Wilmington daily commercial., 1875-09-14

The fluctuations In the above table are par
TALLY explained, especially for last year, by the
severity OF the winter aud to the fact that
some of the houses are too cold for
school purposes. But the Superinten-
dent also calls attention to the fact, equally as
bad the past year as heretofore, that a large
number of children join the schools who remain
IN them but a few days or weeks and while he
thinks that the compulsory attendance of some
OF these children might be going step further
than is,practicable just now he entertain but
little doubt that the remedy lies in this direc-
ton. The suspension OF pupils for absence or
bad conduct Is aiso possible cause for tlis
short attendance upon the schools which he
thinks might be obyiated in many cases by
visit on the part of the teachers to the parents
OF the children; but the requirement of such
thug would be a new duty, and one which could
not well be imposed il the common acceptation
Of the nature of the contract between teachers
and the Board be received in the light Of which
the teachers now perform more they are paid to
do.
ADVANCING Pup1IA.
Reciting first the manner OF promotion in the
schools, the Superintendent says One unfor-
tunate thing that results from the otherwise
wholesome effects of our system of marking and
examining is that some frail, ambitious children
are oyerworked. Most Of the children in onr
primary schools should learn all their lessons in
school. Let the older children OF these schools
learn their reading Lessons at home, where they
may all be learned in school. | frequently hear
Of children, more particularly Of little girls who
study two OF more hours day at home. The
parents Of these children say they have to do it
IN order to know their lessons. In most cases
think it will be found that these children when
they were in lower classes, were helped and
stimulated to try to become the best in their
classes in order to be promoted. In due time
they received their promotions for the pressure
brought to bear on those of us who have the
il thnt do
except at the request of parents refuse to pro-
Incte such in turn, according to the record they
have made.
| CHANGES OF POSITION AMONG TEACHERS, ANDsALA-
RIEs.
During the past year only five changes were
Inade among the teachers. The little changing
| gave nearly all the teachers an opportunity to
| teach four times over the same course of study
| In nothing else perhaps does practice give more
| facility and increase of power to work effectually
than IN teaching, and to 10 other kind OF teach
| ing does this apply with so much force "a with
| the youngeHt pupils. To time-serving teachers.
| vino do nothing that can be avoided, practice
may be OF little account 1t IL we'll, however, to
| keep such in charge of the same divisions CON
| siderable time, for when frequently changed
| tkelr common plea for lack of scholarship OF
discipline among their pupils is that things were
! so when they took charge of the division, and
| that they have not had time to make them bet
\ ter
Tic payment of the same salary to q new
| teacher, without experience, as il pad to one
who has been in the schools for three OF -four
| years the superintendent deems unfair and eug-
| Bests that the following plan might be adopted
with benefit Allow s. minimum salary to each
grade Of teachers for the first year, specified
| increase on this for the second, and q maximupl
salary for the third and after years.
TRAINING SCHOOL. foR TEAoHsRs
superintendent Harlan thinks that one of the
most important additions which could be made to
| schools would be training school. That is, q
school to which all persons without experience
| N teaching might be appointed. and i'll which
| they might teach under tie instructions of A
person who is skilled in the art of teaching,
| The chief duty Of the principal of such school
would be to train these pupil teachers in instruc-
| ton. Nos. 2, and are suitable for this work
| and the principals could give as much attention
| as needed IN tho other schools the principals
are employed in teaching classes An impor-
tant step in this direction would be made BY a
| formal designation Of one of these schools as a
training school, with the condition that all be-
| ginners should be appointed to teach for time
in this school under tho Committee on Teacl-
ers and superintendent.
The employment of teachers of vocal music
and drawing liz also suggested.
THE PRl4IARY SCHOOLS FOR THE MAssIs
or the 6033 pups enrolled in, all the schools
during the year, 4935 did not reach the course
grade in the grammar schools. Less than one
| fifth the children now advance as far as gram
mar schools, and this is larger proportion of
them than did 30 three years since. This shows
that the primary schools are the most benefit to
| the masses, and also the Importance OF making
these schools as good as possible. The course
Of study WAS adopted years ago and has only
been changed 80 a. to adapt it to the better
wants OF the schools. Tho examinations of the
past year show conclusvely that the greatest
proficiency in spelling, reading and arithmetic
has been attained in those divisions where the
object lessons, the language lessons aud draw
ing have been taught. Another fact in con-
| they have increased only ten per
cent in numbers, the higher schools
have more than doubled. Part Of this increase
IN the higher schools is due to the fact that
their excellent character has drawn to them