Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1880-06-17
Graded Schools.
HOW THEY ARE CONDUCTFD-AD-
vANTAGEs THEY POSSESS AS PRE-.
sENTED BY ONE ENGAGED
IN THE WORK,


vANTAGEs THEY POSSESS AS PRE-.
sENTED BY ONE ENGAGED
IN THE WORK.
The aathor of the following les
ter is Prot. Alexander McIyer,
principal Of the graded school in
Greensboro, and one of the most
distinguished and successful eda-
Gators in the State:
GREENSBORO, April 10, 1880.
A graded schools one in which
pupils are classified according to
their ages aad attainments, apd An
which pupils Of SIMILAR attainments
are taught together. Suppose four
or five hundred pupils If various
ages and at:ainments are 10 be Or
ganized into school and taugrt in
all the branches Of common
school education. How is it to be
done :
Divide the whole number OF pu--
pills into ten equal classes, putting
in each class pupils of like ages
and attainments and provide a
separate room and teacher for
each class. AT first the studies as
signed to each class should be
adapted to the wants and necessities
of pupils. But after a few years,
the course may be so arranged that
that the studies Of one class shall
be step, .graasss 10 those. OF the
next higher. The classes are there
fore called grades, and the school
TINS organized graded school,
The essential idea, as the name
implies, is that of an orderly sue
cession of ascending steps, each of
which is preparation for the one
which follows. Each of these steps
consists in certain degrees Of men
tai develqpemont and competent
knowledge of certain subjects of
instruction. The time allotted to
each grade is generally five months;
and at the end Of this time ali phi
pills who are thoroughly proficient
in the studies Of the grade are ad-
yanced to the next higher; but
those who are not proficient arc
required to so over the conrse OF
the same grade again. Pupils who
are industrious, plnctUal ,and apt to
learn, may at any time when their
attachments justify it. be promoted
to a higher grade. Thus the way
is always open for shc Jreritorsons.
The children of the rich and the
poor are Taught together and on
equal terms. They learn to rely
upon good conduct and upon good
conduct alone, for success. Self
reliance is taught, and CHARACTER is
formed.
The advantages Of such school
must be obvious to every one. 1t
is an application of the great law
Of division Of labor to the work OF
teaching. The teachers time. tai
ents and energies are concentrated
upon a single Class and npon a
liE,itcd range Of duties, and he may
thel esore excel in his work.
Ihe principal or superintendent
of such school, should be a man
of high attainments in bis profes-
sion, and his skill will very soon
manifest itself in every part OF the
work and in every grade Of the
school. He will instruct and train
the teachers in their work, and re-
I tain only those who are found to
be in dustrious, energetic and com
petenr. Such an organization vii
necessarily make good school ir
a very short time. The public
schools of Richmond, Petersburg
Atlanta and olher southern cities
were, very soon after their organi-
cation. eeoal in all respects to The
public schools Of New York, Balti
: more or Boston. They came tortl
: like Minerva from the brain Of Ju-
piter .iull armed for their work, ,ane
>. they are now firmly established il
+ the confidence of the entire people
, Eeucatlon is an element in on
} civilization which We cannot affcrf
. to neglect. An educated people ar
] every where the world oyer. an in
$ dnstrious, thrifty, prosperous peo-
j pie. If we intend that North Caro-
linians of the NEXT generation shal
$ stand On an equal footing and en-
d Joy equal advantages with citizen
!, OF otIer States, we must edncat
the ehlaren OF the day. aud W