The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1876-05-04
SCHOOL SESSION OF FIVE HOURS

As stated In another place in this pa
per the School Board, at the reg llar
meeting last Tuesday, granted the petit
ton of the High School to have but one
session day-from s 4. NJ. till P. NJ.
From this two facts appear-the High
School petitioned the School Board for
permission 20 have but one session a
day continuing from A. NJ till / P.
NJ, and that the School Board granted
the petition. The propriety and just
ness of these actions both on the part
of the High School and the School
Board may well be called in question.
The one had no right to ask for but
one session of five hours and the other
had no right TO grant what was asked
unless the change from two sessions OF
three hours each to one of five hours
would be better for the scholars and
teachers and the public. And this may
we'll be doubted. A session of five
hours is too long for either scholars or
teachers. Neither can apply the mind
vigorously for five hours without veal
and liability to strain. Attentive APP
plIcation for three continuous hours is
enough for either teachers or scholars.
The question then is reduced to whether
one session of five hours will occasion
less wear and liability to strain than two
sessions of three hours each, and wheth
er the scholars will make as much pro-
gress with the one as with the other
That one session of five hours with like
application would not produce less but
would produce more wear and liability
to strain than two sessions of three
hours each is probably the opinion of the
most of those who have given the subject
due consideration. And that the scbol-
ars would make better progress with
two sessions Of three hours each than
with one session of i've hours with like
application is probably also tie opinion
of the most of those who have
given tie subject due consideration
| But whatever the opinions may be, the
facts should govern. If better progress
! is made with less wear and liability to
strain with two sessions of three hours
each than with one session of five hours
the High School had no right to ask and
the School Board had no right to grant
permission to have but one session OF
five hours.
Progress is sometimes made backwards.
IN important question just now is
whether our High School has NOT for
several years been making backward
progress. The tendency of schools gen
orally of late is to advance to what are
considered the higher branches and this
begets superfciality. And this has been
carried to SO great an extent that but
few teachers, to say nothing ofscholars
are capable of Wrising an article fit fol-
publication. Take for insf ance The
superintendents and teachers Of Kenoshs
lefty and county: How many of then
are capable of writing an article fit fol
publication? Superintendent Flett, be
ling editor of the Educational of tht
TELEGRAPH, gives opportunity to know
thai he writes able articles fully prepared
for publication. And there may be
few others who could write article
prepared for publication, but all told /
IS doubtful if there would be a dozen
4 This ought not to be. and would not be
we're It not for the tendency which j
allowed in our schools to advance to tn
higher studies even at the expense 9
isuperfciality in ever thing.