From the Kit Carson Record, November 9, 1911
On September 28th a visit was made to each department of the Seibert schools. Adding two new rooms to the building and employing four teachers make it possible to do thorough work in all ten grades. The principal, Mrs. Anna Pritchard is delighted with the spirit of good citizenship and the disposition to work manifested by the high school pupils. Knowing the qualifications of the principal and the record of the pupils, good returns may be expected from the Seibert High School.
The grammar grades are in charge of Miss Jessie Magee who is teaching her first term in Colorado, bt who has made a record in eastern school. Miss Magee requires logical analysis of problems and careful wording of answers to all questions. The pupils of the eighth grade are reading Evangeline and are taking great interest in the historical setting of the poem. The seventh-grade pupils are willingly doing the drill work necessary to enable them to be more independent of text books.
Miss Zella Priest, who has spent the most of her school life as a pupil of the Seibert Schools, teaches the intermediate grades. The busy pupils appreciate their new school room and cheerful, hard-working teacher. Miss Priest refuses to accept inaccurate definitions and careless answers from her pupils. All grades enjoy spelling for headmarks.
That the tiny tots of the primary room eagerly brought their writing and number work to the superintendent for criticism and commendation proves that their efforts are never ridiculed by their teacher, Miss Buelah Bradshaw (sic), who is always on the lookout for new ideas in primary teaching. The partition being removed from the middle of the room leaves that part not furnished with desks for use as a recitation room, and a place where the active children may have enough space for calisthenics.
One wonders whether that expression of good will and contentment on the faces of Mr. Herbert Thomas and the young Coloradans under his care is not partly due to the actions of the school board in having the floor scrubbed, the windows washed, and the walls alabastined. Each pupil works as earnestly as though the whole responsibility of having a good school rested upon his shoulders alone. Mr. Thomas is endeavoring to follow the state course of study, and is developing unusual ability in conducting a recitation.
If you want to see a busy primer class, visit the school being taught by Miss Clara Mills who says that she has one of the best schools, and the most comfortable school house in the county. All grades are represented. One pupil will try to pass the eighth-grade examination in the spring. On account of the limited board space, the ambitious intermediate pupils use tablets and slates for written lessons.
In the cozy sod school house in the souther part of District No. 11 wwere found Miss Mary Bogart, an experienced teacher, and eight pupils belonging to the first five grades. One notices that the teacher's voice is not pitched high, and that the children obey rapidly. On account of the short days and the long distances to walk, the intermissions are shortened, and school is dismissed at half past three o'clock.
A visit to the north school in District No. 11 where the pupils are busily engaged writing examinations. The examination papers indicate that the high school pupil is making good, and that the sixth grade is doing thorough work in history and arithmetic. The results obtained in all three grades reflect credit upon the teacher, Mrs. Catherine Wilson. The members of the school board are considering a change of text books for both schools.
The first four grades and the eighth are represented in the school taught by Miss May Long, one of Kit Carson County's progressive young teachers. From teh number of illustrated compositions, maps, drawing, and booklets to be seen, it is evident that this is a busy school. The children are anxious to advance rapidly. Correct spelling and good language are given prominent place.
Mr. Slederic McConnell, teacher of the Nuttbrook school, requires his arithmetic students to make an oral analysis of each problem solved at class time. The teacher's low tones and quiet movements and the zeal of the orderly children combine to make an interesting school. A sanitary water tank has been added to the equipment of the school.
Mrs. Osee Morgan, a hustling homesteader and professional artist has charge of the Jones school. Under his direction, the pupils are developing a talent for drawing. Creditable specimens of their work are displayed in the room. This school consists of six pupils belonging to the fourth, sixth, and seventh grades. A sanitary water tank has been installed.
To District No. 47 must be given the credit of erecting a modern school house having windows so arranged that there are no cross lights to injure the pupils' eyes. The teacher, Mr. John B. Smith is a very busy man as he is teaching high school branches in addition to the grade work. A number of the children have been out of school for two years, and they are doing their best to make up for lost time.
Mrs. Tena Meracle's school in District No. 29 consists of the first, second, fourth, seventh, and eighth grades. Two pupiils are endeavoring to qualify for the eighth-grade examination. The teacher makes good use of the limited blackboard space. The first and second grade pupils are exceptionally neat and accurate in their number work.
At Beaverton, Miss Ruth Garrett is having her first experience in homesteading and teaching school. A thorough cleaning of woodwork and windows, and a coat of alabastine applied to the walls add to the attractiveness of the interior of the sod school house. All the children are putting forth efforts to advance. One young lady expects to begin high school studies soon.
Outlines for the reading circle were sent to each teacher on October 28th.
The five industrious pupils of the school in District No. 4 carry home, each evening, reports of lessons and conduct. The teacher, Mr. F.B. Shumate finds time to gives (sic) daily lessons in penmanship. The news bulleting, roll of honor, practical pen work, and pupils' daily reports are evidence that Mr. Shumate regards teaching as a profession and not as stepping stone to some more lucrative employment.
Miss Bessie Dingman's seven little pupils are very good workers. They are learning to be neat and accurate in written lessons, and to read for expression. Miss Dingman endeavors to conform to the requirements of the state course of studay, and careless work escapes her experienced eye. (sic) An organ and a sanitary water tank have been added to the equipment of the school.
One of the largest and finest sod school houses in the county is located about seven miles south west of Vona. The ample wall space is almost covered wtih booklets, drawings, silhouettes, and mottoes, all made by the pupils. A bright idea is the hanging a wire post-card holder on the wall, and filling it with drawings made on paper cut to post-card size. In this way, the drawings can be taken down whenever they have served their purpose and fresh ones put up without marring the wall with tacks. Miss Amber Palmer and her pupils are to be congratulated upon the quality of the work exhibited. Although the day of the superintendent's was cold and stormy (sic), about thirty pupils were present.
The whitewashed walls, the white curtains at the windows, the absence of paper and other litter on the floor, and the spirit of good fellowship between teacher and pupils combined to make pleasant a visit to the Seimer School, taught by Miss Ellen Bradshaw, an ambitious young teacher. Miss Bradshaw seems to have learned the secret of ventilating a school room without lowering the temperature unduly.
More orderly pupils that those of the Ford school would be hard to find. They are attentive in class and appreciate the efforts of their teacher, Miss Bertha Ashley. That Miss Ashley wishes to do all in her power for her pupils was shown by her numerous questions regarding methods, course of study, and supplimentary (sic) work, and her request that the superintendent teach certain classes.
A visit was made to the Blakeman School on November 2d. In the seventh grade, good results are being obtained from the topical method of recitation. On the front blackboard is a record of the perfect spelling lessons, and, as each child's name has a goodly number of stars to its credit, spelling must not be a bugbear to this school. The fourth grade recites very readily. The capable teacher, Miss Ella Rehn, is pleased with the work spirit of her school.
The apportionment of general fund for the second quarter was made on October 21st. Any secretary failing to receive notice of the apportionment for his district should notify the county superintendent of the fact, so that a duplicate notice may be mailed. All notices were mailed on October 22d.
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