Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1881-11-17
sUPERINTENDENTs REPORT
LEWISTON SCHOOLS.
LEWISTON, l. r., Nov. 5, 1881

To the honorable Board Of Education,
GENrLEMES:--With pleasure l sub
nit the following report. The schools
have Teen III session for one month
ending the 4 III Of November. The
grading has been done and is now an
accomplished fact. Neither age nor
convenience, nor favoritism on the one
hand, nor tcchnicality on the otter has
had anything to do with the grading,
But the grading h y been done on
common sense principle, viz: The at
tainment of the scholar. To ascertain
this preliminary test was held at the
opening of the school; this was followed
up by month Of trial aud written
test. The grading is as thorough and
complete as it can be with three de-
partments. have good evidence that
the scholars are universally pleased with
the grading and are at work, with the
exception Of one who has quit scho ].
I think that there will be need for four
departments IN the school mex. year
AS it is, your principal is overworked
The total attendance is ll3; they are
distributed as follows; Primary A.;
intermediate, 36; Grammar and High
School, 80.
Two things manifested themselves ut
the opening of the schools on the 10th
of October last. The lack of discipline,
aud the lack OF knowledge. These two.
discipline and knowledge cover the
whole field Of education. Discipline
of head, or heart, or hand, will mani
fest itself in thought, or word, or act
What will the conduct be where dis
ciplinc is lacking2 Let the question
he answered by for covered with
dirt and muck, by desks carved into
fanciful figures, by the rude coming in
and going out, by the uneasiness in
study hours, by the lack of knowing
how to study, by the inability to ex-
press the plainest of facts Or principles
in a proper way, by the inability to
grasp facts or principles. knowledge
will NANTES. itself on test or trial.
What will the answer be where knowl
edge ls lacking? Let the wholesale
failures on yesterdays test answer
And yet the questions are the simplest
and easiest that it is possible to ask
principal and general questions at the
very beginning of tn. common branches.
The scholars feel and confess these
defects.
But we have made a beginning We
have been steadily Improving in every
direction. The very fact that We have
system in the schools impresses itself
on the mind of scholar, and, as like
begcts like, it engenders that culture
which is to be produced and brought
forth by the schools.
During the month not single case
Of corporal punishment was known in
the schools. No forcible measures
we're introduced, save the locking Of
the doors five minutes after the ringing
of the second bell. This has worked
very well, and is fast breaking up tard-
mess. Very few come behind time;
in such cases those who know the just
ness Of their cause, knock at the door
and are admitted and their excuse re-
ceived; all others sink away as they
have no excuse. have no know ledge
, Of any such cases ia the last three
weeks.
The scholars are all hard at work,
and never knew a more obedent or
/ trac able set If scholars. There is GER
tainly bright future for the Lewiston
schools--brisht, especially, for some Of
her present pupils, # par. nj and pupil
are awake and alive to their own best
interests. J. A. GARDINER,
| Superinte ndent.