The Hickman courier., 1879-11-07
Educational Department.
]. H. SAUNDERS, ED1rOR.
GRADED SCHOOLS.

"a graded schoOI Is school iE which |
the pupils are divided into classes ac-
cording to their attainments, and in
which all the pupils of each class at
tend to the same branches of study at
the same time"
The following definition is from the
pen of Ira Divoll, formlery Superin.
tendent of Schools, ST. Louis:
can the pupils in any one class at
tend to precisely the same studies and
use the same books. In each room
there shall be a first and second class,
and it is important that the Identical
pupils which constitute the frst class
10 one branch should constitute the
first class in every branch pursued by
the class. By this arrangement while
one class is reciting, the other is pre-
pairing for recitation, aud an aliernat-
ing process is kept up through the day,
affording the pupils ample tine to
study their lessons and the teacher
ample time to instruct each class. This
is what is meant by a graded and elias
si6ed school"
H. q. Kickok, formerly Superin
tendent of Public Schools 10 Psnnsyl-
vanis, says:
"The due classification and grading
of schools is but the application to the
educational cause of the same division
of labor that prevails in all we'll regu
lated business establishments, whether
mechanical, commercial, or otherwise.
1t is not only the most economical, but
without it there can be little progress
or prosperity"
Prof. w. II. Wells says: "No pu-
pil should be advanced from one grade
to another, till be has first sustained
thorough and satisfactory test-exami
nation on all the branches Of the grade
from which be is to be transferred"
I quote from H F. COwdry, former
ly Superintendent of Schools, San
dusky, Ohio, as follows:
"Other things being equal the closer
the classification the better the school
system"
F. NJ Gregory. formerly State Su
perintendeut of Schools, Michigan,
says:
"The advantages of the union school
arise chiefly from the grading, the
more certain and marked will be the
progress of these schools"
We now quote from DR.. IA. N
Henderson, formerly Superintendent Of
our own State:
"There are at least one hundred
dred communities in our State that
should adopt this system. If private
schools, elementary in character, must
let them go. The teachers of them,
if ft to teach at all, can fnd more con-
genial employment aud equally re-
munerative compensation in the graded
schools. High schools and colleges
ought not to resist the establishment OF
graded schools, for they are recruiting
agencies for them, training pupils for
them that would not otherwise aspire
to the advantages they afford. A good
graded school in Danville, Richmond,
Georgetown, Russellville, Millersburg
and like places where colleges are
located, would prepare for the classical
course many local pupils who would
in their absence, never cross the thresh
old of these higher institutions OF
learning. When once aspiration is
awakened in pupils by consciousness
of growing capacities, encouraged by
emulation and frequent promotions
parental pride is apt to be quickeDed
pari passu, and, thus, students, put
upon the upward climbing path oI
progress, would have an honorable
ambition to ascend to the heights oi
academic training. Thus is the expe
rience of every community, elsewhere
that has faithfully tried the expert.
meut."
We have been thus careful to quote
from able men in the educational ranks
to show to the people that the ideas
advanced last week are no specuIationc
or idle dreams. 1t is easy to say t,
the people that it costs less to keep {
fat horse than poor one; that ther,
is less labor in keeping good road
than poor ones; that it is better to d.
anything we'll than to half do it; bu
when we begin to talk about grading I
school, patrons demand a precedent
Where has work of this kind beer
done heretofore? Who do it? Wha
were the results? &c., &c. We ar
ready to answer all such questions, an
to prove conelusively to anyone VIII
wishes to investigate the matter tha
graded schools are not oaly the best
but they are the cheapest Ever
: district in this county numbering on
hundred pupils should establish goo'
, graded school. In the country dis
tricts, the grading could not be as clos
and the time to each class quite as Ion!
as in the towns. But every step in tn
right direction is progress. Do NO
think because we can not go all tn
way, we cannot start. We cannot es
tablish such system Of graded school
as Louisville has, neither Gao we com
l 80 l. L. -. L L.. =.