The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-05-01

one Of the high schools without examina-
| tion, no matter what their rank in their
| classes Ii is not kind nor good policy TO
! require pupils who have been over the
| grammar school course, but not thoroughly
| enough To have earned a diploma, to drop
| into "A lower class and repeat this year OF
| work. Better 10 allow such pupils TO enter
the high schools and under new conditions
| Co make fresh start; and then, II IL ap-
| pears that they are unable 10 do the work
of the first high school year in one years
time, provide for them special course for
| two years. partly advance along high
| school lines and partly review OF grammar
| grade and subjects. This would make
| them thorough on the grammar grade
! work and on the first years work in the
| high school. From this point they would
| probably be able TO go on with a regular
class. IL this course is adopted, we may
very reasonably go farther and say that
| any citizen of Providence of good charac-
ter and sixteen years of age or older may
enter the high school without examina-
tion The limit of 10 years would prevent
these liberal conditions OF admission from
affecting unfayorably the ganmar schools
and would prevent those of grades lower
than the highest grammar grades from
skipping these grades and going directly
into the high school.
Having entered thus easily the high
school, the pupil should be permitted TO
take one or two studies or IA full course
as he pleased and be as many years as he
chose in completing the high school
course. In the English High school tho
privilege of selection of studies should be
offered as freely rs it is in the best acade-
mics and private schools III one study
Only Is desired, whether French, German,
or Latin, whether algebra, chemistry,
astronomy, literature, or history let that
one study be taken.
Promotion by Studies.
But even with all the freedom here
advised the great majority of students will
arrange themselves in classes according
To their year of admission and their pro-
gress thereafter. The promotion of these
pupils should be by studies and not by
classes. If the pupil does well in ono
study, or mOre than one, let him 20 on
in the lines In which he succeeds. And
when he has accomplished satisfactorily "a
sufficient number of terms of work in
sufficient number of studies, he should be
entitled To the diploma of the school, and
be counted among its graduates without
inquiry or discrimination ms TO what the
studies had been, except that certain es-
sental studies should be taken by every
student who is candidate for the diplo-
ma of the school.
Certain necessary limitations will oc-
cur to every one. No subject should be
taken not selected by pupils enough To
make the class of sufficient size TO justify
its instruction. All pupils should be re-
quircd to be regular ana punctual in at.
tendance, TO be courteous and honest and
co maintain satisfactory scholarship in
every study pursued. When scholarship
fails, the study must be dropped. When
attendance courtesy or honesty fails, the
student must To excluded. Diplomas
should be well earned by all who receive
them. We honor with the diploma of the
school those who will honor the school.
Tho refuse "A diploma does not deprive of
an education.
The course Of study should, above all
things ensure the student ready and cor
rect use of the English language, and at
some point, preferably during the last
year of study, should provide for careful
reviews of the essential grammar school
studies.
Commercial Studies.
The experience Of the past two years
has shown that commercial studies should
be In the curriculum of the school. Most
of those who feel able to spend but year
or two in the high school select this line
Of work. Yet the work that ought To be
done before one assumes 10 have the pre-
paration required for bookkeeper or
stenographer and typewriter l. so great
and so difficult that a four years course
is hardly sufficient. No single course can
meet all the interests and desires of our
students. We should have a course of
single year containing just what those
want who can study but "A year, two
years course for those willing TO make
better preparation and four years
course for those who desire to get oil the
preparation we can give them, and to re-
ceive a training equivalent in its discipli-
rary power to the ordinary English
course.
III the suggestions of policy herein pre-
sented are approved by the high school
committee, L shall be glad TO assist the
committee in preparing courses upon the
lines named.
1t Is desirable that at an early day all
the high school courses open TO the grad
yates of our grammar schools be printed
with explanations, SO that an intelligent
selection may be made by pupils and their
parents.
Respectfully submitted,
III. =. Tarbell,
Superintendent.