The San Francisco call., 1897-11-07

Thequestion of semi-annual promotions
is at present agitating school circles in
this city. Although the course of study
in the grammar schools provides for only
annual promotions the School Board of
TWO years ago changed to the half-year
plan. But the old order was again re-
stored by the present board at the begin
ming of the year. The question still re-
mains more or less unsettled, however, for
tie grammar schools are divided upon it,
some having classes 10 graduate at Christ
mas and others none.
Not so with the high schools, for they
are all desirous OF seeing the semi-annuaI
method adopted. After resembling the
arrangement of an eight years course for
the elementary schools and four years
for the high schools, and instituting in
stead nine years course for the primary
and grammar schools, and q three years
for the high, the reason given was that
the people in the elementary department
declared themselves unable to accomplish
the work laid out in the stipulated time.
But avs Mr. Morton of the Lowell High,
throughout the United States the general
course in the lower schools takes eight
>
if this system can be carried out all over
the country, Why not in San Francisco ?
Moreover, our school years are longer by
at least two weeks than those in the East
and so we have nine and a half years to
their eight.
"The great advantage of the semi-an-
nual promotion system" continued Mr..
Morton, 'Is that poor pupils need be
dropped back only half a year. Now this
is OF more importance than might at first
be supposed, for where fifteen Cnpro-
NOTED students would in all likelihood re-
turn if they only had half year to make
up probably not five would do so other
wise. There is really no necessity for a
whole year being added. AS for the bright
pupils in the grammar schools, who are
more advanced than the majority of their
classmates, they could often skip some
grades and thus shorten their time"
comparatively new departure in high
school work was made when an arrange
ment with the Public Library was effected
whereby in several of the largest schools
have been established what might be
termed branch libraries. A large number
Public Library, various teachers or the
principals signing their cards as guaran'
tors. Then all reference books bearing on
particular topics in English or history are
sent down to the schools for the regular
two weeks limit which is generally as
long as the books are needed for looking
up any special subject. Through this sys.
tenn, whose initiative was taken by the
Lowell High School, the pupils are ena-
bled 10 save much time.
Those in the latter school are assisted
in finding not only the required books
but also the chapter and page, by
pamphlets issued by some of the teachers
especially those in the history and Eng.
ish departments. These pamphlets are
the result of much time and careful
labor, and those which gave references ot
sufficient general interest and mprehen-
siveness were accounted worthy to be pub
lished in the bulletins of the Publlc
Library.
Parents are continually mplainine
to me that their children have to study
too hard" said MT. O'Counor of tbs
Horace Mann "They say the school
course Is too heavy. Now 1 have devised
plan which I hope will enable me to
gain a still more com prehensive knowl-
edge OF tho various classes in the school
and OF their especial needs. Each teacher
will henceforth be required to keep a les
son notebook, in which on one side of the
page are marked the tasks set each day
and on the other the important points in
these tasku to which the attention of the
pupils is especially called. OF course the
latter are prepared beforehand by the
teacher.
"They rlust also contain copies of all
questions given in written reviews or ex-
amination0, as well as the subiect-matter
and skeleton of every letter. composition
or other written exercise. Ii case of daily
work 1t will be sufficient to make shori
entry indicating the general nature of the
exercise. Dates must be constantly en-
tered, and also dates of oral reviews o.
compositions.
My advice to high-school teachers, u
added Mr.. O'Connor, sis this: Ii forty