davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1955-05-27

to make two to four
times as many errors.
Reading VS.. Feeling Good
Mr.. Agnew's conclusions were
clear and emphatic:
Should phonetic methods be
employed in the teaching of pri-
mary reading?
"The answer to this question
can be given only when the pur-
poses for teaching primary read
ing have been agreed upon. II
the basic purpose in the teaching
of primary reading is the estab-
lishment of skills measured in
this study (namely: independ-
ence in word recognition, ability
to work out the sounds of new
words, efficiency in word pro-
nunciation, accuracy in oral
reading, certain abilities in silent
reading and the ability to rec
ognize a large vocabulary of
written words), the investiga-
tions would support a policy of
large amounts of phonic train
ing.
IF, on the other hand, the
purposes of teaching primary
reading are concerned with icy
in reading social experience,
the pursuit of interests etc.,
the investigations reported offer
no data as to the usefulness of
phonetic training"
I can fully understand Mr..
Agnew's outburSt of sarcasm,
since worked my way through
the same literature. It's exactly
as he says: If you want to teach
children how to read, you need
phonicS; if you just want to
make them feel good, you don't.
Sunday-The Myth of Read
mess. Is it true that a child
isn't ready to learn to read
until he is 6 or Z? DO chill
dren learn to read earlier in
other countries? Why are our
children usually one or two
years behind children of the
same school age in other
countries?
fFrom the book "Why Johnny Can't
Eead; by Rudolf Flesch. copyright 1855.
ny gy Ha1pef q Brothers; Distributed by
Inc Reeister and Tribune Syndicate. :,
Evening star., 1955-05-27

AS you can see, the Durham
children scored higher in every
one of these tests except Type
B, where the scores were even.
In addition. Mr.. Agnew also
gave them the "Gray Oral
Reading Check Test" Set II and
Set III This is a test where the
results are measured by the
number of errors made in read
ing.
On Set II, the Durham chill
dren made on the average 2.35
errors. the Raleigh children
made 8.79. On set III the Dur
ham children made 7.05 errors,
the Raleigh children 1850.
The time scores on these tests
showed that the phonics-trained
Durham children took a little
over a minute to read each set
while the Raleigh word guessers
took considerably less than one
Evening star., 1955-05-27
BY RUDOLF FLESCH

to all teachers who ever taught
these children an elaborate ques-
tionnaire; from the answers he
figures for each teacher the ex-
act degree to which she uses
phonics in her teaching. Then
he works out the statistical re-
lationShip between the children's
test scores and the amount of
phonics they presumably got
from their teachers.
The results are a terrific dis
appointment. They hardly show
any differences. Mr.. Agnew, in
danger of not getting his Phi. D.
degree. goes home and ponders.
What went wrong? He comes
to the conclusion that his basic
assumption was wrong. namely,
that a little phonics would go a
long way. After all, the super
visors of the Raleigh schools are
word-method people; they frown
on phonics. and there is not one
among their teachers who would
dare to do a real job of phonics
In her class. The value of phonics
can only be proven when it is
taken seriously and taught sys-
tematically.
Fortunately, there is the city
OF Durham, N. c., whose super
lntendent Of schools is a pro-
phonlcs man. All teachers in
Durham schools have to teach
phonlcs whether they like it or
not.
So Mr.. Agnew gives another
series of tests to some 300 third
graders in Durham. Their
teachers have all been teaching
more phonics than even the
most phonics-minded teacher in
Raleigh. (Mr. Agnew has estab-
llshed that fact again with
questionnaires.)
Conclusive Comparison
Nothing could be more con-
elusive than a comparison of
those third-grade test scores in
Raleigh and Durham.
Here is the lineup of Mr..
Agnew's average test results
(score of children):
Evening star., 1955-05-27

in all textbooks-is absolutely
wrong and flies in the face Of
all logic and common sense.
Is it the man bites dog
theory Of what makes news"
that leads The Star to take
Flesch so seriously?
Lois M. Rettie.
Evening star., 1955-05-27

