RE ative story. WINNETKA WEEKLY TALK, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1923 Talks About Our Winnetka Schools By CARLETON W. WASHBURNE, Superintendent, Winnetka Public Schools. COMPOSITION There are two aspects to English composition in the elementary schools. One aspect is the formal one, con- sisting of correct spelling, punctua- tion capitalization, paragraphing, and general appearance of the work. The other is self-expression and the com- munication of an idea. While these two aspects are closely connected, training in one does not necessarily bring about good results in the other. A child might write a composition which was technically correct, and yet which neither ex- pressed anything he wanted to ex- press, nor communicated any worth while idea. On the other hand, chil- dren sometimes turn in compositions which are charmingly expressive, but abominably spelled, written, and punctuated. Training in English composition in the Winnetka Schools attempts to consider both of these factors. The formal side has been discussed in three preceding articles. It is therefore only necessary here to call attention to the fact that for promo- tion in penmanship from one grade to another a child must not only pass a satisfactory test in speed and legibil- ity, but must turn in written work which is uniformly satisfactory in ap- pearance; that in spelling children are not only given thorough drill and reviews on those words which in- vestigation has shown to be the com- monest in the English language, but are also given equally thorough drill and review on all the words they miss in any of their written work; and that through the course guage we are attempting to develop a sensitiveness to capitalization and paragraphing. For the expressive side of English composition we strive to give the children that freedom which is neces- sary for real self-expression. A com- position in Winnetka is almost never a set formal exercise, in which every child must say approximately the same thing. It is rather an opportun- ity to tell something which the child wishes to tell. It if often a report on a book the child has read; or it may be a discussion of some aspect of the pupil government that exists in all of our schools; or it may be an imagin- Whatever its subject, it mast, be a real attempr to express someting that She child wishes to_ex- | a Ln ed AAAI upon ig He "then is told 'to cover 'this rough draft exactly as he would go over one of his formal language exercises, picking out every misspell- ed word, every omitted period, comma, or question mark, every word that should be capitalized and is not. After this critical examination of his own work from the formal side, he copies it neatly, watching again for the formal elements. This copy is then corrected by the teacher, who consults with each child individually concerning both the formal elements of his composition and its general quality as an attempt at expression. The number of compositions written in lan-' "HOWARD W. HOYT IS faulty punctuation, by the children, and their length, varies greatly among the different teachers and different grades. Some teachers find that a five minute com- position every day produces the best results. Others fell that the children do not have anything spontaneous to write about as frequently as this, and prefer longer, less frequent composi- tions. But every child writes at least one carefully prepared composition a week. The number is usually much larger. While this plan is sound in theory and reasonably effective in practice, we are not yet satisfied with the results we are getting. As we men- tioned in a previous article, there is no branch of school work in which consistent, hard endeavor secures so inconsistent a reward. Those chil- dren who come from homes where expression in English language is na- tural, correct, and easy, are likely to write good compositions, regardless of school instruction, from the ex- pression standpoint, if not from the formal standpoint; whereas children who come from homes where there is little free and correct expression in English often fail to achieve such ex- pression in spite of our best school efforts. We can make noticeable im- provement in every child on both the formal and the expressive side. But we have not yet been able to turn out anything like a uniform, standard product. We do not want uniformity of expression, but we should like uni- formity of correctness in the formal elements. NEW PLAYFIELD HEAD Howard W. Hoyt, 389 Ridge ave- nue, was elected president of the Win- .netka Playfield association at the an- nual meeting held last Tuesday in Community House. With Mr. Hoyt was elected the entire ticked selected some time ago by the Nominating committee, of which S. Bowles King was chairman. Officers elected to serve with Mr. Hoyt were: Earl R. Green, 791 Walden road. 