Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1889-09-27
A GRADED COURSE OF STUDIES
FOR THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS.
BY JOSEPH McMURRAN.

Manly ulluCullleS nave W De over
come and many instructions removed
before any plan looking to that end
can be successfully carried out. Paper
schedules amount to nothing unless
you have the hearty co operation OF
teachers, school officers, patrons and
pupils. The mere adoption of SEIZED
ule and the hanging up Of a printed
form in the school room will not
grade the school. nor will the arrange
ment of the pupils into classes and
the assignment to these classes of GER
tain studies keep the classification
up, or make the daily schedule work
smoothly. without constant diligence
and hard work on the part of the
teacher 1t will take long time to
perfect the classification Of a school
and adapt the schedule to the progress
of the pupils. But the good results
arising from the pursuit of regular
schedule of studies and a systematic
course of instruction in well claSSi-
fed school will amply repay the teach
er for all his labor, care and watch
fulness. He will reap large harvest
from the seed that he sows and his
pupils will see the progress they are
making and will enter more zealously
into all the teachers plans for the i'm
provement of his school and its sur
roundings.
Whatever schedule of studies may
be adopted, and whatever classified
ton the teacher may follow, he will
find many difficulties in the way. The
following are suggested by experience,
that the teacher may be prepared for
them.
l. 1t places, at first, additional labor
npon the teacher and requires con-
slant watchfulness that pupils do not
lag behind and drop out of their
classes, thing caused by absence
from school and want of inclination
TO study certain branches pursued by
their respective classes. He cannot
now be indifferent to the progress of
his pupils.
.. He will meet with opposition
from the older pupils who do not
want TO study such branches as Eng
lish grammar, history and geography,
but want an easy time by only study
ing reading, writing and arithmetic,
branches that do not require any
special study or preparation of les
sons out of school, and this disinclina-
ton of the pupil will finally extend to
the parents. and the teacher will then
hear, Il do not want my child to
study so and so, it is no use, anyhow"
8. Irregularity of attendance will
make it difficult for the teacher to
keep up his classification and main
tain his schedule of studies. To pre-
vent this will impose upon him extra
labor and care
HOW THESE MAY BE OVERCOME.
1. Let the teachers consult freely
and fully with the trustees to secure
their hearty cooperation in requiring
every pupil, according to his age and
progress, to study all the branches
required by law to be taught in the
primary school. Let the teachers be
prepared TO explain to the trustees
and parents the necessity of pursuing
this course of study or else fail to OBJ
tain the very objects had in view in
sending children to school, discipline,
mental training and the obtaining OF
general knowledge. Let them get
the sympathy and help of the trus-
tees and the cooperation of parents
and their work will be half done. Let
them exercise caution and prudence
in the classification of their pupils.
Point out to them the advantages to
be gained thereby This well done
will rapidly diminish the number OF
| absences and increase the daily at
tendance and the interest of the
pupils in their studies.
3 Firmness on the part of trustees
to enforce the studyOf all the branches
required bylaw, except in well defined
cases where this may be omitted for
good reasons, and when omitted
trustees should give a written permits
sion addressed to the teacher of the
school, assigning the reason therefor
Unless the pupils are made to study
the branches prescribed for each
grade, it is useless to attempt any
classification. But, says one, do not
want my child kept back in this OF
that study in order to keep up certain
classes. There will be no need fol
this, if the child has been properly
taught in all the branches of the
prescribed course, but if he has been
allowed to study some particular
branch to the neglect of others, that
is the very reason why such restraint
should be put upon the study in which
he eXcels, until he can make up fol
his neglect of the other studies.
No advanced pupil should have less
than three studies a day, exclusive OF
writing and reading. The pursuit Of
the prescribed course of study keep:
all the mental faculties in regular de
velopment and prepares the student
for his future studies and lays a leve
foundation for him to build on and
not one with the arithmetic course
run up ten feet high and the language
course, the most important one
scarcely started
3. Irregularity is the bane of nearly
all our schools and the fruitful source
of all the discouragments with which
| Il