River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1880-09-16
Our 81. Paul letter.

Thinking that few words concern
ing the schools Of the city from one
who has in the past been in the ranks
of the teachers of Pierce county
might interest those who were CO.
laborers, l presume upon your indul-
gence, Messrs. editors, while l give a
few of the salient points. Should this
have other home than the waste bas-
ket may follow it with others upon
similar or dissimilar topics.
1t is admitted on all hands, that
during the last three years, the schools
have made more than ordinary pro-
gress. The head of the system is a
superintendent, at present, b. +.
Wright, formerly principal of the
high school. There are nearly ninety
teachers. The rules Of the board of
education give the superintendent and
principals, we believe, less power than
they possess in other cities which
| limitation is we believe, unfortunate.
There are eight grades in the ward
schools, and four in the high schools,
making twelve years work III all. Pro
motions occur semi-annually, as the
result of examinations. Each grade
| is divided into two classes, a and B.
| The school year consists of forty
weeks. making the time of study in
each class twenty weeks. The rigidi-
ty of the graded system, which is
making it so unpopular in some cities,
driving many pupils to other schools,
does not here obtain beyond the die
tates of reason and common sense.
The pupilistreated rs possible citizen
whose personal welfare and progress
| is Of yalue. rather than as 4 part of
a splendid machine whose parts have
not any personality to be considered.
| Itisnot unduly loose however. Among
| the "cNtras, socalled, not always
| found in country schools, are music,
| drawing and German. Prof. PREM,
late superintendent Of music in the
schools of Milwaukee, has been secur-
ed rs Il special teacher. OF the in
structions in the lowest grades, the
teachers, first taught by him, have
charge. OF the upper grades he has
more direct control, and in the high
school. exclusive. The time devoted
to it is ninety minutes per week. The
school sessions are only five hours per
day. from nine to twelve, and from
80 to $50. Thus about one fifteenth
of the time is given to music. Prof.
Priem is an enthusiast i'll his work,
and it win be wonderful if he does
not infuse some Of his own spirit into
both teachers and pupils ere the year
shall end. The lowest grades sing
only 10y rote.
In the five lower grades drawing is
taught by Prof. J. D. Bond, who also
teaches penmanship. In the fourth
grade. thirty minutes per day is equal
ly divided between drawing and pen
manship. In the fifth. the former has
forty minutes, and the latter sixty per
week. The higher grades do not have
drawing this year.
The system Of Walter Smith is used
although no text book is put into the
hands Of the pupils. 1t is the practi-
cal kind.
The special teachers give instruc-
ton in German, daily, at the different
schools, twenty-five minutes per day
in the fifth. sixth, seventh, and eighth
grades This study is optional.
4 course of general lessons, or gen.
eral exercises is in preparation by
Prof. H. ". Slack, principal of the
Humboldt school, which will be intro
daced in a few weeks. Prof. 5. viii
outline the work in some detail for
each grade. and his scheme viii be
published and placed il the hands Of
all teachers. These lessons viii he
exercises n elementary science. from
botany in the lower to zoology in the
higher grades. They are just what
teachers OF country schools need. and
we believe the first attempt in that
peculiar line. Teachers Of Pierce
and st. Croix counties who desire will
secure them by sending card, giving
number of copies wanted, to the auth
or who can make the edition large
enough to cover the demand, and az
ter giving notice of publication, send
them at a nominal price. Address No.
IS, Ramsey Street, st. Paul, MINI.
BETA.
Cook stoves. heaters, and full line
of tin and sheet iron ware at II.
Anderso1's. opposite the Commercial |
House. Repairing promptly done Of
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