The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-11-01
SOME GOOD SUGGESTIONS.
Superintendent, Carlisle Urges I'm.
provcment OF kural Schools.
POINTS OUT THE WAY TO SECURE IT.
Well Considered ana stable sJourse
Of study should He Arranged
and Maintained.


terdents. urging cooperation in joint
movement TO improve rural schools:
1T is tho desire OF this department to
have the hearty cooperation of school
OFFICERS and teachers throughout the state
IN Joint movement for tho Improvement
of the schools In the rural districts. !
suggest that ait one or more of your In
stitutes you submit the following PROPOSE
ton for discussion, giving sufficient time
for its careful and patient consideration:
Topic. How may We best improve the
schools In the rural d,stricts: First, as to
n more thorough organization OF the sys-
ten. second. as to more competent teach
cis' third, as to courses of study, M
strnct'cn nnd healthier public sersi-
mtEt.
II would be glad to have lettcr from
you on this subject, stating whcthersyou
think il advisable 10 take w this matter
sestions concerning the improvement "
the country schools as may occur TO you.
In this connection wish TO invite
your special attentyon to the following
SUGGESTIONS, taken with some modillca-
tioh, from the Teachers Register, which
Y row bcaney furnished the teachers Of The
"'Fhe course OF study presented In the
Teachers Register is no, Intended to 10
strictly followed by amy board of ,rus-
tees am aware OF Its imperfectiohs, u
is found practically impossible TO set
forth, In The lsntted space here used,
such course of study ns hope TO sub-
State after u uniform Sefics OF text
books is introduced into tho schools What
Is hete gwen Is only intended 10 suR-
gcst to school officers and teachers that
for every school there should be II course
of study and 10 Indicate in sumo meas
urc how q course OF study conforming to
, the requirements of section IL OF the
school laws may be construed.
In this connection ! beg to say that
until a school has definite and settled
course OF study. the Instruction must he
frdsmentary and imperfect In my judg.
mont. trustees have no duty more Inn
poitant than that OF establishing and
maintaining defirlto AMI settled courses
OF study for their respective schools. IN
ariaiging the course OF study FOR a school
the trustses should confer with the tcaeh-
tho teachers should be expected and re-
Qinred 10 enforce H.
The course OF study should be persist.
erty maintained subject only - such
chnnges as time and experiences show TO
be wise. and the growth Of the school de-
mand. The. course OF study shouln not
employed. II should be- atable, a,id
changes should be well considered hs.ure
they are adopted. by proper attention
nave course OF study conforming to law
aud WEN nigh perfectly adapted to loca,
cconditions and needs. This Is certainty
highly desirable, and l nope every board
of trustees N tho state VIM take steps
looking LOOK To the early accomplishment OF
this purpose.
,.. IN this course the grades are siren
without specafylng the time Ia which each
y, y TO be COMPLETED. II Is believed thai
nsaithy country children, who have
plenty Of fresh air and inyigorating exer-
tae work OF. grade In a term of six or
81, on months, IN many schools, which!
nue ma,ntmped Tor only four Or five
.o 1cNcte Two terms TO the worl; Of 1
Grade. but, Whenever q chill does CONF
p. nne ,he work OF grade, he ought 10
esrtiilente showing that ha hng completed
thht grade and 10 entitled 10 admission
10 me next higher grade. This is mat
ter OF the very highest Importance. Az
many OF the schools are now managed
new teacher comes Ia every year and
NOT Knowing the advancement OF the
chl,ufth ne sets many of them back, and
makes Them repeat the work they dlj tho
year beioro, whereas II the last teacher
~, ~ gwen inc children sards showing the
sradeS they were entitled to enter, TIME
would nave been gained. con susioa would
nave peen avoided and greater proprtss
would have been made
when pupils finish the entire courae
they should have certificates that would
be evidence OF that fact This wail encour
ago them 10 remain In school longer keep
nave interest that would otherwise dle
and stimulate parents TO greater EXERT Loiis
school ."
tIuSt tHut every teacher IN the ptAllc
schccls OF the Stare VIII look into Tho
question OF a course Of study for his
SCHOOL. lay the matter before his board OF
Trustees and begin at once the great
WORK OF making permanent organization
OF his school.
IT would seem, at first thought, that
with seven grades, and only from ono to
three teachers. Il would be Impossible 10
carry out such a course of study MS rs
above suggested. But II WEI he found thai
Two or more grades may be united II
nj hA nfga. .avx
written spelling physical culture, general
lessons. science lessons. etc. Indeed the
teacher who takes the trouble 10 invcsti-
gate tho matter til he masters 1t. Will
find that there Is but little more trouble
IN organizing his schr11 permanently upon
tho basis OF a flexible graded system
Of classes TO serve the purposes OF siugie
years work; and. when permanent organ
izatton " once accomplished 1t is COM
pa raftyely easy to maintain It.
ITO tho intelligent teacher II is unnnc-
essary TO gay anything by the way OF en-
forcing the necessity of well-considerod
and stable course OF study. In no other
way is the education Of child In accord
aneo with scientific principles possible. III
tho school depends upon such hap-haxarl
organization OF ciasses as may be made
from year TO year by teachers who have
m view only present conditions and emer-
gencies, regular. symmetrical development
OF AID the pupils powers Is not possible 10
say nothing OF the lr~s of time confusion
and discouragement that must result from
Improper classification. Admitting that
there IN an educational necessity for a
course OF study covering all the instruc-
ton the school undertakes TO afford. It
becomes the duty of every board OF trus-
tees. with the teachers help. TO provide
such a course of study for the school I'M
der Its control. II II no answer 10 this
demand TO say that there are obstacles in
the way Difficulties must be overcome,
the demands OF duty must be met. the
work must DO DONE
when the course of study has been
settled. the first great duty OF the teacher
| Is 10 arrange a programme OF daily work
that win enable him to carry out. In a
systeniatic manner. the requirements OF
the course OF study. In a suaal school.
composed OF pupils OF widely various
stages OF advancement, this is a matter
OF serious difficulty. But here, aga9f.
the difficulty OF the task Is no excuse for
It's non-performance. II the teacher can
not arrange a programme that provides
for the instruction required by the course
Of study. how can he expect to give the
Instruction. The daily programme should
be made with great deliberation and care.
A temporary proRramme should be made
| the first day OF school Then the teacher
| should take few days 10 consider the