The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1897-06-04
THE KINsLEY SCHOOLS.

To The School Board and Patrons:
We wish to sketch the program OF
the schools in the past year, and dis
cuss briefly some phases of the work
that are of vital Importance.
CLOSER GRADUATION
has been the mark constantly before
the teachers this year. By carefully
planning, the majority of the grades
have been brought up to the course OF
study. so that when pupil enters a
higher grade, he has nothing to make
up in the grade he has just left. In
the eighth grade, last fall, the pupils
were so far behind in their work that
it was necessary to divide it and len
them take half this year and half next.
The class that should have been ready
to enter the High School, was placed
in a provisional ninth grade and
was allowed to make up deficiencies
besides doing supplementary work, so
that they will enter the High School
with greater abilities than the average
class. This abominable condition of
being behind with the work as laid out,
falls with full force upon the present
senior class. They entered the years
works with no two having exactly the
same amount to do. Within three
months of the close of school, some of
the class saw that they could not fin
ish, and later, those who had the least
to do found the year at a close with
Geometry and Commercial Law still
on hand. OF course, these pupils have
received the reward that faithful effort
always gives, but at the same time
there is some disappointment in it.
We want every pupil to be up with his
work when he enters the High School,
so that this bit of history will not re-
peat itself.
THE STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE
has been on the rise ever since the fall
of '95, when higher per centum was
required for passing" and also de-
cided that no pupil should be promot-
ed without taking the regular examina-
tions.-
DISCIPLINE
is und doubtedly the most essential ele
ment in any progressive school. Con-
centration is the key note of mental
acquisition. How can the child s mind
be focused on lesson if whispering is
going on, orthe thoughts of a previous
days truancy are coming to the mind
and dozens of other things of a less
serious nature? 1t is along this line
that the teacher needs the cooperation
of parents, for, as a matter of fact, a
pupil scarcely ever does anything
wrong for which he is to blame?
And if he is, ''someone else is doing
just as bad and is not punished" 1t
is simply ruinous to a child's progress
if he and his parents both see his mis-
conduct in this light.
IRREGULAR ATTENDANCE.
should also be mentioned here. By
examining the records it can be seen
that the number irregular in attend
ance, corresponds quite uniformly
with the number of failures to complete
the work. Save very few exceptions,
the attendance this year has been ex-
cellent.
The points discussed so far have an
influence on every branch and grade
of the school; now we wish to mentio ion
some line of special effort.
SPELLING.
with the new Reeds spoilers has in
creased the interest in the study of
words, and broken up the tendency to
use and spell words without under
standing them. This, coupled with
the High School work in word analy-
sis, will easily quadruple the ability
Of tho pupils 80 interpret what they
read.
READING
is another branch that we have felt
needed some special attention. Some
of the teachers were inclined to consid-
er the new readers too difficult at first,
but the books bear acquaintance well,
and they are now heartily indorsed.
The Fifth Reader is really collection
of choice classics, which is we'll adapt
ed to give the pupils taste for good
literature.
PENMANSHIP
which agitated the minds of the pat
rons early in the year, has been given
particular attention. The results are
very gratifying. When the second and
third grade pupils were discovered
making letters that approached per-
fection, we all felt that the forearm
movement and the natural slant"
envelop the magic powers of penman-
ship. We feel confident that four
years work as all that is necessary to
develop rapid legible writer's. But
pencil work of any kind should be done
very sparingly in the primary grades,
if the best results would be secured
with the pen.
RHEToRICALS.
have beengivenmore attentionthrough-
out all the grades than ever before.
while it is work that pupils quite uni
formly shrink from, and that requires
careful planning by the teachers, still
1t has progressed beyond our anticipa-
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