In every single research study
ever made phonics was shown
to be superior to the word
method: conversely. there is not
a single research study that
shows the word method su-
perior to phonics.
I know this seems an unbe-
lievable claim. Let me explain
why I feel justified in making it.
Every researcher in every field
of science begins his work by
surveying the previous research
literature in the field. Conse-
quently. almost all research re-
ports are equipped with foot
notes and photographed ref
erences that cover everything
that has been done up to that
point.
A few hours in a library. work.
ing back from the latest studies
in a given area, are therefore
usually enough to check the
sum total of research done to
solve a given problem.
Goes to the Records
I spent two days in the IL
brary of Teachers College, Co.
lumbia University. tracking down
every single reference to a study
of "phonics VS.. no phonics." I
carefully read each one of those
papers and monographs. Natu-
rally, it is possible that some
item or items in the photography
have escaped me; but / honestly
don't think SO. I covered the
ground as diligently as I pos
sibly could. looking for scien-
tif1c evidence in favor of the
word method.
There was none.
Editors note: In his book,
DR.. Flesch gives the results
of research done by several
persons. Only two of the lat
est ones are reported on in
this series.)
Sister M. Dorothy Browne, of
st. Joseph's College, Adrian,
Mich, writes her doctors dis
sertion on "Phonics as a Basis
for Improvement in Reading"
Catholic University of Ameri-
ca, 1889.
How about using phonics for
remedial reading? she says. Let's
see what phonics can do for
sixth-graders. So she gives a
10-minute phonic drill to 100
sixth-graders in six parochial
schools in Chicago. Detroit and
Washington, D. C. Another 100
students form control group
with no phonic drill. After nine
months the two groups are
tested.
Eight Months Ahead
The reading age" of the con-
troll group is 154.9 (that is, the
norm for a child of II years and
II months, that of the phonic-
drill group 1928 13 years and
months.
-minutes-a-day of phonics
for nine months has put them
eight months of reading age"
ahead of their fellow students.
On the basis of her findings,
Sister M. Dorothy Browne comes
to this conclusion: 1.-THE study
of phonics is helpful not only to
the pupil who is deficient in
reading, but is even more effec-
tive in stimulating the better
reader to further growth"
Now we have arrived at 1899,
the publication date of the most
extensive and conclusive study of
them all. 1t is the dissertation
oMDonald c. Agnew, taking his
doctors degree at Duke Univer-
sity.
Mr.. Agnew wants to settle
the old controversy once and for
all. Those limited experiments
with experimental and control
groups of first graders are incon-
elusive, he feels. Let's take all
the children in all the schools in
city, he says, and find out
where they stand at the end of
third grade when the effect of
reading instruction can really
be effectively measured. So one
spring he gives tests to all the
third-graders in all the schools
in Raleigh. N. c.
Before he does that, he gives
Evening star., 1955-05-27
Top Coffee Revenue

AT prevailing coffee prices,
Costa Rica expects record reve-
nue. OF $40 million to $45 million
from its 1954-55 coffee crop, San
Jose learns.
Evening star., 1955-05-27
Alexandria. Va.

did with a Czech book. English
is entirely different.
Evening star., 1955-05-27
Tragic BIuffinq

To the Editor:
I was taught DR.. Flesch's
way to pronounce each letter.
Evening star., 1955-05-27
They Read in 6 Weeks

Arlington, Va.
Evening star., 1955-05-27

ADVERTISEMENT.
The Robbins eagle. (Robbins, Ill.) 1951-1963, 1955-01-15
West Harvey
News
BY HAROLD WILLIAMS

The West Harvey Civic I'm
provement Association will spon-
sor Home Improvement con-
test opening April 1st and clos
ing August lst. Judges will
inspect homes and grounds of
registered entrants both dates
and the three showing most i'm
provement will be war d e d
prizes. Registrations are now
open and may be made with
members of the organization.
An auxiliary for women will
be established Sunday at 800
IN. at 1888 Cooper.
Mrs. James Hudson, 2002 w.
142nd, entertained friends last
Tuesday in her home.
Ed Echor, 14343 Lincoln, eel
ebrated his birthday last Sum-
day.
The Robbins eagle. (Robbins, Ill.) 1951-1963, 1955-01-15
Page 3
THE ROBBINS EAGLE
Saturday, January IS, 1855
HEALTH DEPT. DONATES
AMBULANCE TO POLICE

