The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-04-26


~ board of cducations special
committee decided in favor
of term average promotions. the
Rochester, n. V, board adopted unani-
mously the recommendation of Super
intendent Gilbert to shorten the pub
lie school course between liindcrgar-
ten and High school from nine years
to eight. That places the Rochester
course on the same basis of time now
in vogue in a majority of American
cities; although a few have already
cut the course down to seven years;
and, as Superintendent Gilbert pointed
out in his report, Boston, the chief
city retaining Il nine years course,
has for Il long time provided a short
cut, allowing students who desire to
take higher courses TO leave the
srammer schools for the Latin school
before the completion of the course"
Scranton is one of the eight-year-
course cities before attaining the High
school 1t is not, therefore, with re-
ference to that that we allude to the
Rochester superintendent report and
its school boards action.
Mr.. Gilbert notes that under present
terms OF study those young people
who so through grammar and high
school grades, then enter college and,
finally. IL professional school, must
reach an age of % or - years before
becoming producers in society. This
condition, he states, besides unduy
OBTAINING in educational institutions
very many undoubtedly deters many
more from pursuing higher courses at
all" Undoubtedly it does SO. That
is the cause, in connection with the
belated entrance into active life of
those who do push through the higher
courses, that has brought about ac-
ton in some of the leading American
universities reducing their academic
courses from four years to three for
those who intend to enter professional
schools.
But there are the many who, cspec-
tally in an industrial community, such
as this, cannot reach the High school
al all. Mr. Gilbert frankly states that
the shortening of the course, the put
ting of eight grades for nine-of seven
for eight, as in some cities-"makes
necessary the elimination of some
things now in the curriculum, but such
elimination" he adds. 'is necessary
on educational grounds"
Truer words on that subject We're
never written. The enrichment OF
school courses, of which we hear so
much in these days, has SO far been
made to mean the multiplication of
required studies to d degree that SIM
ply tires out the immature brain. The
dull child is made more hopelessly
dull by the process. The bright one
is often made dull, or, on the other
hand, reaches a nerve tension that
lessons vitality and often destroys
health. The true enrichment" of
study, when the teacher has fair OPP
lessons, to awaken enthusiasm in tho
pupils and then give it right dircc-
tion, is something very different from
the cramming of studies--chiefy to
pass eNaminations-that has been dig
nihed with the title of "enrichmcnl" of
the course.
The tendency to waste time land,
by spending it on superficial details
Ia destroy the vital interest so essen
tial TO the best work. is intensified,
says Superintendent Gilbert because
of elaborate and double headed system
OF examinations. from which the pub
lie schools OF New York state suffer.
fe,wants them relieved from this "in-
'uhus," as he rightly denominates it.
The Post Express, in which we find
Alrt Gilbert's report given in full, says
of this, and OF the elimination of some
things from the curriculum: What
We need is To clear the rubbish out of
our school course and keep to the
essential things, to begin determined
attack ON the state examination sys-
tenn, ana trust the matter of promo
ton 10 teachers after local examina-
ton; and 10 make it easy for bright
pupils to rush rapidly through the
coufse and for duh pupils to loiter by
the way. But above all things, we
need restoration of the old idea that
school is place to work and study,
not ia place TO dawdle"
by the time they have got thus far
on tbs, inward road OF progress, the
Rochester board and public will trust
the matter Of promotion to teachers" 4"
not after local examination" but in
the fairer, jnster and more vitalizInS
way that Philadelphia is about 10
adopt, and that Scranton has need to-
by the daily record of attainment