The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1876-05-18
KENosHA, May 9, 1876.

KENosHA, May 9, 1876.
EDITOR OF THE KENosHA TELEGRAPH.
DEAR SIR:-This afternoon nay attention was
called to an article entitled "school Session Of
Five Hours in your last issue. Please allow mo
10 call your attention to errors in regard to
matters of fact, either stated or implied in the
article.
| / That the high school session is now five
hours long. 1t begins at A. M. and closes at
40 P M, making five and one half hours.
2. That there were formerly two sessions of
three hours each The afternoon session was
only tive and one half hours.
8. That the high school pupils have not
right to petition the board of education for any
change they may desire.
a. 1t also seems 10 me an error to maintain
that the board of education had not the right to
make the change. The laws of Wisconsin seem
to leave the number and arrangement OF school
hours to The school boards. II SO, the board had
a leoaI right to make the change. They have a
moral right to do 80, if, after due dsliberation,
they think it for the best interest of the school.
On the general question whether one session
is better than two, DC lot wish to take sides.
Your argument against one long session &C.
count of it's beirg more tiresome is just one.
You mig lit have added another good argument
against tnHmely that 1t nterferes quite seriously
with the dinner hours of some families.
Some points in favor OF the change made
should be considered.
LIST. All the pupils in the DOL on the day
the petition was sent to the board had signed 1t
and uineteen-t wentieths Of them were enthusiast
ticslly in favor it.
End. Nearly all the pupils had talked with tn cir
parents in relation TO the matter. and. according
to the report OF the pupils before the change was
made, objections were made in only three
families, and that not seriously.
Sd. The change Is for the spring term. seven
weeks only. Eight o'clock would be too early
in the fall and winter.
4th The high school proper and all the division
high schools of Chicago have only one sessitn
day throughout the school Year, from A. M. TO
2P.M The same is true of Boston. With the
arrangement in other cities am not acquainted
5tk. No change has been made in the amount
of time spent in school, Each recitation is Of the
same length as before.
9th. One long session is not'so tiresome as
might be supposed. The average high school
pupil spends FULLY two-thirds Of his school hours
in recitation. Time thus spent is not SO fatigung
although 1t is generally more profitable than
time spent in part study. Besides he has the two
recesses of fifteen minutes each which he had
before In the two sessions.
7th The morning hours in this season Of the
wear arc more favorable to brain work than the
afternoon hours.
9Th. The record of tn forr school days since
the change was made shows that the attendance
has been more regular than for any other four
consectiye days during the torn. The pupils
aU0F't than before.
I think the board did not expect that any
serious opposition would be made to the change.
Ifit had been supposed that majority Of the
parents Of high school pupils or even q respect
able minority Of them, were opposed to the
change, have no doubt that the pc tition Of the
purils would not have been granted. Some other
matters that do not bear upon this question. were
ms ntioned in the article to which reference has
been made. or these wish to notice one. It Is
jntimated that, for Keyeral years past, the high
school has been advancing to higher branches OF
study. and that the work done is more superficial.
am sorry to say that the present published |
course of the school does not embrace SO many Of
the higher branches as that published ten years |
ago. In relation to superHciality 1t does not be-
come me to speak, and perhaps Should not be
able to do so with ,mpartIsiity. But would |
ike to hear the opinion Of yourself, Mr.. Editei,
upon that point. after zen have actually visited
the school and listened to some OF the ordinary
daily rscitations.
The city teachers wsRld like to extend
through your paper . general invitation. tc
parents and friends Of education In Kenosha, to
visit the schools and see for themselves how the
work Of education is going on. The general con.
dition Of the schools this term is good. Perfect