Evening journal., 1889-02-04
PROMOTION DAY.

NSNh ~ oh Nehts OF the scholars Adj
vanced-"More Work Than Ever BE-
fore'-Great Progress Made.
This is day of great joy or great dis
appointment to each scholar in the public
schools lit is Promotion Day" That
day on which the scholars are advanced
to higher grades of study is always
looked upon by the children with some
apprehension.
Squads Of boys and girls might be seen
hurrying from one school to another, the
first one in each squad carefully carrying
transfer signed by the superintendent
and the principal Of the school
Although this is known as promotion
day, the small boy did not 60 far wrong
when he called it 'commOtion day.
David w. Harlan, the superintendent
of the public schools of this city, was
visited this morning at his office in school
No 1, by a reporter of the EVENING
JOURNAL. Mr.. Harlan was quite busy
signing transfers for the different schools.
but in his leisure moments he gave the
reporter the following interesting infor-
nation regarding the promotions:
He said; About so per cent. Of the
children on the roll will be advanced.
About 40 per cent. of the grammar school
were exempt from examination There is
rule affecting the grammar and the
tenth primary grade, that in each class
all scholars who stand above so during
the term in the best half of the said class,
shall be exempt from examination
''lhe primary schools on the East side,
Nos. o, z, and 20 are now more than
full. No. IL and 20 are overrun with ap-
plieants and | think the former should
he enlarged. There will be a few vacan-
rIpC in * and al f1,o
The Girls High School and Girls Gram 4
mar School, No 4, are overrun, they can
not accommodate all the pupils who live
near and are prepared to 60 to them.
There will be a few vacancies in all
the primary schools in the city except
ing Nos II and 20, after thespromotions
are over, and the new school at Seven
teenth and Union streets is opened.
From now until the first Of April
there will be a number of pupils leave
school because of the removal Of their
families from the city. After April
great many will be added to the schools.
Speaking Of the exemption rule, it
does not apply to the High School In it
all the scholars must stand examinations
The average for promotion is obtained by
adding twice the examination average to
the term average, and dividing by three
49, 1fSAoe1 VI ~ per NEuAs - necessary
promotion.
There are not quite as many white
scholars in the public schools now as
there were two years ago This was
caused by the taking away of Catholic
children. There is one teacher less now
than there were then. 1t is likely how
ever, that two new teachers will be APP
pointed after the opening of school
No 13
Under the present system of promot-
ing, the written examinations at the end
of the term, excepting the High School,
take up only four days instead of eight
days, which was required a few years
ago for the same work. The exemption
rule causes the change
while in some cities the written ex-
aminations are pushed to the extreme of
examining even the lowest primary
classes, and in other cities written exami-
nations are abandoned entirely | think
we have struck a happy medium. The
exemption rule leaves out those who
would undoubtedly pass and makes more
room for the examination of those not
exempt.
Il think that during the last term.
there was less preparation and more
work done than during any previous
term.
The fact that the teachers are deeply
interested in their work than ever before
- shown bn the organization Of the Pri-
mary Teachers Association, Of which
nearly all the primary teachers are mem
bers, and which meets once month.
Further by the fact that nearly all the
teachers OF the city have formed
themselves into classes for the study Of
the Prang system Of drawing from mod
els and are taking instruction from Claw
son 5. Hammitt at their own expense
The High School teachers form one class
the grammar school teachers one. and
the primary school teachers, two.
A large number of children ask for
transfers from one school to another
nearer home. A different case was that
of the little girl who lives in, No district
but wants to attend No. l school It is
doubtful if she can be accommodated.