Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1872-04-05
SCHOOL REPORT.

SCHOOL REPORT.
INDEPENDENCE, March, 3Oth, 1872
Mr.. Henshaw Pres. of Board of Directors
Independent School District Indepen-
dence Iowa.
Judge Toman and Mr.. Barnhart have
kindly granted me sufficient space in
their respective papers for partial re-
port, at least, of our Schools. and ap-
preciating fully the imperative need there
is of every parent, patron aud taxpayer
understanding the different grades now in
the Schools, and also the studies taught,
together with some outlines of methods
of instruction, hasten to oil the &C.
corded space with School facts.
GRADES; AND STUDIES TAUGHT.
Wien our present system of Schools
was organized in Nov. 1867, 1t was voted
that certain studies should constitute the
legitimate work of the Primary, InteJme
diatc and Grammar rooms. 1t was fur
Their voted that Davies Higher Mathe-
mates, Peck's Philosophy and Jarvies'
Physiology, together with Latin, should
come in the course for advanced pupils, or
for pupils PROPERLY fitted for the High
School. Since the organization of the
schools, German has been added, SO that
we now have Algebra, Geometry, Trig-
nometry, Philosophy, Physiology, Latin
and German, making full list of studies
for two years, in the High SCHOOL,
There are two departments OF the Primary
grade representing three years; the In
termediate grade filing taree years, and
the Grammar department, three years: SO
that when the High school shall have its
full course and he fully represented in
all the classes by the necessary number
of pupils, we shall then have course OF
study occupy ing twelve years; the child
commencing its school life at the age of
five years would complete the High
and if the ordinary College course of four
years should he afterward completed by
the pupil, he would graduate, as literally
cducatcd,a at the age of twcnty-Onc years.
I am confident that under no system of
education in our Country or in any other,
are schools SO graded that one may grad
uate from any of our Collegiate institu-
tons OF An earlier age.
We now have all the ordinary grades
of schools with the exception of q full
course in the High school. We have in
this department studies only for two
years, and the classes which should prop.
erly represent these years are SO fire.
quently decimated that the class OF
classes arc remarkably small, and not un
frequently is tue number of pupils &C
few that the class is disbanded. Tho
question why is it that we cannot
have High school with the competent
number Of pupils may be answered by
showing the fact that the EXCESSIVE de
mand Tor teachers in our Country school!
is met only by a meager supply. Som'
idea of the scarcity of teachers il, oul
County, may be had, when il is known
that our Co. Supts. have been obliged t.
issue third grade Certificates that some
body may have q lega: right to enter thl
school room as TEACHER and ATTEMPT t
teach. Now, third class certificate mean
THIS, if anything, that the unfortunate on
holding such, is assured by the prope
authority, in writing that he or she j
INCOMPETENT to instruct in any school
and yet the demand for teachers In
been SO exorbitant that such as Ihav
mentioned have been employed in ou
| schools. This demand has been Target,
felt by eur pupils ana many of them VIII
would now constitute complete classes il
the High school, have gone As teacher
| into the schools of the County. Ninety
four such have gone frQm our Gramma
rooms during the last four years. Tire
of the twelve female teachers employees
in our city schools, were formerly pupil
in the sans schools. Our most advanced
pupils can not teach, and at the same tim
remain members Of our higher classes. :
1t will take nothing of the mathe,natic
to demonstrate the above fact. AL
happy In being able to say that non
of our pupils hold third grade certificates
and very many of them are teaching
upon frft-ciass, and, rs far as learn
with commendable success. TIE abOv
| statement should answer the question sat
isfactorly to the mind Of every inquir
er in relation to the high school. Blu
says one, anxious for the higher stud
les, if you can not have full mum
bel in the higher grade, teach the yer,
few, or the individual pupil SO that yo
may have a nucleus around which yo
may hereafter form your full classes
There is no difficulty now, nor will ther
be, At any future time, in starting til
higher classes for want of any one o
two individual pupils, aud were 1t allow
able to form classes SO small, there woul
be no requisite number to join eacl
of the three classes, until our oountr.
schools are more abundantly supplied will
teachers of acknowledged ability an
experience 1t might be for the inter
est of the individual pupil to be thus taught
but it wo'd be manifest;y unjust on the par
of those having authority over the school
that the single pupil should receive tn
attention that rightfully belongs to tn
ordinary number making up the elias
The public tax is paid for the PUBL
benefit, the school is for the aggregat
number of pupils, and not for the SIN
gle pupil. The first want of our coun
try schools, is competent teachers, AM
if our city schools are in any just wa.
meeting this want, then are they doin
noble work. When the demand 10
teachers shall be less and the suppl,
more ample, both in number aud ex
perience, then will our classes In tn
high school be complete in number an
perfect in grade. Which time, for tn
very great good OF our country schools
and for our own interests, ] hope ma.
soon come.
The upper grades of all city school
throughout Iowa, labor under tn
same decimating influences ~ OH
schools and We must he patient an
content to anticipate the good tim
coming when Iowa, with ripper years
shall have her wants more abundantl
supplied with the ability and experienc
that coming years will dsvelope.
CLASS PROMOTIONS,
Class promotions are made from al
the rooms each year, to the next highe
room in grade and promotions of indi
vidual pupils, are male during any par
Of tho term whenever the pupil maj
show by q satisfactory examination con
Quoted by the Principal, that he is fit
ted for the mex. higher grade.
The pupil has such examination when
ever the teacher recommends his name fol
for such promotion. 1t undoubtedly is true
that certain individual pupils from the
entire number have renamed, and will
hereafter, for a long time in the same
class and room. This fact, in itself how
ever, is no reason why they should
be advanced. knew If q pupil in one
Of the rooms whose parents thought he
has been detained an unreasonable length
of time in the same studies. l found up