Last Monday evening, while
most Robbinsites were perhaps
watching their TV sets, the
membres of the Robbins Health
Club and the Village officials
were engaged in a quiet, har-
monious meeting during which
the Ladies of the R o b bin
Health Club accepted the sug-
gestion of donating the anbu-
lance to the Police department,
thus closing a phase of pro-
gressive work being done in the
Village of Robbins.
The Robbins eagle. (Robbins, Ill.) 1951-1963, 1955-01-15
HEALTH CLUB
o By Elizabeth Hudson

This belated announcement
should really have been printed
in the issue of December 18th
but copy somehow got side
trackedbefore reaching the press.
The Health Club ladies gave
the children of the Village q
Christmas Party on December
23rd, 1854 at Lincoln Memorial
School. 1t was a gay and happy
diversion for the youngsters.
The teen-age girls sang corals
beautifully and smaller children
were overjoyed with the toys
The Robbins eagle. (Robbins, Ill.) 1951-1963, 1955-01-15
LOCAL BOY rs NOW AIR
FORCE MECHANIC

PALM BEACH Air FORCE
BASE, Florida, Jan. 10-New1y
assigned to Palm Beach Air
Force Base, Fla, is A/3c Mau-
rice Sanders, son of Mr.. and
Mrs. Frank E. Sanders of 14015
Lydia avenue, Robbins, Illinois.
Palm Beach Air Force Base
is the Military Air Transport
Services training installation for
the Air Forces heavy and me-
dunn air transport and amphi-
bious aircraft crews.
Airman Sanders is presently
assigned as an aircraft mechanic
with the 1741st Air Transport
Squadron.
The Robbins eagle. (Robbins, Ill.) 1951-1963, 1955-01-15

given them.
The ladies of the Health Club
wish to thank the mothers for
bringing the children out and
generating with the club in
bringing some cheer and happi-
ness into the lives of these
youngsters.
We particularly wish to thank
the donors of the toys, fruits
and candies which were dis
tributed to these children-more
than 800 children were present
and were served on this occa-
sion. It was a real pleasure to
watch their happy faces.
We had plenty of everything
and some was sent to the Coun-
ty Hospital
Mrs. Marie Ewing, Elizabeth
Hudson and Ella Craig made
gifts to the children in their
neighborhood. Mrs. Harding,
wife of Policeman Harding. also
made gifts to the neighborhood
children.
Mrs. Ella Craig is president
of the Health Tub and Mae
Walker, secretary.
The Robbins eagle. (Robbins, Ill.) 1951-1963, 1955-01-15
BITS O. NEW S
IT'S A BOY!

Mr., and Mrs. Leroy E. Boyd
are the proud parents of a baby
boy. He was born at Provident
Hospital Saturday, January 8,
1855 at 400 pm. He has been
named Robert Myron Boyd.
Mr.. Eddie L. Williams, Sr.
and Mrs. Addie Marsh announce
The Robbins eagle. (Robbins, Ill.) 1951-1963, 1955-01-15

the recent marriage of their
daughter, Addie Bessie, to Mr..
George Green of Seal, Alabama,
son of Mrs. Irene Mason. The
newlyweds will reside in Chi
cago.
The Robbins eagle. (Robbins, Ill.) 1951-1963, 1955-01-15

FOR RENTING Groom
apartment with bath; large
closet; hot water and heat.
Telephone: Fulton s. 4481.*
The Robbins eagle. (Robbins, Ill.) 1951-1963, 1955-01-15

The Golden Gate has 23o
acres of painted surface.
Evening star., 1955-11-30

gradual disappearance of cam
Ger cells in mice and monkeys.
said DR.. Hamao Umezawa of the
National Institute of Health
Cell changes began to appear
five days after administration
of the drug. he reported.
Tests Of the new material. OBJ
tanned from a type Of soil fungus,
now viii begin on humans. Or.
Umezawa said. He expressed the
belief 1t would be for cancer
what streptornycin has done for
tuberculosis"
Streptomycin, one Of the older
Evening star., 1955-11-30

