Central School - Deeds and Misdeeds Yearbook (Decatur, IN)

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10 - DEEDS AND MISDEEDS DEPARTMENTAL ENGLISH. We sometimes find people who would rather break all the Ten Com¬ mandments than a rule of English but such persons are not numerous in the seventh and eighth grades. Perhaps this is because they know that real¬ ly great people are never bound by formal rules. Making slips of language or even actual blunders may be no great crime, yet the great educators of the country are emphasizing the need of all teachers to compel strict observance of proper English in all the student’s work. To insist on a child’s using good language in an English class and then allow him to murder it in his other work will not produce the desired results. No matter what one’s vocation may be the ability to speak and write the English language correctly and flu¬ ently not only wil increase his capac¬ ity for social enjoyment, but will also increase his ability to succeed in whatever career he may follow. Every progressive, intelligent per¬ son is concerned about his English for just as his deportment evidences his breeding in a like manner his English betokens either his illiteracy or his culture. To overcome the common errors of speech requires constant watchful¬ ness. Good English is largely a mat¬ ter of habit. Are you willing to make the effort to acquire the habit? —Miss Coffee MATHEMATICS. The pupils of the seventh and eighth grade have accomplished much during the past year in the sub¬ ject of mathematics under our able teachers, Mr. Heller and Mr. Brown. We have been studying the Went¬ worth and Smith Arithmetic during the past year. Albert Mumma says that he is going to write an Arithme¬ tic and we are all anxiously waiting to see the first edition though we re¬ gret to say tliatwe are afraid that many of us will be old and grey-head¬ ed before it is printed. He says that he is afraid that he will forget some of Mr. Brown’s formulas and will have to make a special visit to Decatur and have Mr. Brown dictate them to him again. The Arithmetic note books which have been prepared by the 8A pupils will be on exhibit this year at the fair and Mr. Brown has every reason to be proud of them because they are something out of the ordinary and are very attractive. —Esther Biggs. CIVICS. Civics is the science of civil govern¬ ment. Community Civics one of the text books used in the seventh and eighth grades is issued in the hope that it may prove an aid and guide to our bo ys and girls in the study of what is perhaps the most inspiring and significant subject in the whole curriculum. Community Civics discusses vari¬ ous phases of community life such as “Needs and forms of government,” “The rights and duties of citizens.” “The health of the community,” “Training the Young Citizen,” “Politi¬ cal parties and elections” and “Social problems.” The American Civic association is an organization founded in 1904 for the cultivation of higher ideals of civic life and beauty in America, the promotion of city, town and neigh¬ borhood improvement, the preserva-

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DEEDS AND MISDEEDS —9 MARY FUHRMAN Second Grade URBAN B. JEFFRIES Physical Training

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DEEDS AND MISDEEDS 11 tion and development of landscape and the advancement of outdoor art. The association carries on its work on national lines by its varied activ¬ ities for the physical improvement and development of the communities. It has directed special attention to the importance and comprehension of city planning and such other activ¬ ities as the creation, development and maintenance of parks and boulevards, the wise planting of trees, the elimina¬ tion of the smoke billboard and house¬ fly nuisances, and the organization of adults and children into working groups for civic improvement. The association has also led in the movement for the protection of na¬ tional parks. —Eloise Lewton GEOGRAPHY. Our Geography class under the guidance of Miss Mutschler and with the aid of the new “600 set” has had many instructive as well as interest¬ ing class periods. We have traveled over practically all of Europe, Asia, Africa, South America and the island possessions of the United States. We have search¬ ed far and wide in newspapers and magazines for patches to make a “New Europe.” We have discovered the reason for the scrap over Yap. We know all about Japan’s policy in the future. We know where the Garden of Eden was. We know where Noah’s big boat landed. We know where the tin comes from to make our “Lizzies.” We know everything—we’re 8A’s. —Herbert Fuhrman Credit is due Miss Mutschler for the health and strength which most of our seventh and eighth graders en¬ joy. She has impressed upon us the fact that a sound mind must dwell in a sound body and that health is much more precious than wealth. When you’re tempted to smoke say “No.” When you’re tempted to use dope, say “No.” Life is too short to be used for such sport. The result is you reap what you sow. —Herbert Fuhrman PENMANSHIP. Pull it, push it Toward your tie V—I—C—T—O—R—Y Can we do it? Well, I guess! Palmer Method Yes! Yes! Yes! An answer to the question “Can we do it?” is found in the following statements concerning the penman¬ ship work of the seventh and eighth grades. Every eighth grade pupil who fin¬ ishes the work this semester will have been awarded either an Improvement or a Final Certificate. Up to this time we have won thirty-five Finals, thirty- four Improvement Certificates, thirty- seven Progress Pins and fifty-one Palmer Method Buttons. Fifteen have received the American Penman Certificate of Proficiency, the highest award issued by the Company. Other specimens are yet to be submitted. Besides preparing the papers for these awards each pupil has written two copy books, one each semester, as reqquired by the State Department. Many of these books are splendid re¬ productions of the copy and will be used at the County Fair exhibit. Penmanship being the vehicle that carries all the other subjects the pupils find real pleasure in preparing note-books in History, Civics, Gram¬ mar Composition, Letter Writing and Arithmetic. Enthusiasm that is contagious means interest; interest means effort in the form of practice; practice well directed means success. That we have attained a fair degree of success is attested by favorable comment