Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-09-17
GRADING Pupils.

We have received a little circular
from w. ]. Shearer, superintendent Of
schools in Elizabeth, N. j., that seems
| to us worthy at least of notice. Mr..
Shearer is opposed to what he regards
the "ironclad method" Of grading
pupils. now in general use. and advo-
Gates a different method. which he
says he has put in successful opera
ton in Elizabeth, and which combines
the advantages of class and individual
instruction and makes it easy for pu-
pills to go ahead just as fast as they
can do good work and no faster.
There are few, who will argue that
our best schools are not susceptible of
Improvement. This. Notwithstanding
there is a suspicion in some quarters
that they have been in some respects
too much improved" and too many
diverting subjects have been intro
duced in the instruction, too much
examining" of the youthful mind with
non essentials. But no one, we think
will dispute the assertion that it is
generally conceded that better results
can be obtained when the pupil and
the teacher thoroughly understand one
another and are able to cooperate
The enlargement of the electives
in the higher institutions Of
learning is an admission that there is
limit to the requirements to be exac-
ted of all. In other words it is appre-
ciated generally that scarcely any two
students are exactly alike and are not
capable of the least advancement
under exactly similar conditions. 1t
probably is equally clear that some are
capable of the best advancement
class as a whole. Generally speaking,
however, there has beenso great a need
of effort in affording the advantages
of instruction under existing methods OF
instruction under existing methods OF
promotion that there has in few schools
seemed to be opportunity for devotins
any more attention to the individual
of grading has been put in operation
without the expenditure Of an extra
dollar. Instead of the pupils being
roughly herded in large, loosely grad
ed classes with no provision for re-
classification, the pupils being made
ito fit the arbitrary method of classifi-
cation" under his plan the pupils
placed in each room are not only close
ly classified according to ability, but,
in essential branches. they are still more
accurately graded into small divisions.
Extra divisions are made when needed
and are not continued one day longer
than necessary. In reality, the school
is made to fit the needs of the pupils;
and this is done in such a way as not
to greatly increase the work of the
teacher" Teachers are not expected
to force pupils through the course OF
study. f rvs
Under this plan, pupils easily pass
from one division to another at any
time that they find themselves either
ahead or behind their companions. The
need of Reconsideration as well as its
feasibility under this plan, is shown by
the fact that during the past year al
| most seventy per cent. of the pupils
We're moved to other divisions, between
the regular times for promotion"
Under this plan, ninety per cent. of
those who go through the primary
grades or farther, gain from one to four
years. The teachers records of several
thousand pupils show that, during the
past year. seventy-eight per cent. of
the pupils in Elizabeth gained from one
to six months time; while their aver
age gain was over three months. Thi:;
they did without any urging and al
most without their knowing it,
These are important claims worthy
| of investigation.