Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1882-11-02
SCHOOL STATISTICS.
Monthly Report OF the PRINCIPAL OF The Ianeaste.
High S,ihool.
LANCASTER, Wis. oct. %. 1882

LANCASTER, Wis, Oct. %, 1882.
Members Of The Board Of Education
GENTLEMEN: Ihave the honr to submit.
herewith, my first regular report of the
Lancaster Public Schools.
shall not attempt complete state
ment of the work of these first six weeks.
since it has been characterized by diff
culties and problems which it were
impossible to describe, and details of
management too numerous to enumer-
ate. Among the principal changes that
L have endeavored to effect, are the fol-
lowing: First, more system in the class
ification; Second greater uniformity
and cooperation among the different
departments; Third, more thorough and
rapid progress in all the classes.
For the first object, we Immediately
combined grades, so that instead of II,
which was sstonished to find, there are
now only ID, and hope to see one of
these eliminated SOON The absence of
q prescribed course of study, l think,
has prevented rapid progress. and led to
multiplicity and confusion of the grades.
The tendency of such condition was,
plainly, to keep pupils in school an I'M
reasonable length of time, or to discour-
age the completion of the course, besides
requiring an unnecessary amount of la
Dor from the teachers. To Illustrate
the present attainments, the A grade
of the Grammar Department have this
term commenced at DiriSjon, though
il is their eighth year at school, Other
surprising Illustrations might be given
By the adoption of course of study,
and by definite aims in each department
we hope TO remedy these evils For the
present, however, it will be necessary to
work below the course, since every grade
is below it; but ! am confident that, in
time, they can reach the standard with
out losing their classification. In my
present report have found it necessary
to classify, as a part Of the High School,
some who are much below that standard.
In regard to my second general aim,
there is now greater uniformity in the
methods of the different departments,
and the school is working practically as
unit
Still more encouraging is the belief
that the pupils are making more real
progress, and are working with an in
creasing interest and application. All
other favorable conditions are quite in
sufficient if enthusiasm and industry are
solid truth told about himself than he
has heard before during his lifetime
not manifested by the pupils individu-
ally.
Somewhat incidentally, have aimed
at harmony of relations between pupil
and pupil, as well as teacher and pupil,
and spirit of cooperation among all
within the building. | desire to see the
school and its exercises not only profita-
BILE, but also pleasant to all concerned.
To secure this end and to promote an
esprit dc corps, | have inaugurated
"School Socials, and also have other
plans in mind.
Regular rhetorical exercises have been
introduced into all the departments and
promise favorably. need not give any
reasons for this, for the utility of these
exercises can hardly be questioned We
hope to make them less irksome and
more pleasant than they are usually sup
posed TO be, and especially desire that
they shall be practically useful to all
who participate. To secure the maxi
mum OF benefit, we hear each pupil re-
hcarse previously in private after school
hours, and can thereby give individual
criticism and instruction. This requires
considerable labor of the teachers, but,
| think, is worth the sacrifice.
Monthly examinations. just inaugu-
rated, will afford better test of the
standing of the pupils, besides serving
as an incentive to greater diligence
These, also, involve much labor, but
surely repay the effort
Some new books have been intro
duced, including Swinton's English
Grammar and some of the text books
of the High School. In every case |
have procured them directly of the pub
fishers at their lowest Introduction rates,
and saving the pupils at least $40
The general department of the school,
though capable of considerable improve
ment, has been reasonably good: and
have been pleased with the disposition
manifested by most Of the pupils. I'm
provement, doubt not, will be realized
MS the year advances.
The Withdrawals mentioned in my
statistical report were all, so far as am
aware, caused by circumstances extran-
eous TO the school.
The attendance and punctuality are
not as good as hope TO see hereafter
Some of the eases of absence and tardi-
ness were necessary, but many, am
persuaded, might have been avoided by
more care on the part Of parents or pu-
pills. To insure the highest success of
the school, there must be hearty CO.
operation on the part of the parents,
and ! trust that they will by their ac-
tions, if not by their words, emphatically
refute the conclusion and assertion Of
the State Superintendent that the people
of Lancaster are not disposed to support
first-class High School.
Yours very respectfully,
f. NJ. WOoD, Principal.
What do They Want.
The Prohibitionists IN the Eastern as
sembly district of this county are bound