Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-11-30
AN INTERESTING DAY.
ocontinued from Page Five.)


cation are left free to estabilsh primary
and secondary schools, to make such regu-
latious as are deemed necessary lor theiI
efficiency to make courses OF SGuuy, anu
tn determine the text books TO be USED
The classification.of the children VINO may
attend may also ne determineo oy ooarus
nc we'll as the employment of competent
teachers To the teacher may be assigned
such branches of study as best suits the
ability and teaching power OF the teacher
To this end the children may be separated
into classes or grades IN accordance Win
their age and proficiency or attalnments In
the branches to be taught. This mas given
rise to what are known as graueu schCU.s.
Grading is based upon classification. Inc
first attempts at grading we've MADE IN
Boston about fifty years ago. Inc oecade
hetweeu 1870 and 1850 was period during
which city systems OF schools were gfeaIiy
improved by the adoption OF graded
courses of study, classification Oh the
children on the basis OF age ana attain
ments, and the assignment OF teachers 10
snecific grades. a graded school was de-
fined to be: schools in which the pupils
are classified according to their progress
in scholarship as compared with course
of study dived into grades, pupils OF the
same or a similar degree of proficiency be-
ing placed in the same class" An uL-
graded school is one in which the pupiis
are taught individually, each one being ad
yauced as far, and as fast, as circumstances
permit. without regard to the progress oil
other pupils" Again, graded schools are
defined to be: 1.-THE arrangement OF pup
according TO proficiency and capaciy iot
study. into grades, classes or DIVISIONS. .
Still another is: Grading Is the arrange
ment of children of about the same age
and of, as nearly as may be, similar attain
meDts. in separate schools or depart
Il tat teachers
kind of instruction and discipline suited TO
individual scholars may be adapted 10 the
whole class or grade
The Doctor defended the system Oh graz
ed schools with very ose reasoning,
which had convincing effect On me heih-
beers of the association. After giving 'he
arguments in its favor, ne cohtinueu'
There are many detects III graded
schools. but they viii be found very sener-
ally TO result from faults IN admlnl9tra-
tion and the incompetency OF teachers
The sfate desires that all the children of
tie state be educated. The sentiment OF
our government is that the perpetalty OF
our institutions requires that we nave ed
ucated muses. and not classes. 10 TINS
end the amount necessary Tor educatIonal
purposes is immense. MISUNDERSTANDING
the Willingness OF the people TO DE taHeu
lest the taxes should become burdenSome
economy is an element Tor grave consider
alton. The public schools where the num-
Der of children will justify, should DE Or
paniZed TO make effective the obstruction
with the smallest possible teaching force.
Were il possible to organize the children
in the rural districts into graded schools
of say six distinct grades. in which about
forty pupils were Ass gned to a grade, nail
the money now paid TO teachers might De
saved, or better, half the number OF teach
ers only need be employed, but snch
on account or thelr skill ana
scholarship would be worth twice as mucn
as teachers are now pald IN the country
schools. Again, the most serious ooJec-
ton to the ungraded system is, the little
children are too often neglected or lett
during the first years OF their SCHOOL lie
simply TO get what attention they can afCer
the older pupils have been served. AS the
school life OF the average child Is not more
than five years aud the average age not
more than twelve when ne leaves SCHOOL, IL
is a matter of the highest Importance TO
the state. AS well as TO the child, that the
best facilities and the best teachers be pro-
yided for the children between the ages OF
of six TO ten. To neglect these children Is
to rob them of golden time and TO deprive
them of the oppOrnlty OF their ives. Inc
efforts made to introduce graded courses
of study into the country schools Is 10 De
strongly commended. OF course the small
number children within reasonable dis
lance of one central point will always be
an lnsuperable obstacle in the way OF grad
ing us city schools are graded.
1.-The lamentable defects now found IN
graded schools are less IN number and de-
gree than ten years ago. The advantages
are yearly becoming greater and the de-
fects less. This is largely owing 10 more
intelligent supervision, better trained
teachers and an increasing demand Dy the
state and BIZ the people for better schools.
Il is pleasant for those engaged IN euuca-
lional work in this young state TO feel tnaC
they are in the line of enlightened pro-
gress; that the public schools, whether
graded or ungraded, in city or country as
trict, are dong much to not only give the
elements of education to the youth but to
prepare and train them for thr prac0lcai
duties of American citizenship.
The paper was discussed by Tomlon, of
Wellington; Kingsley, of Caldwell; Todd,
of Sterling; Hays, of Winfield; Chidester,
of Wichita; Rice, of Winfield.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS.
The committee on nominations report
ed AS follows: President, A. Gridby, Jr.,
Kiugman: vice president, c. NJ. Kingsley,
of Caldwell; secretary, Mrs. Julia Cation,
of Winfield: treasurer, Mrs NJ. NJ. Carson,
Of Wellington.
Executive committee-Pence of Wich-
tia: Rice of Winfield; Tomlin, of Yelling
ton.
Bv n rising vote the ticket was unani-
mously elected
The following resolutions were adopted:
We. your committee on resolutions, beg
leave to submit tho following:
Whereas, The Southwestern Kansas
Teachers association has had most en-
10
been most cordially received by the citizens
of Wichita. who have so kindly made most
ample provisions for our comfort and wei
fare: and
Whereas, The business of this meeting
has been greatly facilitated 10y the able
management of our executive committee
pud Superintendent Pence; therefore
Resolved, l, That we tender TO the clti-
Gems of Wichita and to all others who have
contributed TO the success and enjoyable
ness of our meeting, our most hearty
thanks: TO the railroads and hotels for
their liberal rates, and to the choir for
contributing TO our enjoyment by their eX-
eellent music.
Resolved. >. That we are in favor of a
redistrictiny of our state for holding our
district associations, and we recommend
that a committee be appointed TO bring
this matter 10 the notice of the state aSSo-
Citation.
Resolved, 3, Tint we more than ever
recognize the Western School Journal as
the educational organ of the state, and "A
most potent factor IN the advancement OF
pur work.
Resolved, t. That we believe in the pub
lie school, not only as an Indispensable in
surument for the maintenance OF intelli-
gence, but also for maintaining healthy
moral sentiment: We ARE pleased With the
past success OF prohibition III our state,
ard in view of the present agitation on