The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1901-10-06

| this way is adopted by all scht ole.
| As soon as lunch Is eaten the bell calls
the pupils 10 their seats and work 10
gins. Those pupils who ret'rn from
dinner do not get an even start with
those that remain. The d..y's work H.
| finished before the stated pcrio for
dismissing and the children 20 TO their
homes. II the following day be ftv1r
able the full hour is given and as the
weather changes from forl TO 'ai, the
short and the long internissions tcl
low in their like order.
The saving Of fuel by sho't7niur the
time. the wear and tear Of property
and the increase IN time allowed 90
ianitors TO put the rooms in order for
the next day are matters Of no small
concern.
And the teacher. II she must herd
a school at noon for one hour either
in the house or on the grounds is
poorly prepared physically or other.
wise for the afternoon work The ar
gument is often put forth that she is
we'll paid for her work and let her put
in the full day Must she remain to pa
troll the grounds for one hour at noon.
or should she 20 home and leave those
remaining to run riot There IL
but one correct thing for her TO do
and that is TO remain with the school
When that is done. her best energies.
which should be kept stored up for ,he
afternoon recitations. are wasted. Ev
cry true teacher would gladly spend
the noon hour among the pupils on
the grounds or in the house If any
perceptible good followed from such
course. Again let il be said that the
teachers best energies should be spent
in the recitation and not in patrolinr
and herding.
There are no more loyal people on
earth TO their duty nor more self-sacri
fcing than the grade teacher in the
public schools. They are often misuu.
derstood. Their motives are constant
ly being questioned and their efforts
impugned. If patrons knew he criti-
cal tests TO which they are subjected
if parents were called upon to suffer
as teachers often do when in their
efforts to do good the parent steps in
and fills the mind of the child witt
distrust thus frustrating the earnes,
desire OF the teacher in her attemnt
to further the interest OF the child.
criticism would give way to an encour.
ing word and censure would turn to
sympathy The noon hour works d
hardship on the teacher and il is any
thing but just to charge her with
soinshness or laziness If she iisfavors
IL.
All of these reasons and more too
were considered by the board before
the twenty minutes" system was
adopted. The sincerity of those faith
full public servants in their efforts to
test the system cannot be questioned
In this matter after long deliberation.
they were as they usually are. unit
At least there was not adissenting voet
which of itself is proof that every
member of the school board believed
it his duty to put the matter TO @
test
The board was well aware that a
strong sentiment would spring up
against the system. as it mas in other
places where first introduced, but al
the same time they deemed it unnec-
essary TO enter into any apology or
explanation concerning their action.
The school board, the superintendent
and teachers are willing that all their
public acts may be known and read of
all men but at the same time their
duties are too numerous and too ar.
duous TO enter into an explanation Of
everything they purpose to do.
II is no disappointment to the board
that they have been charged with per.
petrating an imposition upon the par
ents of Ardmore and the patrons OF
the public schools.
The teachers, with possibly two ey.
ceptions, attested by vote, favor the
short noon period Is il reasonable 10
suppose they would be favorable to a
system hurtful TO the children and. dis
astrous to the interest OF the schools ?
Who of all is most desirous of success
in this matter of well graded and well
| systemauzed schools.
one week has closed under the new
system and good order prevails. not.
withstanding. Seldom do the pupils
make reference to the new order ol
things and the system works as per.
tectly as il nothing had been said.
II is to be regretted that few
months test cannot be made withou,
so much clamor. The schools of our
city are not easy TO control under the
best of Influences but it is surpris
ingly strange that with so much op-