Oakland High School - Comet Yearbook (Oakland, IA)

Page 11 text:

25?lE-I------------------1----The Comet----------'----f-----'------- sent to every pupil. By means of this written work classes were maintained in the homes, a plan that was later adopted by several other schools. During last year a Parent-Teachers Association was formed with Rev. Rapp as chairman. During its two years work many interesting and educational meetings have been held. Refreshments are usually served and everything possible done to promote good fellowship between home and school. This year the Association is laying plans for a school picnic. During the present year the Palmer penmanship method has been put into prac- tice, various spelling tests have been used from time to time and arrangements com- pleted for putting the Curtis tests in Arithmetic into operation as a permanent part of the work. A course of study is also well started which will serve as a guide to the teacher and assist in unifying the work. The course in Vocational Agriculture was introduced last year with a large en- rollment. This course with the Normal Training course which has been offered for some years marks Oakland as one of the progressive schools up to date and alive to the needs of the hour. It is to be expected that the school of the future will differ from the school of the present but as in the past we trust that Oakland may ever be in the van of progress bearing forward the torch of enlightenment. 11 wi sa is-...sew 'ftsnfil -.gang Meet, lei x I l 19 49? ln-ll-ln-nloonn:uu-lw--ulnnllnnllnsllla-In-aiu-nn-ul-II-ll-ul1his-uu-Ml-Il-ll1ll--n-uu-nn1uu1uu- -mu-an ...

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PAGE NINE in ---- -------M ---- -1-The Comet--i ---- ------------------- The School By A. M. CLEVELAND IN the midst of a world that is rapidly changing one of the first essentials of a school administration is that it keep abreast of the times, march in the van of progress, and respond to new demands. Much that is rigid and formal in our systems of education has been gradually elim- inated making way for an educational democracy rather than a scholastic aristocracy. Courses which had become traditional in our curricula are now being held up to the light of inquiry and obliged to prove themselves of value. Opinions and doctrines are now in such a state of flux that it is well-night impos- sible to determine the status of public opinion on any subject. The new idea however that seems to be siezing on the public mind is that the schools are an instrument for the improvement of all classes and that anything in their makeup which gives anyone an advantage over his less privileged neighbor must be stricken out. A few years ago the introduction of such instruction as sewing, cooking, carpentry, blacksmithing, farming, etc,, was regarded as almost sacriligous but today we are looking forward to the day when our public schools shall offer equal opportunity for all who seek to ad- vance themselves in life. The idea that the age of education passes with youth is being superseded by the idea that as an instrument of popular government the purpose of its existence is to best be served by offering opportunity to any age. Therefore night schools, part-time schools, and opportunity schools are finding their place in our educational systems. Undoubt- edly it will be some time before the scope of schools in our smaller communities will include all of these features but practical training in vocational lines is rapidly being adopted. Another significant change in the public attitude toward public schools is made manifest in the educational tests now being so widely adopted. For many years it had been almost impossible to compare results of different grades or systems because there could be no scale of measurement to apply and consequently standardization of work was practically impossible. With improved application of psychology to educa- tion however there have been evolved tests in all the fundamental subjects which can be applied to all grades and the proficiency of the individual pupil gauged as well as the group ability of the class. The outsider sees a school system much as the audience at the theatre sees the stage with the scenery all set and does not realize the great activity that goes on behind scenes to prepare for the next change. So it is with our school systems behind the apparent immobility of their existence there must be constant evolution going on. In times like the present this evolution is more readily apparent than normally for now much of the work of the past is bearing fruit and a greatly enlarged activity is the result. The present administration has endeavored to conform to the modern educational practice along the lines suggested. Oakland has always been known as a progressive school of high standards, The loyal cooperation of an efficient teaching corps has contributed largely to the continued good repute of the school. Cooperation cannot be overemphasized as a contributing factor to the success of a school. The work of last year was greatly interrupted by the numerous flu vacations. The teachers however were kept at work and weekly assignments mimeographed and

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