The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-06-06

ouSH WOTk and general sanitary lHuueHe
all equip its graduates TO give their re
srective schools their best and most pro
fessional effort Our trained teachers ar
rejecting credit upon themselves and thi
department. The work and training her
reduce TO the minimum the liability L
place in the school room persons who ar
iN-adapted 10 the work, either by prepar
alton or nature. or both, as each pupi
must manifest a thorough acquaintance
with the theory OF instruction and demon
strate his ability to conduct and instruc
a school under the careful and critica
supervision Of the critic teacher. Th'
principal and critic teacher have worked
earnestly 10 maintain high standard o.
proficiency in the work. Their success ii
commended
Already there are several applications
on file for this department. next year
Within the year this department has done
seventy-four days Of substitute work. Al
no time has it been necessary to dismiss
school in any room on account Of absence
or sickness Of the teacher, as the normal
corps furnishes an efficient and available
supply list. The cost Of this department.
is merely nominal. When compared to
its utility it would be economical still,
were it 10 cost even more than the sal
aries and equipments necessary to conduct
| It: Salary of principal, S675; salary of
critic teacher, $685.; total, $3.50. Saving
the services Of two teachers al the train
in school, $500; seventy-four days sub
stitute days at 81, 14S; total s1,04S. The
net cost 10 the city for this efficient de-
partment is $212. The present corps has
| thirty-s.x graduates Of this department.
! The number is increasing from year 10
| year.
! Your most intimate acquaintance and
! generous support is respectfully urged for
this department. Its influence for good
and promotion of higher ideals in educa-
! ton are potent factors in the system Of
| free education of the city.
Our plan of promotion was fully dis
cussed in my last annual report and in
one monthly report of this year. It was
passed without further comment in this
report aside from the statement that the
plan is working very satisfactorily.
Attention is called again to the tend
ency of some over-zealous parents to push
a. precOcious child ahead, until, in a meas
ure, the element of time has been elimin-
ated in the development of mind. Too
frequently such pupils find themselves be-
yond their depth and discoura cement fol-
lows, often causing a naturally bright
pupil to leave school before he has reach
ed the close Of the grammar course The
practice has been discouraged in all cases
Of precoo'ous chlldren-too young for. the
grades requirements.
and spirit, has been discussed in one
monthly report and the last annual re-
port. The subject is passed in this re-
port with the note that the year has been
one of success in this line as well. Very
few cases have had to be abandoned and
considered unfit for school privileges. If
the home lend proper and honest support
to the efforts of the school. very few
cases of discipline will fail to result in
corrected habits and good behavior on the
pupils part. The parent who becomes
blind to the errors of his child and sup
ports him against the discipline and or
der of the school, not only is a detriment
to the school, but blighting curse to the
ehild's best interests, both moral and
civic.
Business practices are emphasized in
the affairs of school that proper business
habits may result to the pupil. Any train
ing which has to be done over before it
will articulate properly with the well de-
fined customs and laws of the CONNER
cial world is faulty training and should
be eliminated.
A complete course in physical culture
has been partially worked out in the
grade schools. The effort will continue
until the system is thoroughly established.
The grade work in music has made very
satisfactory progress. The results are
showing in the superior work Of the up
per grades and the High school. The
drawing work has borne good results. I |
am pleased to report that the State Book |
Commission has adopted the Thompson |
system, the one now in use here, for use |
in the schools of the state.
Within the year the superintendent and |
supervisor Of music have held grade /
including all grades. on alter
nate months. There have been eight gen.
eral meetings within the year. The result |
Of the years study in the general meet
ings has been very satisfactory.
The Selection of Teachers-Four years
ago the board adopted the policy of fill
ing all vacancies in the grades from an
approved supply list, taking the names in
order from the list. The plan has been
most satisfactory. Each approved teach
er on the list can feel assured that she
will be called when her name is reached.
The necessity of great care in placing Of
teachers upon the list is apparent. With
his necessity emphasized. the continue
ion Of the plan is heartily recommended
The responsibility Of selecting almost
ninety teachers Who are to instruct over
800 pupils and be largely responsible for
he intellectual and much Of tint moral
development Of the children OF the city is
task Of no small proportions.
Your attention has been called 10 the
essentials OF a good teacher in previous
eports. quote one paragraph from my
asst annual report:
a teacher should be scholarly, a stu
lent, a person Of good business habits,
,erson Of integrity and pure life-as no
.ther class has material so susceptible 70
eaI with-one versed in the theory and !
.ractice Of instruction, whose yearly work
h0ws good results under the circum- /
tances; one tidy in personal appearance.
oval TO the schools OF the city; a person
Who looks beyond the mere money COM
.eusation 10 the development OF the life /,
f the child placed in her care qualified /;
nd successful teachers should be retain
q as long as their services are available. ,
Unqualified and unsuccessful teachers
eachers should not be retained. no mat !
er what rhe5r social OF political afil.a- !
ions may be"