The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1889-11-14

also the chief hindrances to the pro-
gress of the schools themselves. No
greater service can be performed for
public education than to effect what
is here contemplated. Many Of the
same difficulties have been experienced
in the organization of our graded
schools, and they have in a great meas
ure been overcome.
l. Evidence shows that wherever
similar plans have been adopted for
systematizing instruction and classify
ing pupils in country schools, they
have tended in those places to improve
the attendance of the pupils, making
it larger and more regular.
2. 1t checks the tendency to the
constant changes of teachers.
3. 1t lengthens the terms in many
schools, making them in elementary
ones more uniform in this respect.
4. In some districts it has already
aided in correcting the evils arising
from too great a diversity of text
books.
5. 1t removes, more than any other
expedient, the irregular and unbal-
anced culture, limited though it be,
of many of the older pupils.
6. This system requires that the
pupils mind shall be symmetrically
developed, and that he shall be ade-
quately fitted for practical life in all
the common branches. 1t serves to
prevent the advancement of pupils to
higher courses of study, when not en-
titled to such promotion by their at
tainments and scholarship. 1t sup
plies most powerful incentive for the
pupil to complete the full course Of
elementary studies. Too often the
case occurs that they are compelled to
pursue the same parts Of the same
subjects term after term, until all am
bition is dead, and no serious effort is
made to advance in knowledge.
A definite course of study helps the
pupils to do more work in given
time, as it divides the work into sue
cessive steps, and thus shows them
how much they must accomplish and
how fast they are progressing.
1t decides,for each incoming teacher,
by the complete records which are
kept, what branches each pupil is
prepared to take up at the opening of
the term, and it guides the teacher in
arranging the programme for the reci-
tations and the hours of study for all
the pupils in his school,
7. 1t educates the people of the
school districts, both parents and
school trustees, so that they will soon
demand that the instruction given
their children shall be more sys-
tematic and complete
: 8. Upon proper trial many teachers
become enthusiastic in the support of
this scheme, and in the changed con-
dition of their schools they perform
more satisfactory work before their
classes.
8. 1t assists each county superin-
tendent in ascertaining the precise
instruction given in each school, and
it enables him, when adopted through
out his county, to direct more judi
ciously the entire wosk done in the
schools therein.
10. 1t induces economy in school
management, as it reduces, by estab--
fishing thorough classification, the
number Of daily recitations usually
held in our country schools.
IL. 1t encourages the use of the
most approved methods of teaching
every step of the several branches
usually pursued in these schools, and
therefore the employment of the
teachers who are best versed in these
methods.
IL. 1t prepares the school to be gov
erned more easily, as it provides the
most influential motives to guide the
pupils in their work.
13. Children moving from one dis
trict to another experience less diff
Guilty in finding their proper position
in the new school, as the instruction
in all the districts is quite uniform on
account of the grading.
ID. 1t prepares the way for the for
nation of high schools in towns or
villages, by the graduation of pupils
in the studies of the common school
course