Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-01-01
From Hon. w. J. Corth-ll, Principal state
Normal school, Gorham.

From Hon. w. J. Corthell Principal Stat
Normal school, Gorham.
am in favor of two ssions. A. From
experience: In a large high school at ths
direction of the Trustees and on petition oil
he pupils, /, as principal. conducted the
school for one year on the one session plan
At the end of the years trial asked to ~
back for these reasons
/. Attainment. Most pupil, in a village
or city high school must be held to study
in some degree by the influence Of teach RS
presence. On the one session plan the five
hours. less half for res, AID cha lge, mus
be almost entir, ly given to recitation and the
preparation of lessons, is done out of school
# at all. The work is never so well
done; habits Of study are no,
induced. and the pupis do not beco ne 50
good scholars. and infinitely worse they do
not acquire taste for study.
2 More wearing physically, students
must leave home all the hours from A NJ
To !. 80 according tn distance; they reach
home from 80 to 2 80 r NJ. The time is
long, so long that the physical rebound does
not come easily and very markedly in case
of pupils in any degree in delicate physicsl
co ldition
rhe time from breakfast to dinner is too
long. If they take = lunch it must be eaten
in few moment, and often with the book in
one hand and the food in the other and
neither the study nor the eating 10 well done
1t is a fruitful source of indigestion with its
fearful drain of dyspepsia, etc.
4. 1t is a nuisance to the household. The
larger portion Of the pupils come from the
homes Of the middle class. whose dinner h our
is and must be from IL to 1890. To
h.. fnp he ~tuln 70
Of the family 10 a burden and nuisance to the
bousekeeper. II the dinner is left to be eaten
by the student cold it 10 nuisance to him and
still an added labor to the household.
5. Its uisciplinariiy bad. 1t turns out
the boys and girls during the afternoon on
the street The village or city does not af-
ford employment in the home, as does a
country home, and the "street school has
the pupils more hours. 4
After changing ba to the plan Of two
sessions again. for one year, the trustees at
the earnest petitions of the pupils asked me
to try lone session plan for another year.
Ii was done and at the end of the year tea IN
er.. trustees, pu ills and parents were glad to
go back.
Il. Observation Twenty years careful
observation of results since | had the ex peri
ence above stated, convinces me that the con-
clu.ion. reached by experience were just.
To cpl omize.
The lone session plan.
l. Does not secure so good attainment
2. Does not secure so good habits of
study.
3. Injuries health more Cor is more likely
to iujure health }
4. Detracts from the power of the school
to develop good character.
5. Does not secure so much needful re-
straints.
6. Is a nuisance to the average house
hold.
I. Is not so efficient in helping to good
morals.
As to a half or whole holiday; if in q
school where all can go home to dinner.
would have two half holidays; others wise,
one whole holiday. but that one Monday or
Tuesday by all means.
We are ha ring our holiday Monday, and it
has very decided advantages over Saturday.