Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-03-22
HIGH SCHOOL WORK
Principal Darby Makes Extended
Report to Board OF Ed
ucation.
PERTINENT SUGGESTIONS OFFERED
Extension of Scope Upon Entering
New Building Deemed
Advisable.

NC" ASNGAhCu
Advisable.
Principal j. f. Darby has prepared
and placed in the hands of the mem
bers of the board of education Ia
bring them in closer touch with the
work that is being done in the high
school report upon the various
lines of work that are being pursued
in that institution. 1t is very well
prepared and contains much that is
not known to the average citizen of
Rock Island concerning a school that
all are taxed to support. n number
of recommendations, made especially
pertinent in view of the expected oc-
cupation of the new high school
building at the beginning of the next
school year, are embodied.
Mr.. Darby begins with a commen-
datory reference to the work of the
corps of high school teachers and
recommends that the men. especially,
be given an increased salary in order
To hold them as at present for an
other year. Then the system of
periods into which the day is divided
under the present plan is taken up
and some changes suggested, involv-
ing an increase from seven to eight
periods. Mr.. Darby says on this
point:
Change Suggested.
''Somc plan should be adopted to
give regular daily period for gen
eral exercises before the whole
school. This would preferably come
the first thing i'm the morning. The
time thus spent is probably, if wisely
used, of equal Importance, if not
greater, than such time spent in reci-
tation. Farther, some business
which concerns the whole school,
such as announcements of various re
NAV he then made with
greater effectiveness. The use of
such morning period also tends To
create spirit of unity in the school
which is n BENEFICIAL factor in keep
ing up attendance, scholarship and
respect for the necessary rules of the
school. In place of the present di-
vision of time | suggest the taking
up OF school at $50 a. m, with the
divided into five periods as
follows: 500 to 9:1O; 9:15 To 9:55;
1000 TO 10: 10; 1O:45 To 1l:25; 1880
To 1910. School being resumed
at 1890 i'm the afternoon. there would
be - minutes for general exercises
with two periods following. 1850 To
?: 30, and 2:35 TO 3:15."
school Training.
Treating of the general objects of
school training the report says:
''The school should furnish prepar-
alton for life and therefore should
give not only that which will best
equip pupils for the future activities
of IA larger business or professional
world. but should be as much like
this larger world i'm principles and
methods as il is possible to make II
school. ] might add that there are
pupils in school who have received
more benefit than the debating and
heir athletics. or general inter
ningling for a period of years with
teachers and their fellow students
than they have from the drill in text
book work or i'm the laboratories"
As to Discipline.
Rules for discipline are made
largely as needed. Pupils generally
are given to understand that any
of their freedom of ac-
lion grows out of necessity arising
rom their conduct. Hence, from
ime to time, as new regulations are
needed they are promulgated and
when no longer needed lapse by dis
Use. The object and tendency of this
: to inculcate in the pupil the spirit |
# responsibility toward his fellow pu-
lil and the school generally"
The Credit system.
Pupils are allowed credits for work |
certain number being |
'equired to qualify passages in each |
branch and to admit of graduation.
\ credit is equivalent to one hours |
each week during one |
semester. The course requires the
PUPIL TO earn 10 credits each year. or
60 to graduate. Seventy-five percent
5 the passing grade and the average
tanding of the pupils of the school
n the last finals was 81 percent. The
course permits of some selection
icing exercised by the pupil but Ger
ain studies are required to be taken,
here being 90 credits of prescribed
work.
The growth of the school has been
mall during the last three years. ow-
ny mainly to the unfavorabIe condi-
ions under which it has been con-
ucted since the destruction of the
chool building by fire. The enroll
nent this year is trifle less than
asst year, 315 being the number at
ending. The number of graduates
will probably be 81 this year. the
argest in the history of the school,
howing that more pupils are being
eld than ever before, in spite of the
act that the course is more difficult.
he percentage of punctuality, too,
; better than in most schools. The
interest manifested by the pupils is