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Language We have three distinct groups of pupils, who enter Carlisle every year: 1. Those unable to speak or understand English. 2. Those who can speak English but have never been to school and can't read. 3. Pupils who have so-called "school English" and can read, but having such a limited experience that many words are meaningless. 4. Pupils who have attended school elsewhere and fit right in with our grades. Our work in the first four gardes is to give the pupil a good working vocabulary and by objects, pictures, actual contact and so-called "action lessons" the context of the words are impressed upon them so that what they read is really being assimilated. The work in these four grades is chiefly oral. Their daily work and everything that enters into their environment here and at home are topics of conversation. Pupils build these thoughts into short sentences which they learn to read and write. Much attention is paid to PHONICS in all the grades but especially in the lower grades. We have worked out a system of our own which is a combination of the Pollard and Fundenburg methods -- adapted to our needs. The vowel and consonant sounds are taught chiefly by lists of words and phonograms. In grades 1 to 4 charts made by rubber stamps are used. In all the rooms black board drills are necessary on the most difficult sounds new to our students. The use of the dictionary and diacritical marks begins in the 5th grade. From the 4th grade to the 10th the need for this objective language work is lessened. 54 [[end page]] [[start page]] Grammar is introduced in the 5th grade. The parts of speech are taught. Phrases and clauses are gradually used, always in sentences which illustrate objectively. Pupils who finish the 7th grade have a clear idea of the reasons for some of the simply forms of speech. Much drill is necessary on verb forms and English id oms. Our written language work consists of dictation exercises, descriptions, letter writing and composition. Boys and girls are frequently divided in their composition work--the boys taking some shop industry and the girls some subject in housekeeping or domestic science. All written work is preceded by observation and oral development lessons under the teacher's direction. All written work is based on some other subject of study and related to it--usually nature study, agriculture, the industries, or a summing up of history and geography. Arithmetic Form study and numbers are taught side by side. The foundation for arithmetic is laid in the first four grades. Here each new step is made by the use of objects. Actual measures of common things are seen and handled by all pupils. The five fundamental operations--addition, subtraction, multiplication, division and partition are taught objectively. Measures of distance, area, weight, time and bulk are made the basis of the simple problems introduced to apply in a practical way the successive processes learned. The use of the ruler, liquid and dry measure is begun in the first grade to make the student a more intelligent worker. Much drill work is necessary in learning the tables and for accuracy and rapidity in all these elementary processes. Fractions are introduced in the 5th geade. Denominate numbers in the 6th, simple interest in the 7th grade. Original problems are required frequently and the written work is based entirely on the common 55
