The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1893-06-30
GheIemurraf-S Star
Defects of Graded Systems.
BY MORRISON u. Caldwell.
The School Journal.

in vogue of classifying a number
of pupils as Of a certain grade, and
placing them in charge of a single
teacher to whom they recite all
their lessons for a year. The mum.
Der of teachers who are so we'll
rounded by their training and nat
ural gifts as to be able to teach all
the common school branches equal.
~ well, is not sufficient to justify
the continuance OF the system, 50
generally in vogue, of classifying a
number Of pupils as OF a certain
grade, and placing them in charge
Of a single teacher to whom they
recite all their lessons for a year.
Some of the best teachers Of Eng
lish signally fail in teaching math-
ematics; some teachers usually
successful in teaching The sciences
also prove blind leaders Of the
blind when placed in charge Of a
class in algebra /; and it Is equally
true that the best teachers OF arith-
metic may not be the best teach.
ers Of geography. Here there is a
misappropriation Of energies, a
loss Of teaching force. This is an
age OF specialists. We Americans
want the best Of everything Why
not have a specialist in charge OF
each study in our public schools !
This can be accomplished ii the
superintendent will assign to each
teacher classes in that branch of
study in which she has proven
most proficient aud most success.
tul, and then form his teachers Of
each study into classes and train
them how to teach their speciality.
No one can doubt that this would
improve The quality OF the teach
ing in any Of our schools. Bul
this is not the only reason why a
change should be made. The one
room anc one-teaclIer system
should be abolished not only be-
cause it impai,s the efficiency Of
the teachers, but also for the reas
son that it prevents possible prog
re>s on the part Of the pupil. A
boy presents himself Tor admission
to a city school. In some studies
he is prepared to enter the seventh
grade; in others the sixth grade
but in mathematics he is not pre-.
pared to enter above the filth
grade. What is done? In many
schools this boy would be placed
in the fifth grade in all his studies,
on account If a cast.iron rule that
all OF a pupils studies must be in
the same grade. In some schools
he would be put in The sixth grade,
Clearly the best interests Of the
boy demand that he be allowed to
pursue his studies in each Of these
grades according to his advance
ment, but the Procrustean rue
must be obeyed. Under these
circumstances can we wonder tina
he falls into mischief or grows lir
ed of the school and drops out 0.
sight. What was there to call fol
the exertion OF his God. givei
powers or to invoke interest +! lhi'
is an injustice to the boy, but the
matter dots not stop there. The
country spends millions OF dollar
annually for the free education o
our youth, upon the theory that al
educated majority is essential Il
the p~erpetuity Of the republic an(
the preservation Of liberty. When
therefore, any considerable nun.
Der of pupils are prevented from
securing the be t development 0
which they are capable, either Ly
causing them to leave school o,
by cutting them off from highe.
studies which they might have
pursued but for the rule, II is evl
dent that the State is also a lose
in having the intelligence Of it
citizens lessened.
The schools exist for the benef
Of the boy who has to work Tor til,
family support and cannot atten'
during the entire season, and TO
the boy who has a talent in som
special line, as we'll as fox thns
boys whose advancement accom-
modates itself to the system. Ex
perienced educators must admi
that in reality comparatively fe,
pupils have minds 50 similar tina
their progress would continue tn
same in each OF their studies tc
ten years, were it not for the sy'
tenn which dozens them to b
chained together like the barba1
ian soldiers. There are HUNDRED
OF bright boys who could compile
the course IN less time than
allotted, aud they should have til
opportunity of 30 doing. Some {
our leading colleges have disco,
cred that there are young m.
who can easily complete the lou
years course in three years, an
they have given the oppurtunit
to such young men to press onwar
without having to waste one yes
of their time and a considt Yabl
sum OF money in waiting for plot
ding mediOcres to complete I'll
studies Of the curriculum. II it /
mistake and a wrong to chat
together these young men for i0i
years, what must we think whe
we see The pupils If our grade
schools chained together for te
years.
BY way Of recapitulation it ms
be stated that this specialist sy
tenn possesses the following q,