Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1878-11-19
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

THE PROGRAMME thOfOoEO u DAs' AAN>~-~-
TON ENDORSED BY THE SCHOOL BOARD.
I On-last Thursday night the City school Board
met in the City Council chamber. Present.
John w. Todd. President, and Messrs. Isaac
WITT, John B. Scherer, ST., John NJ. Carroll, w.
]. Nelson, and c. L. Cooke. Capt. 7. D. Ran
son, chairman Of the City Council committee
ON schools, was also present, as was pr. II. 3.
Hamilton, Superintendent Of the city schools
and DR.. w. H. Ruffner, State Superintendent
OF Public Instruction.
DIR. Hamilton explained that the object OF the
meeting was to make known to the Board the
condition OF the city schools and the necessity
Of radical changes. and that, as Dr. Runner was
| present, he wished the opinion OF that gentle
man upon the necessity of these changes and
the condition of the schools.
He had. from the time he had taken charge Of
the schools felt the necessity Of making changes
In the present grading Of the schools, and de.
sired the appreciation Of the Board in this mat
tor.
Dr. Ruffner, addressing the Board, said he
thought important changes were needed in our
city schools, an the grading is exceedingly ir-
regular. He had examined the schools thor
oughly, and though rather fayorably predis-
posed in their behalf. for he had heard much Of
astonished-at the irregularity which existed
in them He did not wish in any way to re-
feet upon the late superintendent, sor he had
done great deal OF good. but. after examining
the schools, he was compelled to say that our
schools are not graded at all, except in the one
department Of reading. =
The world has been slow in perfecting sys-
tenn of primary education, but certain things
have been settled as toprimary schools. There
are certain understanding, writing. and arith-
metic-which should be taught with q certain
System and regularity, and then grammar,
geography, &C., come in afterwards regularly, as
the child advances in these branches.
In the teachers work there is great economy
to be considered. There is, first, the pecuniary
economy, which Is gained when the greatest
number Of children can be taught by n given
number Of teachers, and with the greatest BEN
eft to the children. To accomplish this. thor
ough olassidcation is necessary, and grading ID
the way in which to do it.
In the Staunton schools, outside Of reading,
the classes are mixed up like old field
schoolE Ina properly graded school. the chill
dren are classified according to their lowest ac-
quirenaents. and not their highest.
He spoke of the difficulty to be met with
from parents in grading schools, and Of the
liability of superintendent to grade wrong
through feeling of kindness to parents though
it was q mistaken kindness.
1t il supposed that the Staunton schools. as
all others, are based upon tho system of co-ea-
ucation of the sexes, but he had found one
teacher with a class OF boys and another with
class of girls, yet both, classes were on the
same level, and could rs easily be taught by
one teacher. -s -e4 '.ss'aas
:.
graded, as they SHOULD be. on the lowest grade
Of requirements. he admitted it would cause
dissatisfaction, but it would be the best in the
end for the children. And the School Board
| should meet the storm with firmness, If they
| desired to have their schools based upon an ef-
| fective system.
| He admitted that probably this could not be
done all at once, but it should be worked up to
a. quickly rs possible. and this matter should
be left TO the disopetiQA Of the Superintendent.
Dr. Hamilton again addressed the beard,
and, without any intention of rejecting upon
his predecessor, urged the importance Of q
change in the organization Of the schools.
He agreed with DR.. Rutfner upon the import
ance of graded schools, and thought it was up
en- the ground that the Stanton schools were
graded that they received the appropriations
from the Peabody Fund and from the City
Council. .-.1- 5-a asa5e sif5
He then explained the system upon which he
proposed to grade the schools. 1t was based
upon the plan pursued in the Richmond
schools. which, rs DR., RHffaer says, are equal
to the best in the United States,
In speaking of the schools Of Staunton, he said
he had found the colored schools well graded for
the number of teachers. which he said were
too few, and that the colored children were the
| -. .,,,.+ ,,;,dr., f,r tha,r o.. In star,tor
This was mainly due to one good teacher, Miss
Mitchell. who will compare favorably with any
teocber in the state or anv where else.
teAG4el ~ efio oe"se - ".y "HeAo oAso'
DIR. Ruffnsr, at the request ~ the 4oArd
spoke Of the efficiency of the Richmond schools
ord ~ tho means bv wh,cb thew had heer Nor.