Evening journal., 1896-09-03
CITY SCHOOLS TO OPEN
Wilmington Scholars Will Be-
gin Their Work on Monday.
OVER 10000 PUPILS ENROLLED.

PROMOTIONS ON TEACHERS REC
OMMENDATION.-- DEPARTMENT !
OF PEDAGOGY TO BE OPENED. /
EIGHTY PER CENT. OF PROMO
TIONs.
Vacation is drawing to a close and
the pupils of the public schools are
beginning TO think sorrowfully of the
joyful days of summer past, and the
five months of hard work coming.
The schools will Cpen on next Mon
day and they have been entirely reno
waited and repaired 20 as to be I'm the
best shape for the accommodation of
the pupils.
An Evening Journal reporter this
morning called on superintendent
David w. Harlan. who for many years
has been the efficient supervising head
of Wilmington's educational institu-
tions.
In answer to questions. Mr. Harlan
said: "The public school system of
Wilmington is one of the best In the
country and every new feature of value
can be found here.
"There are enrolled in the schools
about 10000 pupils, considerable
increase over the number last year.
To teach them there are 220 teachers.
We have twenty-eight schools I'm all,
tWenty-four primary schools, three
grammar schools and a high school.
Promotions, as usual, will be made
on Monday morning, and basing my
estimate on the average for several
years past, / may say that eighty per
cent. of the total number of pupils en-
rolled viii be promoted.
Myself and my clerk have been
very busy for several days in making
out the lists OF transfers from the prl-
mary TO grammar schools and from
I the latter to the High School. We have
the work so arranged that promotions
are made. pupils are seated and books
are distributed on Monday morning, so
that the regular work of the term may
begin at the afternoon session.
in every school this year promo
tions will be made on the reeommen-
! dation of the teacher from her obser-
vation and record of the pupils work
during the preceding term. These rec
| concentrations were made In June last,
| before the close of school.
This is the first year that promo
| tions have been made on the recon-
| mendation of the teacher alone in the
high school, but the plan has worked
| satisfactorily for several years in the
! grammar schools. We always pro-
| NOTED pupils in the primary grades on
recommendation.
Wilmington has for many years led
the country in this respect Most edu'
Gators are just awakening to the fac
that examinations are OF little valu,
In determining the fitness of a pupi
for promotion and are abolishing tn
examinations in the primary grades
"As / have said, we never held ex
aminations IN primary grades ant
have now abolished them IN all grade
except where the parents of a pupil ap
peal from the recommendation OF
teacher.
I'VE have found, too, that it is rarell
that pupil passes an examination
when such an appeal is made.
| The average age of the graduation
of pupils from the high school is about
Is years. the high school course being
three years.
I'VE have found that the addition oI
manual training to the curriculum has
been of great benefit to the pupils
teaching them, as 1t does. to observ,
the things about them and traininl
"A new feature of the coming schoo
year viii be the establishment of Z
I department Of pedagogy for the prep
aration Of teachers for the schools
! This will be in charge of Miss Eliza
I beth j. Lewis at primary school No
9. The course will hereafter be a ful
| year instead of eighty days. N,
teacher apprentices will be admitte,
| except graduates of the high school
and but eight will be admitted eacl
! year.
"The first half OF the year will b
| devoted to the study of mental sci
ence. the history Of education and tn
theory of teaching and management
The second half will be devoted 4
practice-teaching under instruction.
1--WE find that the pupils who ar
most regular in attendance and stud.
have the best chance of promotion"