Johnstown weekly Democrat. (Johnstown, Cambria County, Pa.) 1889-1916, 1889-11-22

IRENE cases even to open rebellion. lie
spect for teacher is gone and harmon,
banisbed from the class room.
Again in order TO leave the impression
that conditions are better than they are
or to avoid any uupleasantness on thu
part Of parent or pupil; teachers some
times resort to exaggerations in marking
Thus actuated. the system WELD,
a most pernicious influence ano
the teacher sacrifices the best
interests of the pupils in his charge,
that his school may enjoy a brilliant rec
ord. All work should be done conscien.
tiously. He who is afraid to he truthful
through fear Of making enemies has no
place in school room. Let all marks
have value compared with the quality of
work, and the receiver will appreciate
them-n"t only appreciate but be bene-
fitted by them.
Teachers not infrequently experience
trouble in enlisting the sympathies ol pa
rents in school work. Many parents do
not visit the school, are ignorant of what
their children are doing, and seldom re-
fer to anything in that connection unless
to critlcise or cast reflection on those con-
meet with it. Too true it is, that many
opportunities are given parents to refer
to their school in an unpleasant way, yet
right here the teacher has an important
work to do. 1t is his duty
to place his school in a
condition worthy of admiration, get the
pupils interested and through them reach
the parents. To accomplish this end,
nothing serves the purpose better than
per cents. Formulate them into a report
and send to parents. While this is done
IN many schools of our country, yet in a
greater majority nothing is attempted.
Parents are scarce, who care nothing
abont the progress of their children-few
who are not glad at ch!ld's progress,
proud of his good behavior, or willing to
assist teacher correct his bad habits.
Too frequently child conducts himself
improperly, practices tardiness, truancy
and many other irregularities, simply be-
cause he thinks no account of it is likely
to reach his parents.
By the giving of reports many of the
annoyances common to school work may
be removed or kept under proper restraint.
Pupils are proud when they can make
their parents and friends glad by haying
good reports to show them, and are will
ing frequently 10 sacrifice many pleasures
rather than neglect school duties.
This brings us to the foundation upon
which the previous discussion has been
based. How shall these per cents. be
primarily obtaiLed2 Severl conditions,
time and advancement of pupils, must be
considered. The teacher of advanced
pupils, having longer recitation periods,
can record the actual work of individual
pupils in each recitation. This method,
however is an imposibility in primary
or ungraded school, owing to number and
length of recitations. The impractical
bility Of this method readily suggests it
self. Since reviews are a test of actual
work accomplished, the averages of re-
views must necessarily give the desired
Information with much less work. This
method constantly used in good schools
of city and country is strong proof Of its
success.
IL is not meant that teacher should
be directed by actual work alone. He
should be ready at all times to recognize
aud reward earnest effort, originality and
in whatsoever form they
may appear. Let all progress in the right
receive encouragement, and re.
suits that WELD an influence for good,
not only in the school but elsewhere, will
follow.
While the system of per cents, used as
it generally is, has many enemies yet its
place in successful school work of to-day
indicates very plainly that nothing better
has yet been found. Teachers should
always employ the best means at their
and until something better can
take the place of per cents, let all endeav-
or to accomplish any good that may be
derived from them.
After the prayer DR.. White spoke on
"School Government" DR.. White briefly
reviewed the points of his former talks,
having the teachers name the points.
The seventh element in governing
power, the other six having been given in
the forenoon, is a real positive moral
character and life. If could write just
one law-one sentence-that would be
written over every school house door, l
would write the following; mo man or
woman shall enter this room as teacher
whose moral character is not fit model
for the pupils" There are two ends in
school government, first to train to right
conduct in life, not only in school; Sec
ondly, to secure good order and right con-
duct in school. The five conditions to easy
government in school are first, a
teacher possessing requisite qualifications
and recognized authority, secondly, con-
fidence and support of the best people of
the community aud of the school officers,
thirdly, pleasant and attractive school
room and surroundings. The school
house should be beautified. The fourth
condition is proper heating and ventila-
ton. The fifth condition for the right
training of a school is to have very few
rules, if any. One of the problems now
confronting thoughtful men nowadays,
especially in cities, is that law is trampled
npon. They are enforced only spasmod-
icallY; the enforcement should be regular
and even.
, After some music and announcements
for the following day the Institute ad-
journed at 4;30 P. NJ. ...
TUESDAY NIGHT.
The Ebensburg orchestra furnished
some pleasing music, as on the previous
evening. Mr.. J. s. Foley reclted Not