The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1889-08-09

fall terms be taught by the same teacher if
competent Perhaps fifteen per cent of the
schools hire by the year. l can office DIFF
ference in schools where long tenure has
given the teacher a complete knowledge OF
the schools personnel.
/ addressed letters to several directors
where hiring by the year was the custom,
and these will be appended to this report.
An attempt to approximately classify the
district school pupils has been undertaken.
To this end class register was placed in
every school district to keep a record of
class recitations or reviews. Enclosed in
this book was the Superintendent of Public
Instructions pamphlet on grading district
schools. The registers are valuable as
stimulant to pupils, who examine them to
see how their rectations are regarded and
to compare their own standing with that of
their classmates. The instructions from the
county board were for each teacher to indi-
cate where classes ceased work at close of
term, so that their successor could immedi-
atey take up the classes at that point. The
certain the class standings and more accu-
rately judge of the work that has been
done.
Arrangements have been made with most
of the high school superintendent and
principals to admit district school graduates
to the high scheOl without further examina-
| tion. BY district school graduate meant
| that at near the close of next winters term
| to hold an examination at some central
school house in each township, and all pu-
pills who have completedlthe district school
course and passed satisfactory examine
| ton OnG the subjects ordinarily taught in
| district schools conducted by amember ofthe
County Board of Examiners, or some well
| known teacher.
| 1t is bit unfair for the boy or girl in the
| country after good winters work at school
to pass an entrance examination in the fan
for the high school when he has become
rusty in those branches during the summer.
Many district school pupils underestimate
their own requirements and overestimate the
high school requirements. With desire to
complete the district school course and
knowledge that they can enter the village or
city high school many pupils would take a
| higher education.
The mark of the successful teacher is to
| inspire to higher education. Such an ex-
examination would also recommend to the
| Agricultural college, but have 40 official
weight. The only school legislation inter-
ested myself in was arf attempt to get the
state to place map of Michigan i'll every
| school house. The state owning q plate in
| Chicago could have had the maps printed at
| trifling cost, as will be seen from the letter
of the Commissioner of Railroads, which is
appended to the report. The joint resolu-
! tion authorizing the state to furnish these
maps was introduced by the Hon John
Holbrook but never was acted on. l would
like the maps and will ask your advice as to
methods of procuring them. There is a
German maxim which says: ''What you
would have in the state teach in the schools"
To love and admire ones country ami the
flag of that country is sentiment that
should prevail in the state. Nothing could
so educate that sentiment as National flag
in every school room. Most of the present
board of inspectors and examiners are a
generation removed from those who saw
! and defended that flag from 81 to '65.
Those who at present attend school are still
more remote from the significance of that
flag at that time. Shall not patriotism be
taught from the emblem that furnished the
inspiration at Gettysburg and Shiloh?
would place the national flag with its stripes
and AZ stars in every schoolroom in the
county. would have every teacher use it
as an object lesson and tell his pupils of its
glories. The question is shall this be done
and how? A successful school i'm great
measure depends upon the adequate pre-
paration of the teacher. Circumstances
have permitted us to very materially aid in
that preparation by having the longest in
stitute held this year in Michigan, the end
sought being accomplished after four trips
to Lansing. 1t would be very gratifying for
this board tovsit the institute now in session
until Aug. "a. The cooperation of this
board should he given to reviving the an
cient and honorable spelling school. If the
same intense earnestness that crystalizes
around base ball the summer was devoted
to spelling schools, etc., in the winter the
net results would probably be i'm favor of
the winters games. The boy who can
master the spelling book should be as mucn
of hero as he who masters the different
curves Of the base ball. / mean that the
teachers should re-establsh the spelling
school and the inspectors and patrons of the
school should give them encouragement.
In closing this years report desire to
| say that the board of school examiners have
been harmonious, acting in concord upon all
measures. And perhaps it may not be out
of place at this time to acknowledge the
worth of one member of this board whose
successor has just been elected. refer to
Mr.. Griffith the competent and courteous
chairman of the board during the past year.
JAS. N. MCBRIDE,
Secretary.