Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1871-07-15

pupils rehch he hlgher Rradcs OF SCHOOL
than formerly, and are retained in school 70 a
more advanced age. Ry referring 10 the Com
missioner's report Cor the year ending August
1869, End the average age at which pupils
itn your High school was 49, We enrolled
the past year 20 out Of "a pupils over 10 years
Of age. The average age Of our present A, or
senior class, Is nearly IS; and think am
safe IN saying that at least two.thirds Of these
now in the High school over 10, will remain
until the course is completed, requiring, re-
specliyely 1, 2, and years.
Another advantage; more systematic and
thorough education is acquired by having and
Joll0NiRg definite course Of study than can
be- when pupils, or parents, select the studies.
Very few minds delight equally in all depart
ments of study, Some have taste for language,
others for mathematics, others for natural sci
ence. II one Of these is followed to the ex-
oluson of the Others an unequally developed
mind results, We need language to express
and communicate our ideas we need mathe.
mates TO develop the reasoning and calculating
powers we need natural science TO cultivate
the observing and generalizng powers And
who will say which of these is most import
ant? OF what use is reason without the
power of expression And what use Of ex-
preston with observation 7 They are equally
important, and no education is complete that
does not combine in due proportion these
three grand departments of learning.
Sill another advantage; par .nts are more
interested, and use greater efforts to perform
the part of the work that properly belongs to
/
There is no parent who dues not take pride in
seeing his child promoted with his class. mates
and this is certainly a commendable pride,
and leads the parent to assist when necessary
and possible, apd to SEQ that pupils attend
promptly TO school duties.
commend to your especial attention the
interests Of our High school, Though with
the present small number in that school the
cost of tuition may seem very high, that is no
valid reason for discOuraging or cripping it.
! If it is properly fostered, in less than three
years the room now occupied will be too
small to accommodate those prepared TO enter
/. Moreover the II gh school is the very head
and heart of the system, Take it away and
you remove one Of the strongest incentives 10
the pupils in the lowe grades. And there is
no good reason why the High school may not
be made hereafter 10 furnish most il not all
the TEACHERS necessary to supply our schools.
This if no other should be sufficient induce
ment for keeping its course of study intact,
and encouraging it in every proper way. The
class to graduate at the close Of the coming
year now numbers regularly promoted,
Two Others were members of the class part of
the year. These may return, and by comply
ing with the regulations Of the Board be ad-
mitted to the class again, if SO the class will
number six, and it will be class OF which,
we need not be ashamed, either Us TO numbers
or attaiuments.
The same difficult question will come up
for settlement at the beginning of another
year that came up at the beginning of the
past year, namely, what course shall be taken
with those who were not i'll school all OF the
year, or who haye not taken all the studies of
the course?
! an, not at all satisfied with the plan oi
giving the first month of the year to review,
as we did year ago 1t not only did not
accomplish for the deiinquents. what was ex.
pected, but it took time from the classes that
they have not been able to make up Some
other plan think must be adopted. Many OF
our colleges and seminaries, when there seems
to be necessity for it, permit their students tC
be absent one or more terms during the course
or omit one or more studies of the course, an6
still allow them to graduate. While this is q
G curse not to be encouraged it may be as goOt
as any we can adopt for the cases to be me
next year. Such plan carried out hereto
fore would have wrought decided injury te
the whole school, apd may still, but :hinl
the principal injury will be to the pupil tha
loses the time from school. l recommend thl
careful consideration of this question by th
Board SO that They may be ready to insruc
, me what TO do with these cases at the begin
ming of next year. We should aim to dc
justice to all and the greatest good TO TIT
greatest humber,
In former reports have called the attep
ton of the Board to many matters of import
ance, that need not now refer to. hope
the Board will attend TO those of immediau
importance TO the schools so that we may IL
able to begin the next year under the mos
lavorably crcumstapces,
take this opportunity of again expressing
my gratitude to the Board. for the firm and
, consistent support they have given me in the
two years past, and l ask for a like suppor
in the futufe. Respectfully sWbmitted,
l. NJ. CDEMENs, Supt