Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1862-05-20
Report OF the Principal of
Union school No. Il.
roa rnr YEAR ENDING ArnrL 4, 1862.


10 the principal; ard former reports from
which to compile a full statement are not
to be bad.
The number of pupils enrolled in the
Grammar Department, fir the term ending
April 4, was 72-boys 35; girls 81; average
attendance 50,25; per cent. Ct attendance
69.S.
The number epr, He'd in the Intermediate
Department was lob boys 6S; girls 80.
average attendance IS .25; PER cent. Of
attendance 703.
The number enrolled in the Primary
Department was l25-boys 55; giil- 70.
average ATTENDANCE Sc; per ceut. If atterd
ance A 8
The number Of pupils euralled IN the
Grammer Department. FIR the year endios
April i, was 90-boys 46; girls A; average
attendance 40, 10.
The average attendance in the Irterme-
date Department. for the year was SIS; ia
the Primary Department 60; total average
l67.
1t may be in place to remark that the
year has been one nf almost Uninterrupted
prosperity; no sickness has occurred 20
prevent the teachers from being at their
post, and but little among the pupils when
compared to the extent to which forms of
contagiOn have prevailed in the community.
The Primary Department has suffered
most, and the average attendance is mate
rally affected in all.
Much labor has been spent in the effort
to obtain comtle classification Of the
school We set out, at first, on the assump-
ton that the school system of any town or
city ought to be unit, in CO operation ard
results; that there should be clearly
marked course Of ttujy, from the Primary
upward, through vi the intermidjate
grades, to the High School. To marx ont
these grades, and 10 present 10 the NUM-.
inducements to 60 forward and comrlete
the course seemed to be the Object for which
we should labor.
Many difficulties stood in the wpv
especially 10 the Grammar Department.
The old Classification needed change
throughout Many Of the more advanced
pupils were anxious to enter upon studies
which ought to have been reserved for the
High School. To crown all, preindicc
sgalnst our own High School seemed to
have become 50 rooted 10 the minds Of the
older pupils that nothing could move it,
can easily see why.lt should be for the
interest OF the prinefsA Of No. /, to urge
the formation Of higher classes in his
department 1t lends far more Interesting
aspect TO his works to know that his Is 10
be the finishing touch. But woull it not
be lar wiser to aim at the concentration of
OF materials for cabinet of all needluI
specimens and apparatus Tor instruction in
Geometry, Philosophy, Chemistry and
Attrnoiny, and the talent for teaching those
sciences man to encourage division of
this department under the most un(svora.
Ia al -. 10
tried by reconstruction of the course Of
study, to cause like grades in the two
districts to stand together.
Particular care has been taken thettbo
order Of studies should be the natural onp
and the grades closely connected The
advantages TO he derived here are evident
The scale Of progress being fixed and
unltcrn, the pupil almost imperceptiblv
works his way into the highest classes
Much Of the spirit Of fault fndinr must bv
this method be removed; for, at the close If
each term and year. the same classes in ALI
the schools being tried by the same tests
actual results will show the comnsrativ
merit of all with ut dispute.
Antt Their, and by no means tho laost
thing gain d, is the fact that the teach
es OF all grades ard all der arrmei,s
hnc additional help aud announcement.
Ii has b7en deemed necessary 10 hold
teachers meetings the better to secure
harmony OF action and improvement in
Reaching. Ihrsn haze Lann attended
cneertWly on tie part of all. a yaIuabIe
sustem OF soli~improyemeBt has been adont,
ed. Each teacher furnishes some magazine.
book or periodical, regularly for exchange.
reading table Of the best current IiteTa-
ture hes been formed, and must prove q
great incentive to profitable study on TIE
part OF the teachers.
only one thing stands in the wav Of .be
Hull accomplishment Of our plaD: and ti..t
IS the irrigGiar attendance Of pupils. TINS
1t Will be seen is not in cur mower to con-
troll. pupil however good in his studies
must luse his standing in the class bv heinz
kept out of school for term or part of
term; and, IN country where intelIigence
among the people is the condition Of our
nOerties; aud at time when ignorance
mas come 50 near destroying us, We submit
the question il it will not paw 70 sptfor
almost any sacflhce, that the rising gene.
ration may have the full benefit of the ad-
santaSes brought to them in the schools.
There can be but one answer from every
true lover of his c.nntry. But whiIs n
long absence from his place would prevent
things seriously interfere. Are not reoue.ts
to excuse for half day, or fer an hour. or
for few minutes even, sent 10 teachers
far too often Here again an appeal sbopId
be made to the parent, if visit or n new
dress, or Late break FAST are not dear |
luxurics at the expense of late entrance |
IN school or absence for the day.
Tue parent, who has more at stake than |
any one else can possibly have, NAV great, /
~ promote the interests 9f the schools by |
his own hearty cooperation with them IN |
their work. a more frequent appearance
OF MS name on the visitors register could |
not fail to have its effect.
Some other matters should perhans he
made subjects Of this report Several sets
OF nlphabets have been placed at the dispo-
sal Oh the Primary Department for print |
ing. Improvement has also been made in |
the taLle and blocks for amusemtn mt in that |
room.
During the Fall term the need was felt |
IN the Grammar Department of suitable |
library. IL was resolved that each pupil
should set about forming it. As an ex9e-
dent each one lent at least one book for
the use Of the rest. A collection of fifty
valuable aud entertaining looks was in
this way formed. All persons interested
IN the success Of the enterprise we're
invited to help. Many good books were
given, an at last we had library Of one
hundred and fifty volumes An eager
disposition to improve these was manifest.
at length 1t was thought best to make this
library which shouli be permanent -
Members os the School Board selected and
ordered for us an addition OF ninety two
now volumes. Thus the school has gained
alter dedacting twenty seven books With
drawn, two hundred and twelve volumes
OF the very choicest books for such libra
~. A no pupils are allowed TO draw
except those Of the Grammar Department.
and those only during term time, It's to
De hoped that the library will proYe a
stimulant Ia tbosa bal,,,. IL