Cotton—the cotton fields; the factory.
Wheat—the wheat field; grain elevators.
Cattle—cattle-grazing; stockyards.
Coal and Iron—the mines; the furnaces; the products.
In addition to these biographical stories selected from the field of American history, the committee suggests that twenty minutes a week for one-half of the year should be devoted to the study of civics. The following are suggested topics to be discussed: “The Fire Department,” “The Police Department,” “The Post-office System,” “Street Cleaning and Sprinkling,” “Public Libraries.” The committee, in a table given on page 126, shows how a place may be made on the program in each grade for the study of history. That program provides only one recitation per week in the first three grades. In the fourth and fifth grades there would be two recitations a week. The work suggested in the report for the first five grades could be easily accomplished in the time stated in the program.
The committee suggests that a text-book be placed in the hands of the pupils in grades six, seven and eight, but emphasizes the necessity of oral work in the first five grades. They also advise the continuation of much oral work in the sixth grade. The subject-matter of the sixth grade includes such portions of European history as bear most directly on American history. The topics selected for study are organized into six groups, lettered A to F inclusive. Counting one recitation as the unit of measurement in estimating the relative amount of time to be devoted to each group, the committee estimates the relative importance of the groups thus: Groups F and C have thirteen units each; group E has twelve; group B has seven; group A has five; group D only three. This manner of indicating the relative importance of the groups will be of great value to the inexperienced teacher. The committee also wisely suggests “what not to attempt” in this grade. The greater portion of the pupil’s time in the sixth grade is to be spent upon the following topics: “Alfred and the English”; “How the English Began to Win Their Liberties”; “The Discovery of the Western World”; “European Rivalries Which Influenced Conquest and Colonization.” In this grade also there is to be instruction in civics for one-half year, twenty minutes a week. A list of topics suggested includes the following: “Water Supply and Sewerage System”; “The Board of Health”; “Juvenile Courts.” The program (p. 126) previously referred to provides three recitations per week in history for the sixth grade.
The topics of the seventh grade are organized into six groups, all of which are connected with the exploration and settlement of North America and the growth of the colonies, to the close of the Revolutionary War. Enough of the European background to make clear the significance of certain situations in America is included. The group headings are as follows:
A—“The First Settlements (in America) of the Three Rivals of Spain.”
B—“Exiles for Political or Religious Causes.”
C—“Colonial Rivalries.”