Iantibiotics, has become a lead
ing drug against TB. 1t is rated
especially effective when used
with one Of two other drugs, but
lit does not cure all cases.
The new substances is the Sec
Iond Of the kind to be brought
out by Or. Umezawa. Last year
he announced the discovery of
an antibiotic which he called
sarcomycin and which has been
used on several hundred cases
of mailignancy.
Evening star., 1955-11-30

vania Farm Bureau co-opera
tives as "a gesture of affection
and esteem to Americas No.
Farmer.
Mr.. Eisenhower said 'it's just
wonderful" that members of the
farm co-operatives think enough
of me" to present the tractor.
Shows OF Cow Caller
The President enlivened the
presentation by showing of an
electric COW -caller which sent q
resounding moo over his pas
lures and brought the cows COM
ing on the run.
Look at 'em GOMEZ Mr.. Ell
senhower cried. They do it
every tirnei"
The presentation was made on
a wind-swept barnyard hill on
the farm of Ivan Feaster, who
runs the Presidents farm. Mr..
Feaster's farm adioins that Of
the Presidents.
MIR. Eisenhower. appearing at
and ruddy of face, walked about
800 yards down rise from his
own home and up the hill to the
Feaster place. He disdained an
offered lift by, Secret Service
Agent Deter Flohr in the Presi-
dents golfmobile.
AS protection against the Bit
ing cold he wore a tan wind
breaker and a brown knitted
scarf.
Pleased at Gift.
MIR. Eisenhower exhibited a
lively interest in the tractor and
the plow. Someone told me it
was as pretty as a station
wagon, Mr.. Eisenhower COM
mented. II see what they mean"
Mr.. Eisenhower laughed and
gave out with a MY Golly"
when it was pointed out that the
tractor was equipped with a.
push-button radio. S
The built-in cigarette lighter
win be so much excess baggage
as far as the President is con-
cerned because he doesn't smoke.
Mr.. Eisenhower told the visit
Evening star., 1955-11-30
Cancer Antibiotic
Showing Promise

TOKYO. Nov. 80 F.--A Japa-
nese medical researcher has an
nounced the discovery OF a new
antibiotic which he says is q
promising agent against cancer.
The new substance caused a
Evening star., 1955-11-30

Federation of woman's Clubs
exchange student at West vir-
Iginia University, will be the
honor guest at the annual dinner
lof the Martinsburg Woman,s|
Evening star., 1955-11-30

ing farmers he used to have an
idea that he would be able to do
some heavy. work around his
farm. He added that nov /
guess / can't do that''-a refer
ence to his heart attack-and
would need the tractor.
Building Up Soil
After the presentation, Mr..
Eisenhower took a farmers de-
light in showing of some Of his
stock. He said he went In for
cattle-raising because he wanted
to build up the soil.
"Two-thirds or three-fourths
of the top soil. he commented.
sis in the Atlantic Ocean or on
the way there"
Mr.. Eisenhower walked with
the visitors to the edge of a
fenced -paSture to point out some
OF his prize cattle. He grinned
and had Mr.. Flohr, in the golf
mobile. demonstrate the cow
calling horn attached to the We
hicle.
AS the cattle numbered toward
the fence along which the vehi-
cla yvoS haiya0 d,.fstar uorolr5 !
Jordan. one of the cooperative
representatives. said, ''Mr. Pres
ident. you showed us farmers
something we haven't seen be-
fore"
The farmers said politics had
no part in the presentation of
the tractor.
sWe just want Americas No.
l farmer to have the tractor" II
a spokesman said.
Evening star., 1955-11-30
rector and PIow Gift
PIeoses No. | Former
BY a star staff Correspondent.

GETTYSBURG. Pa. Nov so-Presdent Eisenhower.
pleased farmer getting piece Of valuable equipment
happily accepted today at his farm shining tractor
equipped with cgaret lighter and radoand deep age plow
The red and yellow tractor the 5000
presented Eisenhower by the indiana Ohio Penns
Evening star., 1955-11-30
Honor costo Ricun

MARTINsBURG. W. Va. Nov.
80 (Special) Miss zayhda de la
Paz, of Costa Rica, West Virginia
Evening star., 1955-11-30
THE EVENING STAR, Washington, D. C. ~ AIT
WEDNESDAY

Friday She be intro ShepherdstownMss Lillian Zee
duced also to the exchange of Kang Korea
dents now at Shepherd College land Parvz Moareh
Evening star., 1955-07-13
Church Women
oGive Pageant

