The record-union., 1897-06-27

The plan is that of adaptation of the
training to the individual Promotion
examination is abolished and there is
no uniform time limit The promotion
examination he holds is a test of memo
ry rather than of power. 1t may show
some things the pupil does not know,
but cannot show what the pupil does
know; it destroys broad and intelligent
teaching, and turns out pupils by ma
chinery. It brings senseless worry to
less worthy often succeed. 1t is
temptation to deceit and demands
third more of time than is necessary
TO impart the same knowledge. 1t puts
a premium upon "stuffing'' at the end
of the term.
With the promotion examination abol-
ished, the teachers estimate of the
child's ability to advance settles his
promotion. The monthly report dis
closes this estimate, and parents
know what progress is made by their
children. In primary grades the teach
er's estimate determines the record; in
the higher. grades this estimate is tested
and corrected by written recitations
and tests, which thus put a premium
upon daily work, and afford a moderate
stimulus instead of a spasmodic or
excessive one.
Tests given by the teacher and Su-
perintendent show the proper compile
ton of the work, and are useful to di-
rect and broaden instruction. Pupils
promoted prematurely are returned
whence they came. The teaching test
is a diagonsis at frequent intervals to
discover disease in it's incipiency; the
other is .blundering post mortem.
Under his plan in essential studies
the pupils of every grade and class are.
sub-divided according to ability into
small classes. the number of divisions
in a grade varying With the number of
rooms of the grade, the Importance or
the subject, the efficiency of the teacher
and other limiting conditions. The
number of divisions in each subject are
determined by these conditions after
a careful consideration of the subjects
in each grade, and by the results OF
an ANALYSIS of the records of 1O,OUO
children of different grades.
This record discovers the points at
which difficulty is encountered, SO that
by providing for Individual instruction
at these points old danger Is to be
avoided. The larger the number OF
pupils to select from, the greater the,
number that can go together bench
cia1lv. Grading into classes of from
eight TO twenty, instead of herding by
groups of forty to fifty, makes it prac-
ticab BILE to reach the individual, secures
from each his best work and prevents
overwork.
In elaborate details Mr.. Shearer ex-
mains the workings Of the new sys-
tenn. but it is not essential TO genera
understanding that many OF lhese
should be set out now. 1t will suffice
T., saw that he considers the objections
raised to the plan, and answers them
by saying that at the end of one year
experience "a per, cent. of the teachers
who worked under the new system gave
it unqualified approval and have SINCE.
given their reasons in writing.
He claims. that the new plan solves
the problem of the bad boy because
tbe tendency to idleness is broken down
with,the distribution of suitable work
TO do the majority Of bad boys beng
the result of bad method. The bright
bovs are not kept busy under the pres
ent plan, and they conjure up mischiet
in consequence. No fixed amount OF
work is given to be done under the
new system. Every division goes as
fast as it can do thorough work, and
no faster Under the present plan uni
forn1itv of results is demanded under
non-conformity of conditions. Teach
ers under the New Jersey system no
longer drive their pupils, for no effort
is made TO give all the same amount OF
instruction by given timeNInstead OF
a pupil driver, the instructor becomes
true teacher. >
An important part of the new plan
is the keeping of the record of each
pupil which goes up with the child
when he is promoted. 1t shows all the
teacher below has been able to find
out about the child, it's tastes, environ
ment, capacity, home life, likes and
dislfkes, and thus each teacher has the
accumulated experience of each other
teacher. Thoroughness results from
the new plan because no pupil goes
faster than he should go, no
one being passed on without
thoroughly. understanding what he
has passed over. Every teach
er knows that now many pupils are
promoted who do not thoroughly un-
derstand what they have passed over.
A pupil who falls behind does not lose
Bright pupils from a lower class being
sent up to a higher one, the slower in
the latter class are stimulated to ex-
eel the new corners or keep pace with
them. Promotion being constantly
within reach, liable to come at any
time, serves to inspire constant en-
thusiasm.
The new plan, while improving men
tai training, saves time and money,
for where under the old system I5 per
cent. of pupils lost from one to four
new plan save from one to four years