The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-10-15

develop the work we need but time and the
proper facilities to securs gsod results. IL mas
been found necessary In other cities TO furnish
| High school graduates special instruction In
normal studies- 1t seems TO me peculiarly neeor
iul here where We have but one normal estao-
ushed in the state.
see no reason why our normal graduates may
not take equal rank in their profession with
| those from any other Institution Of q similar
character. 1t Will certainly enable the board OF
education TO secure home talent when IL Is de-
yeloped, and to refuse more readily applications
OF those not qualified
Concerning the work of the year in general I
desire 10 express my sense OF obligation to you
Tor your earnest and constant efforts TO support
ana sustain me in my new duties as principal OF
the High school; to the board of education for
their kind and patient endeayors to furnish US
with the best OF facilities for our work, and to
all my associates in the faculty for their loyal,
nearly and cheerful cooperation and efficient
| feel happy to add the names of some citizens
VINO have taken special interest in our school.
Early IN the year Mr. l. 8 J. Hunt began his
hnotgun' EXAMINATIONS, and they Were con.
unued until the final one in commencemens
| week. These did much to arouse the interest oil
the pupils aud to develop in them facility in ex-
| preston and readiness of mental action. The
! liberal prizes given by Mr. Hunt indicate an IN
nsual interest in the public school and are nign-
appreciated by our pupils.
The Hon. Thomas Burke has also expressed
MS desire In q practical way to see our INDUS
trial course developed. His generous of1er 70
aid In this effort has been very encouraging IN
deed and trust the board may ind II possipie
| TO advance in this direction and to accept the
noerai contribution which the judge mas 'en-
| Concerning suggestions offer the following:
First-That you urge the board to begin AZ
| building. No other need of the city Is SO I'M
perative. We cannot do justice 10 our VOL
situated as we now are: some lines cannos DC
and government are complicated and made
| more difficult than il we were on the ground
Moor in separate bull ling, a.. .,o,,.,
| HDeCldl
| facilities to develop our industrial course. l
| trust q separate building may be obtained LOT
TINS purpose but until saen - rnnaed avsn
| though the conditions are not the most favor
| able. Perhaps we might be able to rent space In
some planning mill near the scnooinouse 10 set
up few turning lathes The only other means
OF advance can suggest is to place them In the
basement of the Central, but then the dimculty
| Is to get the necessary power.
Third recommend establishing few dis
| tinct departments of instruction in the High
| school; of placing at the head OF these, only
| those who have had good training, experience,
| aud are otherwise well qualified, and OF classi-
| flying other teachers as Instructors. This would
enable the board to pay better salaries for these
| important positions and thus to secure high
| talent and efficient service IL the board should
favor this idea, shall be glad to suggest further
what | would regard as desirable arrange
ment.
FOURTH am very anxious to have more at
tenton given to the writing of English. There
seems but one way 10 secure training in this
important branch of knowledge. 1t is to pursue
systematic course OF composition writing.
Our only means now is to divide the classes,
assigning each teacher some share in the work.
l suggest DIS supplement- to this, that some
little appropriation be made and stranger en-
ployed to meet the pupils occasionally in this
exercise. II would. | think, cost very little to
have some competent journalist meet the pupils
one hour week to guide and encourage them
i'll essay work. The fact that he, or such one,
has special training and is an active journalist
now. also that he comes in a stranger, gives him
an opportunity to exert powerful and import
ant influence. No other branch of school work
seems so difficult to develop.
This 10 true for several reasons: Only few
persons have the qualifications to teach the sub
ject successfully. 1t is a most burdensome aud
eXacting exercise. Teachers with special quail
fications in other branches may fail here en-
tirely. There is abundant work in a school OF
200 pupils to occupy the full time of one teacher
in this and the rhetorical exercises. To give
this to teachers already burdened with their
own lines of work is unfortunate for them and
for the pupils; both dislike the arrangement
and the work; neither succeed; hence we find
less attention given to this one OF the most use
full exercises in our schools, and too often we
turn out from High schools and colleges 81 adu-
ates VINO cannot write an average English essay.
In some Eastern schools, when 1t Is not posi-
BILE to furnish specialist for such work, the
plan have suggested has been found to work
we'll and cost very little. Let US try 1t here. Re-
spectfully submitted, JOHN W: HEsToN,
Principal of High school.
Grade Meetings.
The plan adopted for meeting the teachers at
intervals during the year, for the purpose of dis
cussing various questions relating to their work,
| was that OF grade meetings. General teachers
meetings, where the topics discussed must OF
necessity be general in their application, are not
| as profitable and helpful to the teachers as
| where the meetings are held in sections-each
| section being composed OF teachers of the same
| grade. The first eight days of each school
month are usually grade meeting days, and the
| time $3.50 TO D. IN.
D-;,
grade meetings. being the last of the series each
month. These meetings have been not only
profitable but pleasant
Teachers and principals have been faithful
and punctual in their attendance and cannot
speak too highly of the zeal they have manifested
In making their work success and the cordial
and earnest assistance given me.
Requirements for Promotion.
The standing" of the pupils from month to
month in the different grades has been deter
mined In various ways. Certain months the
standing" is simply the teachers estimate Of
the pupils dai ~ work, expressed as a matter of
convenience In percents but without written
tests. At other times the standings" are de-
termined by written tests. the questions being
prepared by different persons each month, by
the teacher, by the principal or by the superin-
tendent, as may be deemed proper.
The "yearly standing determines the pro-
motion and is found by averaging all the
"monthly standings"
The standing required for promotion the past
year was as follows: Grammar grades-Aver-
age, IS; no study below 60. Primary grades
Average, 20; no study below so; department,
all grades, 80.
1t is not sufficient, however, that the pupil
obtain the mere percent, he must also have the
teachers recommendation for promotion. The
teachers advice regarding the promotion OF
each pupil Is made matter OF record.
School Exhibits.
That the work done by the pupils of the vari.
Gus districts might be properly brought to the
notice of the public and especially to the notice
of those who should be deeply interested, the
parents, school exhibits were started in all Of
the main buildings.
A portion of the principals Office or some I'M.
occupied room WIS set apart the Exhibit
Room" Tables and racks were prepared, upon
which were displayed specimens of the work ac-
tually done in the school-room. Those inter-
ested could there find examination papers in the
different subjects maps, battle plans, specimens
of clay modelling, paper folding, drawings,
putty relief maps and many other interesting
| specimens of the pupils work.
Ii is hoped that we shall be able to close the
coming years work with a grand "Sehool Ex-
| hibt'' in some large hall, where the different
schools, the Mercer, Denny, Fremont, Latona,
! Columbia, Minor, Central. Rainier, Olympic,
| South and the High school may exhibit their
work in friendly rivalry.
The one discouraging difficulty in connection
| with the exhibits and school work in general
| with which principals and teachers have TO con-
tend, is the Indifference of parents and friends
| to the success or failure of their children in
school. Very few OF them visit the school,
| They do not even know the person to whom
they have entrusted the welfare, the future use-