The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1880-03-12
Graduating System.

Among the obstacles which prevent the
perfection of our common school system,
are the absence from the schools of many
children who should be upon the rolls, the
irregular attendance of many who are en-
rolled, and the lack of hearty cooperation
with the teacher on the part of the parents.
1t matters little how intelligent and capable
the teacher may be, if the children of Civ
en- district do no: attend the schools, and at
tend regularly, or if the parents do not as
sist the teacher in the education of their
chiIdren. The subject of compulsory at
tendance has been tried in some countries,
but has not yet become popular among the
people OF the United States. Other means
have been tried with more or less efficiency
but no method has yet been put into gen.
eral practice to make the schools so attract
i've as to induce universal attendance, and a
general desire to receive the full benefit of
our common school system, A grand step
in this direction, however, was made in the
adjoining State of West Virginia, by the
neighboring county of Monongohalia, while
under the superinendency of Alexander L.
Wade who proposed and succeeded in adopt
ing tor that county graduating system for
the common schools. He reasoned that as
colleges semnaries and academies and even
high schools had graduating systems which
were universally acknowledged to be benefi-
cial, that the plan might be of practical
utility for the common schools of the coun-
ty. 1t would produce an increased interest
| on the part Of both parents and pupils, an
| increased interest meant better and more
regular attendance, more combined and har-
monious effort, and vastly more power to
learn The branches required to be taught
| in the common schools are comprised in
| regular course of study which the pupils are
desired to adopt voluntarily, and complete
within given time, undergoing regular pub
| lie examinations in the studies of each class
and graduating when the course is complet-
ed, a diploma being awarded to all who
pass the examinations creditably. cata-
logue is published giving the names of the
schools, the teachers and the graduates,
and undergraduates, or those in classes not
yet having completed the course. The num-
ber of childen in a given district entitled to
attend the school is noted. The number in
actual attendance given, as well as the aver
age and per cent. of attendance also the
number of pupils Studying each branch,
| The public examinations are found to ex-
cite an interest among the people of the dis
trict, and the parent Instead of being an OPP
ponent of the teacher and fault-fnder, is
desirous of seeing his hildren come off with
honor and credit and co-operates with the
teacher to insure success A banner Is
awarded to that school having the largest
per cent of attendance, and it is surprising
to see how eager the pupils themselves be
come in securing the "honor' for their re-
spectiye schools. All the children are hunt
ed up and induced to come to school. As
sistance is rendered 10 those too poor tC
purchase books, and all become co-worker'
for definite object aud iOr the genera
good, 1t is impossible in newspaper arti
Gle to give anything like a complete outline
of the system but it is sufficient to state
f that the graduating system works well in
West Virginia, is endorsed by the leading
schoolmen of the State, and it might be n
troduced with profitable results in large
majority of the counties in our own Com
monwealth. Genius of Liberty.