Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1893-09-08
SCHOOL HOURS.
a New Arrangement That is
Not Popular.
WHY THE BOARD ADOPTED TT

The Plan of Noon Dsy Suspe,sion Do
stored as in the Graded Schools. and Dis
missal at $50 p. m.-Discontent Among
Pupils and Why 1t is So.
With the commencement of the
present term of school, the hours of
session at the High school were re-
stored to the old arrangement origi
nally observed at the buildinr. the
board OF education having so decreed.
For several years it has been the
custom at the High school to assem-
bic school at a. m. dismiss for A
minutes at noon, and reassemblino
at l2;45, dismiss for the day at 2:15.
Inc advantage of this plan appeared
in the fact that the High school at
tendance was made up from all To-
calities of the city. and the noon day
lntermission was intended more for
luncheon than wi h the idea of going
home. the thought being that pupils
could have their dinners. where de-
sirable,at 2:15when school suspended
for the day. Many of the High
school scholars got into this way of
doing, accustomed themselves to it.
and to them as % the teachers the
arrangement was very satisfactory.
The New Plan Not Popular.
During the past week the High
school has been regulated by the same
rules regarding the hours of session
as are applicable to the graded
schools, with the exception of dis
misSaI half hour earlier in the after
noon, viz: the morning session be-
! ginning at goo and running until
noon, and the afternoons commence
ing at 1850 and continuing until $50.
| Tho mutterings of discomfort that
have come to the ears of the ARGUS
from High school pupils are sufficient
to indicate that the arrangement is
not received with approval on the
part OF the pupils, at least.
The ARGUS has sought to ascertain
the motive of the board in abOlishing
| the hours of session at the HIGH
school, and the purpose of the board
may be summedup in the words-the
hope of gaining better work. 1t is
| asserted that under the system of sus-
! pending school for the day at 2:15,
! pupils got into habits which led
| them to drift away from school. at
first neglecting their studies and
eventually losing all interest in
! school.
! Abuse of he system Claimed.
| If i. f,rr +I,r - $
this theory that Il number Of High
school boys who were supposed to
| have reached the age of discretion
and Judgment had gotten into the
! habit of coming down town in the al
ternoOn and forming associations
that they would not if kept in school
an hour and q quarter later. and it
| has also been said that some of the
| High school boys have been accus-
toned to meeting in an abandoned
| hut not far from the schools. and put
| ting in the afternoon card playing.
etc. 1t is to obviate this. the board
| claims, as well as to give more
time to study and instruction
| that the return has been made to the
old plan.
Superintendent of Schools Kemble
| advanced the argument in favor of
| the later session. that many homes
were DISCONNECTED by the system
which has prevailed, that while pu-
pills were not expected to 90 home,
many of them did, and were obliged
to gulp down their dinners and has
ten back to school, thus eating their
meals in a hurry, while at the same
time they were receiving iustruc-
| tions in one branch of the High
school work cautioning against such
| habits of diet