Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 40, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 February 1910 — SPELLING BEES. [ARTICLE]

SPELLING BEES.

North Dakota's Plan to Get School Children Into County Contests. North Dakota is going to learn to spell if the plans worked out by the educators of the state for a revival of interest in correct spelling work out. Arrangements have been completed, says the Boston Herald, for a series of old fashioned spelling bees, to be inaugurated in the district schools all over the state under the auspices of the department of education, and it is proposed to continue the new departure for some years to come, if sufficient interest can be maintained. Just what attractions will be used-with this end in view have not fully matured, but the promoters of the scheme believe ways will be found of making the spelling matches as popular as they were in many sections of the country half a century ago before the spelling “reforms” of various brands broke out. The county superintendents in nearly every county in the state are already mapping out the preliminary matches in their respective counties. These will take the form of countycontests between representatives of the different schools, to be held as soon as the different schools shall have had an Opportunity through spelling bees to enthuse the boys and girls and to pack otat their best spellers. Official lists of words will be sent out in order that all contestants may have an equal chance. Business men, professional men and farmers will be asked to offer prizes for the first, second and third best county spellers. The county champions will participate in a final state championship contest, when prizes aggregating at least SIOO will be offered. Any pupils of the eighth and lower grades will be eligible in the primary contegts,-