Mexico Missouri message., 1900-01-25
Graduation Of "
81 Country Schools

Teachers Institute last Saturday
by Prof. Frank l.. Bruce, School
Commissioners of Audrain County:
In Offering suggestions upon the
subject of grading country schools
| do not pretend to give Il form
suitable for all states, but 10y which
all schools may be graded. The
method of acquiring knowledge in
infancy and the method of arquir-
ing knowledge in mature manhood
ought to be one and same. and so
the methods of grading colleges
and country schools should be
alike. The country school is in
deed the people : college. In col
legcs the course of study is pre-
scribcd by officials, and the clasSi-
fication of pupils is made and ear
ried out by instructors. If we wish
to make all the country schools of
Missouri as one working school,
then our uniform course of study
should be rc-cnfOrccd by IL uniform
system of gradatou in all the
schools of the state. This plan to-
day is finding favor in the eyes
Of our leading educators.
The National Educational Assoc
citation passed IA resolution calling
the attention of state superintend-
ents of public instruction turnout
the United States to
the propriety of adopting ii gradu-
ating system for country schools,
since which time initiatory steps
have been taken in several states
for the grading of country schools.
The first outline Of Il graded
course for country schools. pub
IlShed after the passage of the
above resolution, was prepared for
the schools of Tennessee. This out
line provided not only for the grad
ing of country schools. but for the
graduation of pupils who Satisfacto-
rily complete the common school
course of study. Om schools are
demanding Il plan. Il system. Il
model, guide post. These things
we may have and must have We
must have system sufficiently
practical to be moulded to the
scope and genius of every teacher
who is sufficiently interested and
earnestly alive to its great utility
and to the new and progressive life
it will infusc into our public school
system.
1t should furnish schedule of
sufficient margin for practical
working, which may be adapted to
diversified circumstances and at
tainments OF the pupils in all the
schools. while there is dcinitenes,
and system enough to supply Il
standard by which each teacher
may be guided while giving scope
to his ingenuity, tact and good
common sense. The general quail
ifications of the teacher himself.
his ability, skill and Judgment
mainly must be relied on to execute
successfully the design. There is
no definite plan amongst us. We
are confronted with u problem, the
magnitude Of which we must con
slider along with the educators who
say this graduation can be brought
about and successfully executed.
We know our pupils possess very
unequal ability and oftcntimes those
whose attainmentSa are nearly equal
make very unequal progress. Our
pupils need instruction suited to
their VARYING stages of growth.
Our pupils need instruction in all
the essential elementary subjects.
Fellow teachers, friends of cdu-
cation, | am in favor of better coun-
try schools. | am inclined to favor
the three graded school solution.
No doubt You are familiar with it,
but to bring it to bear on your
minds again will say that it make,
all school sessions of the same
length aud divides the year into two
terms so promotions may be mad,
twice Il year. The division is mad,
upon psychical changes which fol-
low, from the elementary courses.
The primary grade includes pupils |
from 6 to y years of age; this is the
period of objective training and al |
skill in reading, writing. numbers