Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1893-08-02

sS0PoSs AOf the principals who
have preceded me. 1t was not be-
cause of incompetency, or a dispo-
sition to shi TX duty that this most
important work was left largely
undone, but owing to existing cir
cumstances it was not practicable
to give the proper attention to the
lower grades. Let me now fully
establish The necessity of more
carefully experimenting the
schools. A careful observer will
notice a general levity among the
pupils regarding their studies;
many attend simply because of the
shut down and they ara out of a
job. Others are simply killing
time" until they hear of an open
ing in some ones kitchen. By
this / do not mean to under-rate
manual labor, but / do not think
that these are proper incentives to
hold out to aspiring American
children. How shall we avoid al
lowing children to fall into this
state of mind2 When child en-
ters school the first day the teach
er should kindly approach it and
seek to interest it from the FIRST day.
and having succeeded in awaken
ing an interest she should never
relax her efforts to hold tho ground
she has gained. Then passing to
the higher rooms, the teacl ers of
those departments should strive TO
keep up the interest, making the
entire school course a regular pro-
gression from beginning to close.
But suppose the work is well done
in all the grades except one, whore
the Board has been unfortunate
enough to place lazy, careless
teacher2 What are the results7
The interest aroused is all lost,
never to be again awaken
cd. Here is work for competent |
principal, to expose this negli- |
gence or incompetence.
Another fruitful cause OF the |
general inefficency of our schools
is the lack of proper grading
There is plan of dividing the
school, but it has been the custom |
for each principal to adopt his
own method Of grading; good |
enough probably If carried out, but |
usually each year witnesses a |
change of principal and a cores
bonding change of grading. Now,
to avoid this lot us adopt printed |
course Of studies and regulations
which can be revised and improved
as the school advances. Let this
course of studies embrace a high
school course, embracing a num-
Der Of the higher branches-alge-
bra, natural philosophy, latin,
etc. Then as pupils
pass from one department to the
next higher give them a suitable
certificate of promotion and mako
the change an occasion Of public
demonstration. Having complet-
ed the entire course of study let
there be public commencement
exercises at which the Board of
Education will bestow suitable
diplomas. This will arouse a dis
position to aspire to something
nobler and higher; this commence
ment exercise will be looked for
ward to by both parents and stu |
dents with anticipation Of pleas
are, as the browning event of the
school year. This we believe will |
10 much to prevent the falling off
IN attendance at the last of the
school, as well as to make the at
.endance du ring the term more
regular. But bow is this to be
lccomplishod2 Simply by recon-
nsnding IL and then trusting to
late for the rest2 Here again IL tn o
work of the Superintendent. Each
oachor left to her choice may &C
quaint herself with the work |
Thich she may deem 10 DO her own
but she cannot bo expected to |
know just what is her work 10 per
iorm, much less 10 take a general !
survey Of what all the teachers are
doing. Tho superintendent il
supposed TO have grasped tho
whole plan Of the school. Ho 10
supposed to be familiar with all
The improved methods Of teaching.
To him then have the patrons Of
the school a right 70 look for this
work, but be must also have a
chance TO perform this work Ia