The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1903-02-05
PROF. KELLER'S
NEW METHOD
of PrOmctingStudents is Working
Exceedingly Well
IE WRITES OF THE SEMESTER PLAN
ow in Vogue in the Schools of Man-
itOWOC.
GREAT ADVANTAGE TO THE STUDENTS
Those Who Have Ability Can Forge Aheac
and Those Little Slow Have Great
Opportunities.

Keller of the Northside school on the
semester plan now in vogue in the
schools is as follows:
On the basis of the benefits derived
from the semester plan few changes
in the standards and conditions for pro-
motion were necessary. The plan OF
promoting students semi iannually has
among others the following advan-
tages:
(a). Each Student will be more near
ly in the subject and in the class in
which he can do the best work. 1t is
easy to see that it is detrimental to the
student to be in class 80 far IN advance
of his ability that he gets nothing from
the subject as far as power goes. A
general passing average may defeat this
end. The semester plan with the re-
quirement of definite pass mark in
each subject prevents students getting
into class for which he is not fitted.
CO. II student fails it puts him back
half year at the most and only short
time if he is able and willing to work
ahead of his class as he ought to be able
to do taking the subject the second
time
(c). 1t enables students, who are
stronger than their average companions
to forge their way ahead.
Tv,o Ianvaa - hloo hin, 70 do
work in two sections at the same time
in different subjects, it, for instance, he
were very weak in arithmetic at the
time of promotion but strong in all other
subjects he can go ahead in the other
subjects but remain until the arithmetic
work is strengthened with lower
grade in this subject. The limitations
on this are explained in the table of
percentages below:
I'm accordance with this purpose the
following regulations go into effect this
semester regarding the promotions OF
pupils:
II. A standing of 70 per cent. q final
and class standing) is required in each
of the regular subjects including, read
ing, mathematics, language, grammar,
geography and history in order that he
may be promoted. However if student
fails in one subject but has in his other
regular subject standing in each of 80
per cent, he goes to the next section for
the subjects in which he did work but
does not receive his promotion card, nor
is he considered promoted, until the sub
ject is brought up, the time for which
is not limited.
I'll. The final standing must how.
ever be at least 65 per cent otherwise
the student fails in the subject even
though his class average brings him rs
per cent.
Iii. In writing, spelling, sewing,
nature study and music, failure in but
one of these promotes a student. Such
deficiency, however, should be made up
if possible at once In case all the reg
ular subjects give the student 80 per
cent. in each, he may be promoted even
though he fails in the two of the second
ary subjects
CIV. Two successive failures in the
same subject shall, however, fail the stu
dent no matter what his other records
may be.
"V. The STANDARD of passing is put
at 70 per cent. since the high school
average required is 75 per cent Stud
ents coming from work with a lower
standard find it difficult to handle the
work done on 6 higher standard. This
change makes the pass mark uniform
throughout the system, viz. rs per cent
q final plus class standing).
1T is urged that progress be not
measured by the number Of sections
passed in a year. but by the quality of
the work done in each section. A oual.
itative training is more essential for sue
cess than a quantitative training. The
habit of doing first rate work is worth |
more in the practical life than the sim.
pie knowledge of facts for men are not
measured so much by what they think |
or know as by what they do and can do |
Parents should bear in mind that it is
the earnest purpose of the administra-
tion to do for the student what is best
for him, which should not be confound- |
ed with passing students every semester,
for these are two entirely different
things. A students ability is not al
ways commensurate with the number
of grades through which he has passed
or was passed"