Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1898-06-23
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

To the Board OF Education, Min Home, Idaho.
Gentlemen:-I deem II duty Of the principal TO
submit from time to time to the board OF education
report of the condition and progress of the schools
under his supervision, as he is in position to knsw
better the condition and needs OF the school than any
else and such reports may be helpful to the board
in many ways, and the board may thus be more
helpful to the school
Permit me to say that think It is often true that
the board and principal not free enough to con-
suit with each other and are not confidential enough
with each other for the common good OF the school
Serious mistakes might often be avoided by proper
understanding between board and principal and by
the board being in possession Of knowledge which
must necessarily he IN possession OF wideawake
principal II is therefore very important that there
be no barriers between board and principal but that
they discuss freely friends all matters pertaining
to the school | therefore suggest that for another
year system Of blanks be devised whereby 1t shall
be the duty of the principal to report at stated times
on the qualifications OF teachers, iantor and other
things pertaining to the school.
In the first place, wish TO thank the board for the
courtesy shown me in the past and trust that the
good will may continue TO exist and that we
may be more useful to each other in the future than
have been in the past, and that together may
be able hold up high ideals before the pupils and
instl into them strong resolves that they may move
rapidly toward the ideal
can perhaps give you q better idea OF the condi-
ton of the school by beginning with it last fall and
following the work through the year And while |
refer To the condition Of the school in the past which
may not sound complimentary, wish it distinctly
understood that 1t is with i'll feeling to any one,
or with any desire to do any the slightest injury;
for wish to treat my predecessor and all here Of
whatever opinion, with courtesy; snd permit me to
say that when laave this school, be it many
years, my will have my earnest sympathy;
and my influence by word and action shall be for his
support, whoever he may be, and for the rpbuldng
of this school, When entered the work last Sep
TENDER found this condition confronting me: You
had course Of study which IN extent fairly well
| laid out, not differing materially from standard
graded schools OF the East and West. But | found
further that those classified in these grades had not
done the work TO entite them to such standing But
tha hau nnipy of
cent, and the higher the grade the more they were
behind. You perhaps familiar with this fact, il
not from close examination of the work here from
| the knowledge of pupils going from this school to
Boise and other schools of other States who invaria-
4 bly, have had to pass into grades from one to two
lower than they occupy here. This as have said il
not because the course Is materially different here
from other places but because pupils have been given
grades and promotions have been made irrespective
OF work done. | can not enter into details in all
grades or all subjects but TO ILLUSTRATED Those rrn
NOTED to the eighth grade last year had not il
arithmetic, finished the work in the sixth grade
| Those promoted to the ninth grade to the high
arithmetic; those promoted to the tenth grade were
very little and some of them not any in advance oil
those promoted to the ninth grade Other sub ects
than arithmetic were more or less behind. Arithmetic
serves to illustrate the general power and develop
ment of the student Those promoted to the 12tf
grade, and whom | was expected to graduate th
year If they had continued in school, ! found upor
their own statement of what they had studied Lacked
no less than l IL years of solid work being to tn
finish the course This is granting that all work dom
had been well done, and accepting all science worl
which had been done simply by study of text book
without any dissection or object work whatever
This referred to is not. as understand SOM
have charged, the of study formulated by me
but the course of study outlined years ago and II
| use when came here
And even worse than this condition, found litt
disposition on the part OF students TO work. and
| very i'll feeling over being compelled TO take thei
books home and work In fact, they wished TO ge
| of han half the length pupls of Othe
places get and get easily They had but little anbi
ton to excel This spirit must account for their be
ing behind in all grades. In fact they had neye
been required to take longer lessons
Thus two questions confronted Should we pu
the school back grade all the way through afte
they had been promoted? which would certain.
cause dissatisfaction or should we pull along bes
we could compel them to do extra work and brini
them up rapidly as possible? thought the latte
the better policy So we have worked along tina
line. Sickness came among us TO make our tas
douby hard. Grades were given for work done, no
for occupying seat. As a result the pressure wa
too hard for some, and with little or no persuasion
from the outside they dropped out. Others droppe
out through sickness until at times our attendanc
has not been what should like 10 have seen.
am conscientious in my work and not carr
out sham or put my name TO a card or paper whie
| know to be untrue. want pupils 10 be honest 1
school work well as in life, for school is life
Hence, when ! asked last fall by tho so-calle
twelfth grade II they were going to graduate thi
year, told them that that with them. woul
be glad to have graduating class, and when tn
course WAS Completed NOulu Dt Rltu W I6Cohiiieh
them for graduation. They had no hesitency in say
ing that they could not finish the work catalogued
that were required but said they had been told the
should gradute. They had not inquired into tn
how. Another point is that each grade expeeteC
according to the catalogue to have more or less sal
Elementary reading and literary work. Not one
the books or substitutes for them, far as ! haV
been able TO find, had been used. This reading ha
been, in a large measure supplied and read this yea
We have also introduced into the different grades I'll
theory and simple practical work IN vocal music.
, The most important results OF the present year
work. as it, is this: believe there has been a
awakening of the pupils to a realization Of the
needs and to the fact that life is real in school as
4 as elsewhere; that life something, and tn,
education means something / believe that student
are ready to 90 to work in earnest to accomplish r
Suits that they learning how to study; to ilu
trate:
The seventh grade, in passing over work tn
spring that the eighth grade passed ever before Il
Christmas holidays, did the work much better and
: one third OF the time. This is remarkable featu
a all through the school, Another encouraging thif
with me is that some in my room, whom found
almost impossible to get to do reasonable amoul
OF study during most Of the year, have asked +
.