The San Francisco call., 1899-12-04
LAYING OUT
SCHEDULE OF
SCHOOL WORK
Teachers Confer on
the Subject.
INAUGURATION OF A NEW PLAN
FORMERLY PRINCIPALS ALONE
HAVE BEEN CONSULTED.
Superintendent Webster Believes Ex-
cellent Results Will Be Gained
by Elimination of Waste
in Studies.
INAUGURATION OF A NEW PLAN
FORMERLY PRINCIPALS ALONE
HAVE BEEN CONSULTED.

A conference has been held during the
past two weeks, at which Superintendent
Webster. his assistant A. L. Jordan, and
the teachers in the department have been
present, with the object of adjusting the
work in the new school schedule for the
forthcoming year. This conference is an
innovation, inasmuch as heretofore the
principals alone of the various schools
have been consulted in laying out the
school work for pupils, and is unique in
the fact that the principals themselves
have requested the Superintendent TO call
in the teachers TO give their views on the
important question, so that everything is
harmonious in connection with the inaug
uration Of the new plan.
One OF the great points that the Su-
perintendent has had in view since he
first took up the work has been to cut
out the waste in studies. The chief source
OF waste has been in great measure due
10 scheduling work for children that was
beyond the grade in which they were
placed. The Superintendent has never re-
ceiVed any cooperation in his endeavor
TO properly lay out a course of studies
until the present Board of Education
came into power. This board, compre-
hending the object and its Importance.
has sustained him in his efforts in this
regard. as we'll as in other directions.
Heretofore the failure TO judiciously ad-
Just the work in the School Department
has been largely owing TO not bringing
together the suggestors and executors OF
methods necessary TO accomplish the best
results. Heretofore principals only have
been asked what would be suitable for
the children, but at the suggestion of
the principals themselves the Superin-
tendent soon became aware that the best
plan was not TO consult the principals
alone.
The first consideration was regarding
the work prescribed by special teachers.
In the pursuance Of his policy for the re-
establishment and expansion OF the work
commonly known
the good. old-fashioned Three RS or
what is practically the rudiments OF an
education Superintendent Webster was
obliged to fix a time limit in many Of the
branches. Humane education, physiology
and other nature study he directed TO be
given orally and by means OF supplement
tary reading To music he assigned a
half hour weekly, and TO sewing he al
lowed three-quarters of an hour every
week in such schools as taught that
branch of domestic economy.
III order to adjust the work prescribed
by the special teachers to the time
limit, the Superintendent invited the at
tendance. first, of the representatives of
typical primary schools 10 his office for
the conferences. and secondly, of the
same time he found opportunities 70 dis
cuss the different phases of the work with
principals and heads of special depart
ments. However, the amount OF work to
be done in the various grades he per-
mitted TO be specified by the class teach
ers themselves.
to eliminate the waste in studies at the
meeting of the primary teachers held one
night recently, a hfth-grade teacher re
quested that some of the problems in
arithmetic in her course be transferred TO
a higher grade. but in order not to be ac-
cused of tightening the work OF her own
class she offered TO trade these problems
for some work in fractions that she had
found by experience her pupils could do.
She explained her attitude by stating that
the problems were so much beyond the
capacities of her pupils that where II
consumed hours In grasping their diff
culties, IL would take but few minutes
when the children were more mature for
a full comprehension of the problems. The
exchange was agreed 10, and thus the
first installment Of waste Will be saved.
Another case to show the benefits Of the
new method of laying out the course has
been discovered in the fact that the teach
ers of one grade asked TO be given some
of the more difficult work OF the grade
below When asked why they did not Of
fer some other work in exchange for that
which they had taken, the statement was
made that If more work was not given
to these lower grades the teachers thereof
would have the opportunity to give more
schooling would thus be more thorough.
The prevailing sentiment among the
teachers of the eighth and NINTH or the
slider the amount of work given them to
do, and they are satisfied TO have the
given TO them, provided the children came
TO them properly prepared and in good
working mental condition for that which
was about to be taught TO them.
1T is the expression Of these teach
ers,' said Superintendent Webster, in dis
cussing the subject yesterday, that by
pursuing the methods enumerated. they
will, II allowed to remain undisturbed,
be able to do at least one-half more work
In the nine grades of the course in some
of the branches next year and twice the
amount in the year following. That is,
providing promotions are made by the
department OF supervision and sustained
by the Board OF Education. on sufficient
average percentage OF the work I'm the
several grades. After this preparation
has been made l may expect TO secure
from the high schools a preparation for
the universities that will enable them to
advance the standard OF matriculation
and be supplied with better material than
ever before.
THE teachers who have been invited to
these conferences have been highly
pleased TO take part in what might aptiy
be termed heart to heart talks concern
ing the interests OF their charges They
are unanimous In stating that this is the
first time In their experience that the
method has been pursued. look for ex-
cellent results to come from the inaugura-
ton of the plan"