A three-hour religious pro-
gram, 'The Pageant of Faith, /"
will be presented by the
Women's Missionary Society of
the African Methodist Episcopal
Church at 8 o'clock tonight in
Griffith Stadium.
Tonight's program. q highlight
|of the society's third quadrennial
convention which ends tomorrow,
will be preceded by a 5O0-car
|motorcade, which will carry the
l 500 convention delegates from
the Metropolitan A. M. E.
Church, Sixteenth and M streets
NV, to the stadium.
The pageant includes a play,
Faith Is the Victory" adapted
from Pilgrims Progress; q
l ,000-voice choir, the Allen Uni
Iversity Singers, from Columbia,
IS. c., and other music by the
Army Band and the band Of the
Columbia Lodge Elks.
Evening star., 1955-07-13
Answer 10 GELsEMruM

glee, glum, glue. guile guise, else Iege
lime, seem. siege, slime. slim. slum, slue,
slug. smile. SNUG, miles, mime. mules,
muse, isle.
Evening star., 1955-07-13
WORD GAME
Find 26 or more words in
vALV IT'S,

meaning, inflammation Of .
valve" Average is "a; time limit
20 minutes.
Rules of the game-I. Words must b.
Of four or more letters 2. Words which
acquire four letters by the addition Of
such as bats cars" are moi
used. 4. Proper names are not used.
Evening star., 1955-07-13
The Age Of Innocene

The Age Of Innocence
One Of the best-known paintings of the famous English
artist Sir Joshua Reynolds named The Age of Innocence
famous portrait painter. Reynolds especially fond
painting children but the little girl in The Age of Innocence
not any particular child.
The picture hangs in the National Art Gallery London
where thousands Of children story told
about little American girl who the picture there and
up to 1t and said: II know that little girl She smiled though
the girl In the painting of her friends
experience shows just how much the picture
children.
Color today's picture though you artist who
painted selecng the coors that think best for the
little girl and the English countryside her.
and with your collection paintings children
Tomorrow: Baby Stuart
The Farmville herald and farmer-leader. (Farmville, Va.) 1934-1957, 1955-03-04
BY i'm BERRY

N0VIa1 ana fIe4fr-- T9-@ ~
wav beld i certain farinatIai, I'll
prank pantau III rail.pya
This abv9ns faseinat44a bl9s-
somed o1t al t.a+ tender age n h
when Frank armed v1fh i dr,o,-
st5ck h aarh mana an III. III
the ajlver screen ernbayked III j
musical career ta4t has Eegt h4a
III movie houses -vsr since
Films eomrared Vfh todag 4
peciaeular verb o8.t4 4 iii dIf-
l.rept vben prank was yral+h
1hey were silent thpn ana IDEAL
theatres relied unon thejr nam n
The Farmville herald and farmer-leader. (Farmville, Va.) 1934-1957, 1955-03-04

l.a9 laqt aeek.
NH and Mr. Emmett Dun
KHAN aere In Richmond recently
Nh and NJ Sweden Allen
are enioyins their nv recently
obtained
Nf NJ NJ Julian visited Nfrs
JACK Alien and Mr. Bolline lass
/, atk
Vytnari rroffitts mother Amid
teI ~ Charlottesville agr
4ndng ona tlu1r alth hlm
.fhr W@Cs5 IT Snytns meet
"Wednesday March with Mis-
Florence Jones.
Ar and Mrs Cornelius. of
M Iehlgaa ard NH and Mrs Vjr-
gI1us Grigs and three children
at Alexandria stopped by for q
ui.s with MI and MIS- q RI
Wise en route To their homes.
afler having spent several Reek
Visiting numerous cities II F1o-
r.da They also stopped BY tn se-
relatives ln jacksonville. FIN
Mr. and Mrs r ). Bailey visit
ia Mrs wallace Raines' I'M John
sob Wills Hospital Sunday
Af.ss Janet Harris Is a patient Ia
Sauthslde Hospital. having sus-
tanned q severe burn Saturday
The Farmville herald and farmer-leader. (Farmville, Va.) 1934-1957, 1955-03-04

