The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1895-11-30
THE KIAlBALL GRAPHIC
CLATE r. TINAN.
Official Pauer Of the City Of KimhaII
THE GRADED SCHOOL SYSTEM.

So far as we have seen. the commonest
is that the children who
leave the schools are not sufficiently we'll
grounded in the elementary branches of
a common school education. We have
no doubt that this is true. But it is
fact that is not peculiar to the schools of
st. Paul, nor to those OF any other city
or state in the union. Heads of business
houses will say that young men who en-
ter their employment after leaving the
public schools are frequently unable to
write a business letter, to spell with
decent correctness, or to use figures
rapidly and accurately. The trouble, so
far as 1t exists, appears to be inherent in
the school system of the whole United
States. We believe 1t is true that Ameri-
can school children generally are not
grounded with proper thoroughness in
these branches. 1t is not due, however,
as rule, so much to incompetent in
structOrs or improper methods as to the
graded system.
Where tho graded system prevails, it
is practically impossible to make in
struction thorough without injustice TO
the pupil. A large majority OF children
display at an early age some special ap-
titude. The natural development OF
child's mind is rarely symmetrical. He
is more interested in one study than an
other, and makes more rapid progress.
Now, to take u concrete instance, liza boy
Is slow In arithmetic and quick and
bright in his other studies, it is necessary
under the graded system, either to keen
hlm IN one room for many years, grind
ing away ut arithmetic after he is tho
roughly familiar with everything else
To, ,rvhf ys1h 10 oio-1 Il &oyr
or two out of his school life in behalf Of
a single study for which his faculties
are not yet developed. or else to pass him
knowledge of arithmetic. What is true
study is true Of another In spelling, of
graded system either forbids all advance
ment or necessitates promotions before
some particular branch or branches have
been thoroughly mastered. This, it
seems to us, is the most reasonable ex-
PLANTATION of the admitted lack Of tho
roughness in the elements which eharac-
terizes the instruction III the public
sc hOols Of every state and city in the
United States.-St Paul Globe.
Too many exchanges and periodicals
come to this Office to permit close read
ing Of the Globe and we found the fore
going reproduced in the Sioux Falls
Press-about the only newspaper in the
state, by the way, that recognizes the
Importance Of getting our public schools
out OF the rut they are in and back to /,
practical common sense plane. The time
will come-and it's not many years
away-when the newspapers of this
state will perceive that the Sioux Falls
Press is eyerlastingly right in its posi-
ltion-and Gals grammar ideas. too
for that matter. The editor Of til,
GRAPHIC has personally and through
these columns protested time and time
again against the graded system and it
resultant evils as pointed out by the ST
Paul paper. but we are sorry 70 say b
has founa himself In much the SAM
J position as. "Cal," VINO, according to hi
own story, once discovered, at a publ
, meeting, out three people who agree
with his educational ideas. He'd hav
3 better luck in the east these days.
The trouble pointed out by the Glob
lies principally in the fact that tl1
' schools are under tire indirect control {
9 those who by natural aptitude ha,
graduated 'yith credit to the graded sy
\ TEN ana cannot understand why ever
+ pupil cannet do likewise, A failure
I do SO they attribute to lack Of applies
tion rather than to a mental inieriorit
: which no school system can supply. ar
n which the graded system usually aggr
Il Yates.
= It was with q good deal of satisfactio
that the writer noted, on his recent tr
i east, the decided changes for the bett
It that have taken place in many Of Il
9 Ohio schools, In cleveland, for instant
: the first innovation was tte doing ava
wholly or in part, Of the examination
The credit Of this is due to the nc