Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1879-07-02


endowments found amonga large num-
Der OF children, and in view OF the fact
that instruction i'm large schools mnst
be impaired largely to classes and hut
i'll limited degree to individuals. the
necessity for frequent re-adjustmen. of
classes becomes an important matter in
school economy. The conscientious
teacher can be governed bv but one
principle in etfecting this re-adjust-
ment that is the relative rank that
each member holds in his class. TO
classify on any ether principle is not
only to do an injustice to every member
OF the class. but to impair the efficiency
of the work by wasting much of the
| teachers time and energies as we'll as
those of many of the class.
Opinions as to the proper method of
aScertalnlng the relative rank of pu-
pills IN class differ somewhat, but the
| mass OF teachers of experience. espec-
| tally those IN charge of the largest
schools systems IN the country, make
| the test OF the written examination the
basis for classification in all the higher
| grades, and the oral examination, to-
gether with the class record the basis
III the lower grades. Occasionally some
wild theorlst advances new principle,
or some one with rare critical uifts,
but no inventive genius, condemns
present methods without suggesting
better; but there is conservatism
enough among the ranks of the teachers
to hold fast that which is good" until
lhe excellence OF some other method is
ialrly proved. In the schools Of this
place this re-arrangementbf classes has
been made, with relative standing in
class Tor II basis, and has been product |
i've OF the results that almost universal |
ly attend such changes. The diSSatiS- |
faction that IN some cases results from |
new classification is more frequently |
owing To wounded vanity than any |
other cause, although there is ground !
Tor objection to a gradation that Separ-
ates classes 10y Il whole year, on account |
OF the length OF time that must be
spent in review by those who fail TO |
keep up with their classes. Were |
teaching force and room sufficient To |
admit of 50 close a classification that |
grades might be separated by but Il sim
be f6iR61ed: r6'hiit tiS cn6lhti cn6lhtiya ia@@ nh qtft
number of pupils at present, registered !
III the schools, would make six classes |
necessary in each of the lower grades, |
and twelve in the High School; thus in
Producing nearly AL the worst features |
of the mixed school, and destroying
those which make the graded scho u |
system desirable. At the examination |
Of the year just closed, held for the pur-
pose Of Reconsideration, from Is to so
per cent, were promoted the remain
der being obliged on account of low
standing in class to review the work
of the year. As just stated it is pos
sible that there should be hardship in
individual cases, where less than a
year might suffice for the review nec-
eSsarY, but the system taken as a whole |
works highly beneficial results, No
more healthy or effective stimulus TO |
study can be found among all the in
ccntiyes designed by teachers to pro-
mote industry The student who is
not affected by this motive must be
hopelcssly indolent,
SoHr EVILS TO BE REMEMBERED.
The assistance Of parents is neces-
sary 10 remedy some OF the worst de-
fectS existing in the schools, without
this it is unreasonable TO look for i'm
proyement. The first is that with |
which every reader Of educational re-
ports has become SO familiar: viz lack |
Of regularity and punctualty in attend
mce. 1t is unnecessary to dwell at
length upon a subject that has been 50
often discussed. This evil is seen in
its worst form near the close Of each
term, but it is especially noticeable as
the spring term draws to its close In
some Of the departments the last two
or three weeks Of this term become al
most worthless. The people pay as
much TO maintain the schools during
these weeks as any other. In one re-
spect these weeks are more important
than others, for it is at this time that
the work of the term eliminates, and
the time is most favorable for ascer-
tanning and exhibiting to the public
the results Of the work previously
done
Idleness and inattentlon on the part
Of pupils can, in many cases, be eX.
piained ~ Indifference that exists at
home. l. is not strange that the pupil .
who sees no interest manifested by MS
parents in lis progress atschooi should /.
have little taste tor his work. In all
the lower departments reports are made
to the parents rs the end OF every fOur
weeks. The least lhAt the parent can
10 III llSllct 10 HIS CHtl!icn - 10 cAdil-
Ine carefully the matters reported. and
inquire concerning the causes OF any
.i4lrc$ that seem ID him other than
what they should be.
HIGH SCHOOL
Forty-ci2ht pupils have been enrolled in the
tasses Of This department during the yetr,and
4 number somewhat hrgcr IN the class prepar
liory to the High school. This laltet are
properly grammar school puyiIs, but they
hayc place in the High School because room
can be found for thcm there, and caunGt be IN
other rooms. They are registered separately,
and are regarded in9o sense rs a part of the
High School It is from this class That most
1f the cand dates foe admission - the High