Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1876-01-27

Our Schools and School Houses.

dihtc WANT VI our CITY more room Ior
| the children.
Unfortunately for our present pur-
pose, the school authorities have this
year kept us in profound ignorance as
TO the number in actual attendance
upon our schools. Even the time
honored Public Examination has
this year been omitted, which. If 1t
served no better purpose lifted, the
veil and revealed the numerical
strength. We respectful suggest that
the Principal give us in plain arith-
fmetical language (after the Honey
moon the much needed data Econ
cerning each department. In the
absence Of exact figures we will sup
pose the total enrolment to be six
hundred. OF this number at least
! four hundred are In the Primary and
intermediate rooms. making the aver
age of each one hundred. So much
for supposition. Now as matter of
| fact, the Primary schools have each
an enrolment of nearly one hundred,
with capacity TO seat (unleomfortably
about two-thirds that number. Fol
lowing any system of grading approx.
! ed by educators, the Intermediate
rooms would each show an enrolment
OF at least one hundred and fifty
! But this department thanks to an
entirely new and original method os
promotion, based upon the nipancey
with which the pupil gets over the
lessons in McGniieys readersl depleted
by transfers made for the purpose of
maintaining something like the nu-
merical equilibrium. This of course
required a sacrifice of the higher
grades. This gives us II Grammar
school composed of pupils who belong
properly to the intermediate depart
ment. aud socallei High School
which does not rank with tlrst-class
grammar schools Of other towns.
We are credibly informed that In this
the highest grade OF our city schools
we have but limited number study
ing the elements of Algebra and Phi
Ilosophy--the great majority pursu
| ing the studies common to our country
schools.
| Let us seek for thecaus Of this con-
| fusion. The knowledge thus obtained
may be Of use To Nv In determining
our present want. Accurate cnlculs.
ton will prove that the average age
of all the pupils attending the several
departments does not exceed ten
years. II It any wonder that the in-
termedate full TO overlooking? Care.
fu investigation further shows that
thirteen is the average age at which
pupils quit fDreger the Public schools
These are facts; their teachings are
plain, aud may not be dirrcgnrded hy
those who are appointed I" provide
far our educational wants, IL follows
that the richest provision should
always be for the department Ia which
the great majority receive their edu-
catlon--ths Primary, Iutermedint"
and Grammar schools. For these the
most attractive rooms and the best
teaching talent shogld always Oe pro-
vided giving to the Primary depart
nIeut the best of each.
Good graded schools are not brought
forth la "a day; they are the result of
regular developments growth.
This community still suffers from tie
abortive attempt made three years
ago to produce High school. n
curriculum was published IN pam
phlet form. The course included Men
tai and MoraI Philosophy, Latin,
Greek. German, etc. This monstros-
Ity. like the good Indians, died.young'
High schools ami Grammar depart
ments viii always be found possible
In connection with we'll graded aud
skillfnlly mnnaged Intermediate aud
Primary schools; and under no other
, circumstance can they exist. TINS
bNGANhG iHprf f'NrN'F
Given, efficient teaching, and good
Primary schools are tile iDinieftidfe
result. Here all judIcious effort TO
build up system Of graded schools
should begin. Let the highest order
Of teaching talent that money VIII
secure be employed in the Primary
schools, and higher grades viii speed
| ily flow from them. The lnterme-
diate rooms are now crowded Win
puplls who have beeh hutried through
the lower grades without receiving the
mental trdtning which that depart
ment shonlh'give. This IL also true
OF tile Grammar department hnd
Hlph ri school. Tranrfeys are nov
made to lie latter 90 I'LL yacaneles
Thus the Numerical standard has
been maintained at the expense OF Its
grade, 10 remedy these defects we
wnnf. Ia begin with. more room for
tie Intermediate and Primary grades.
We are pay lag yearly rent OF
more illau oue bundred dollars Tor
al a,syitina unhealthy church base