The Geauga Republican-record. [volume] (Chardon, Geauga County, Ohio) 1922-1952, 1951-11-29
Dear Editor:

We il the new West Geauga
school district are proud of
our ability to work together
to vote the necessary funds
for a high school building to
take care of the increasing
numbers of the younger gener-
alton.
But to rest on the laurels of
our recent achievement would
he disastrous, especially when
Sne considers the investment
we are about to make. The
housing of pupils is only a part
of the problem of educating
boys and girls. What goes on
inside the house is of major
importance to those interested
in the welfare of children and
the future of mankind. This
may be a good time to set
down and evaluate the gains
enjoyed by the residents of
West Geauga school district.
In the high school, Mr.. Van
Brunt, principal, by appointing
a dean of boys and a dean
Of girls, has created a depart
ment which can expand into
a much needed guidance pro-
gram. A student council has
been formed under the super
vision OF the dean. This is an
effective way to bring the
students and faculty together
and to teach youth responsible
ity in governing themselves.
With the doubling Of classes
of the former two districts,
teachers are available for this
kind of service. A profession
al librarian on duty part time,
an instructor in art and an
other music teacher are evil
dence that the high school pro-
gram has been enriched. Extra
curricular athletics for girls
and class in mechanical
experimentation with an old
car have stirred new interest
in school work and activities.
In the lower school, Mr..
Samuel has turned his abilities
and efforts from twelve grades
to the problems of the elemen-
tary school-age children, the
middle-aged child, as psychol-
ogists call them, whose need
for understanding is great. To
bring community life close to
the pupils comprehension, he
has arranged for frequent field
trips and has helped teachers
secure the best equipment pos
sible in books, maps, moving
pictures, slides and other Wis
ual aids. BY using these modern
methods, history, geography and
science become meaningful for
the students. Extra-curricular
activities, for which there is
time in a well run school, are
an effective way to teach citi-
zenShip. Planning play for an
assembly program or a party
for a special event gives an
opportunity for real cooperative
effort. The children can see the
results of citizen participation
within their own small COM
munity, - the school. Music
instruction every morning and
supervision of art work from
the third grade up, rounds
out a busy school day.
Developing healthful attitudes
towards oneself, others, and
the tasks at hand; both edu-
Gators and employers agree, are
the objectives with which pub
lie schools should concern
themselves. In West Geauga we
can be proud our elementary
school is meeting the challenge
of modern education. Compel
ent supervision pays off.
We must be ever mindful
that these gains we have listed
are the obvious ones. There are
many other advantages not
easily definable. We must also
remember that in order to
move ahead we must maintain
the standard attained by the
consolidation of the West Gea-
uga School District.
Irnnn M Rannicfnr