'vice president; Elmer Nelsoff, 849 Elm streef, secretary; A. T. Weinstock, 692 Ash street, treasurer. - Directors for twa veard:' P. Fleming, 787 Jam (a) > Foxdale avenue; John P. Barden, 696 > Ash street; George McKinney, 605 rostreet. - Is Satil Kreger was dectdl' a "director to complete the unexpired term of A. V. Horsman who found it necessary '0 resign. In praising the work of Charles J. Fastman, retiring president of the association, the newly elected officers and directors expressed the hope that close co-operation might be secured with the Park board to assure much needed improvements at the Playfield course. It was reported that the new muni- cipal skating rink at the Playfield was ready and needed only a spell of cold weather to provide plenty of recreation for devotees of the win- ter sport. and from Winnetka to Bluff, we have handling calls. Midnight, Monday, H. B. GATES, Change in Method of Calling from Wilmette and Kenilworth to Lake Forest and Lake Bluff; from Winnet- ka to Lake Forest and Lake Bluff To quicken the service from. Wilmette and Kenilworth to Lake Forest and Take Bluff, arranged a new This change will be effective at After this date when you call from Wil- mette and Kenilworth to Lake Forest and Lake Bluff or from Winnetka to Lake Forest and Lake Bluff, and you are willing to call by telephone number and speak to any one who answers the distant telephone, please give the number just as you give a local number and remain with the receiver to the ear until the connection is established. [f, however, you wish to speak to a partic- ular person or make an appointment or reverse the charges, to either or these points, call long distance as heretofore. ILLINOIS BELL TELEPHONE COMPANY Lake Forest and Lake method of December 31, 1923. Commercial Manager. Campers Give Davies New Study Furniture Community House was the scene of great excitement Wednesday night of this week, when 100 Winnetka boys and girls who have been fortunate enough to be members of Indianhill camp on Lake Hamlin, Michigan, un- der the direction of "Chief" Davies, sat around the "groaning" board of chicken and "all the trimmin's" upon the occasion of the annual campers' party. "Chief" Davies was presented with a new office table, chair and lamp, together with a purse to be used in securing other things for the study in the new Community House. Mrs. Ar- thur Barrett made the presentation speech in the name of the campers. The gift was from the campers and their parents. Mrs. E. W. Wortley, assistant di- rector of Community House and in charge of the Girls camp at Lake Hamlin, gave voice to the joyous thoughts of all the guests in her speech of welcome. Steriopticon slides of scenes taken in camp ten years ago, as well as in more recent years, were shown during the evening. "Dave" Lasier and expressed the sentiment of all the campers in telling the guests what the Lake Hamlin camps mean to them. "Chief" Davies concluded the eve- ning's activities with one of his timely talks. "Peggy" Windes Paul C. Seyl Dies At : Residence In Winnetka Funeral services for Paul C. Seyl, 277 Ridge avenue, who passed away at his residence Sunday, December 23, were held Wednesday, December 26, | from the chapel at Rosehill. Burial was at Rosehill. : Mr. Sey! is survived by his widow, Josephine Lydston Seyl, a son, Frank, and two daughters, Josephine and Katherine. Two brothers, Joseph Ci and P. Walter Seyl, also survive. | WANT BASKETBALL GAMES | The Royal Arcanum basketball teams | are still in the market for some games | with other Winnetka and north shore fives. H. Larson, phone Winnetka 1575, ! and H. Arbin, phone Winnetka 525-R, will be glad to confer with managers in the interest of booking contests for the coming weeks. ---- Telephone 1098 ALEC WW. KYLE Contractor PLUMBING--HEATING 674 GLENCOE, Vernon Avenue ILLINOIS OAK TERRACE LAUNDRY KIDS WE 'RE | To BE JRUSTED | OUR. SUPER-SERVICLE YOU WILL CHARM -- WEL. GUARD YOUR m CLOTH<S TRON FUrY HARM The high quality of our wet wash service will make a week- ly appeal to you. It takes a big burden from your shoulders and a few cents from your pocket- book. You can't think of any reason to put it off longer, can you? Wet Wash--20 pounds $1.00 Rough Dry 1lc per pound. This includes flat pieces ironed. 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