Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1888-12-29
fhe Educational Column.
D, l, aus1, Co. ssps, Falling Waters wa,
THE GRADUATING SYSTEM.

Ply a small space in this column this
week to say a few words concerning
the proposed plan of the graduating
system of the common schools of
Berkeley. shall give full particu.
lars in few weeks when | visit the
schools. | wish now to give only a
brief outline, that teachers may be.
gin to work upon it, and make CLASH.
fication by careful study of each
pupils ability and present advance
ment.
1t is proposed to have five different
grades in each school; viz, the A,
b, G, and ID grades, and a prepare
tory department; but for the pres.
emit time we shall be under the nee
essity of creating an extra grade
which will make six. This is done
that the system may be put IN prop
erworking order for succeeding years.
This extra grade will stand at the
top and will be known as the gradu.
ating class of 1889, and will he com.
posed of all those pupils, who, with
the encouragement of the teacher,
agree to try the spring examination
OF 1889.
The !" A Glass will graduate in
the spring Of 1890; the g B Glass y
in 81; the &C Glass" in '92; the
I'D Class " in '93; and the prepare
tory department will include all the
pupils in school who are OF INSULT
cient advancement to De placed in
any of the higher grades.
A catalogue showing each grade is
to be published annually, and that
this catalogue may be complete. it
becomes necessary to place all '89
graduates iu separate class; for this
catalogue will not appear until after
the present scholastic year.
The catalogue will then show
the A class as the graduating class
OF the next term, and the 80 gradua.
ties will be represented as the alum.
nj.
By this arrangement it is always
known who are expected to grad.
uate, and B class becomes the A
class the succeeding year, and so
with the other classes, each rising a
step higher every year. 1t will be
seen that there must be new d
class fol med each year from the pre-
paratory department.
most earnestly recommend that
every teacher in the county will
make the classification as soon as all
the scholars have enrolled; say be.
gin after the holidays.
Ii will require some care on the
part of each teacher in doing this,
rs lac alone must be responsible f,r
the classification, but he is expected
to know, better than any one else,
how 70 do it.
Do not think that you can compel
Your Dpils to join any class. This
Is not the object. Study should be
made pleasureable, and this is the
object Of the graduating system. 1t
Is an incentive. something to inspire
each pupil to more lofty attachments,
aud if you present the subject in a
proper way, sou will be surprised to
lind how wiling they are to become
alemhers OF the several classes you
have arranged in your mind for their
acceptance.
In some schools there may be no
Graduating class, no "a Glass; no
a. 3 GLASS;" or you may have an " A
class and no " B class" This will
make no difference. The teacher is
not responsible. A change of resi-
dence or some other cause may
greatly affect any school. Only
make the classification and make it
right, and your responsibility ceases
as to grading. II you have but one
class, and that class Is the SD Glass;
call it so, so that each scholar in it
may know in how many years he is
expected to complete the course.
There is much more that | would
like to say but i have already taken
too much Of your space. You shall
bear from me again soon.
Wishing every teacher and every
pupil merry Christmas and a
happy New Year, / remain,
Yours sincerely,
n w hnnn ~ Cu,,t