-THE idea has been tried out in
several cities and Is meeting with
success" said Mr.. Beveridge. EN-
ployers have been only too willing to
grant some employe, whom they
think would be able to take respon-
sible position If he or she had more
training In certain branch, an hour
day, four days of the week, In order
that they may attend these "op-
portunity schools"