Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-07-04
The Public Schools.
yEAR ENDING ltNr II, ls70.

As the people contribute thefmds by
which the public schools are supported,
ana us they are. or should 6e deeply in
tcrested i'll the results produced hN the
expenditure OF thcSe funds, ii Is but
proper that use should hc made of all
means for disseminating Information
concerning these results. No published
reports can give tic thorough acquain-
tance with the workings Of the school
that could he had hy few NiSlts. dNd
personal inspection Of the daily work
in the various departments, and no
member of the community should he
satisfied u acquire his information III
amy less effective WAY l'ut for the
benefit of any who cannot avail them
selves of this method, and 70 lay before
all. certain facts not attan@ble hY
visits. L brief summary of the years
work is desirable.
There lave been enrolled IN the sev-
cral departments, during the year, Gsls
different pupils. with an average daily
attendance If III, or 60 per cent. of the
enrolment for the Year. The entire eli
tire enrolment, il will lie perceived,
furnishes Il basis quite different from
the actual membership at any gwen
time. On which u compute attendance.
Many pupils are enrolled who attend
but i single term some bHt a few
weeks even Were the percentage Of at
tendance based on thcaycrage member
Shin for the year instead Of the whole
number enrolled. the exhibit would ap-
pear much more cTeditahlc, though it
would be far below what should be
aimed III even then The percentage
with this basis would reach - or 50
or all the cities reporting TO the State
superintendent last year hut one gave
a lower figure than 60. Milwaukee re-
ported 81 per cent. 1t is difficult 20 see
what unfortunate circumstances 50 q.
feet the children Of Mmcra! Point, Mil
waukee and one or two other cities Of
the state as to reduce the attendance of
those registered to about 80 per cent
or What their specially favorable sur
r0undings in such places rs Bel0t,
Fort Howard, La Crosse. Madison, Osil-
kosh and Sheboygan, all Oi which III.
port 30 per cert. u above.
CLASSIFICATION.
lf inteIlccts were constituted Like
Waltham watches 80 that there should
be perfect uniformity in all parts, tie
process Of classification IN schools could
be freed from many 81 its difficulties
Thesame methods would then produce
the same results, and there would b.
less necessity for frequent changes IN
order ~ place each papil ID The class
where he could make most progress.
Bat With all the variety of intellectual
endowments found am0nga large mum.
ber 0f children. and in Wow Of the iaNt
that instruction i'll large schools must
be impaired largely 70 classes and but
in limited degree t. individuals, the
necessity for frequent re-aaiastneat ef
classes becomes All important matter II
school economy. Tie conscientious
teacher can be gOV9ned nF but ofie
principle iii eifccting this Je-adIust-
meut that Is the relative rank tlIas
each member holds in his class. 70
classify On any otheI principle is not
0nly to doan injustice toeyery member
az the class, but to impair tie efficiency
of tie work by wasting much of the
teachers time and energies as We'll "a
tllo.e 0i many III the ciass.
Opinions rs 70 the proper method 81
ascerfaining tie relative raak Of pa-
pils ID class differ somewhat. but tlle
mass Ell teachers gf experience. cpee-
tally those hi charge III tie largest
schools systems IN tie country, make
the test of tile written examination LIE
lasis for classification It'll all tile higher