Ne WY designed
silent tread has more
angles more skid
protecting edges
than ever before
has 70o more skid
resisters than ords-
nary tires.
The Farmville herald and farmer-leader. (Farmville, Va.) 1934-1957, 1955-03-04

No hum or y hine
because tread ele.
ments OVERLAP to
prevent rhythmic VI
hratlon Silent Safety
Grip Tread #ont
squeai even on
sharpess turns
The Farmville herald and farmer-leader. (Farmville, Va.) 1934-1957, 1955-03-04

III a nail should
penetrate this tire,
the Safety Liner grips
il and slows air
loss No sudden
nat tres no need
to change fats ca
the road. I
Evening star., 1955-11-06

From upper left:
For junlors, block and HE
glow Of cotton vslveteen. A
skirt spreod wide. A soft
boteou neckline dipping
at the back. IT'S. 1898
Boil frinoed royon vslvst
cop, 1925
White kidskin gloves from
France, 0.oS
Block beouty IN two toft-shsen
silks. our coversd-up coektoll
dress BY Rudolf. Mott
jersey top flows Into tube-
slender peou de sole skit,
1000
VIM. Silyermon's silk velvet
fheotre shell holoed with
nylcn looking olomorously like
monkey fur, 5000
The nuff, block-dyed red fox
fur origin: conodo. Add
l0% Federal tax to 500
Block IN block wroppinos -.
the double dozzIe of royon
velvet vost-collored coat
over stem-line dress, for The
dress. fold surprise Of turtle
neckline and an explosion Of
hemline pleots. Coat Is
crush and spot resistont, Pellon
under-shoped, Milium lined.
Dress, 1914, 30.o5
Coat s-l6, 5o.oS
lrene's silkve piAbox, $500
W6L-Junior Misses, 4th Floor:
Chcndellsr Room, Misses Dresses,
Coats and Suits, Fur Salon, Ord Floor;
Millinery and Millinery Salon, Ind
Floor; Glover. lst Floor.
The Wrangell sentinel., 1955-05-06
MIXED UP AIR ALERT SOUNDS REAL THING" IN WESTERN STATES

COLORADO SPRINGS -Ri-A mixed up air defense communica- tions caused a real thing" air O. lert in most western states at mid morning Thursday. The air force blamed it on failure to notify the western command of training flight BAY bombers. Air force headquarters in Washington ask full explanation. It would be on full explantion. It would be on this system that air defense of the United States would depend in case of a genuine attack.
 The alert was long enough to set sirens screeching and civil de- fense workers scrambling in Oak land and other cities. It was short enough so whole states - Color ado, Washington and Nevada - were not alerted. Radio televis- ion stations in many cities were ordered off the air. The alarm lasted from three to 10 minutes in various states.
 The BAYS were on a training flight in an exercise of the stru- tegic air command and the con- tinental air defense command.
The Wrangell sentinel., 1955-05-06
WIND ENSEMBLE ENDS ALASKA MUSIC TRAIL
 CONCERTS FOR SEASON

As a grand finale to WranbelFs Alaska Music Trail concerts fo1 the 1954-55 season, the San
 Francisco Symphony wind en- 'semble appeared here at the high school gymnasium last Saturday evening.
 Wiungell music lovers enjoyed
 the varied and colorful program
 presented by these five artists:
 Merrill Jordon, flute; Merrill Reminbton, oboe; Frealon Bib- bins, clarinet; Raymond Ojeda, bassoon and William Sabatini, French horn. Their presentation of all wind instruments was an unusual venture in the field of concert programs. Their concert opened with a series of selections by Reicha which were followed by Hindemith's Little Chamber Music" and for an encore, Me Dewell's well known and loved ITO a Wild Rose" which, played by such artists as the Wind En- semble proved themselves to be, gave it a delightful and entirely new tone.
 The Wind Ensemble concert was under sponsorship of the To- cal Elks lodge and Emblem club. The artists were met ut the plane Saturday noon by Frank Webb and William Eastaugh who, after them around to points of interest in town, took them on boat trip on the Eastaugh cruis- CT. In the evening they were dinner guests of the Elks and Emblem club at the Elks Club and after the concert, were again guests of the club for an evening of entertainment and lunch.
 On Sunday morning the artists were breakfast guests of MT. and Mrs. Webb who drove them to the plane.