The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-09-11
Scholars VIII Get Lessons
Aided by Teachers.
EXAMINATIONS MAY
BE DONE AWAY WITH
Plan Applied to the High School More
Than Likely to be Extended to All
the Schools Of the City-Secret
Meeting Held by School
Board OnYesterday
Afternoon,

with one stroke the Richmond School
Board has swept away customs ana mo pr prac- e.
tlces in teaching that are coeval win
the public school system itself. 4
At meeting some days since II was
decided to do away with intermediate
and Anal examinations in the Hish
School for white pupils and the Normal
School for colored pupils. THESE ex-
aminaticns will be the exception nov;
heretofore they have been an unaiter-
able rule. But two other very Important
decisions have been reached by Il the fe'
board applying only to the High Schools.
One OF these, In fact, applies only TO the
High School for white pupils. It is for
each grade to have study hour during
the day. with the twofold purpose 20. OF
relieving the pupils OF SO much work at
home In afternoon and at night, and also
10 give them the advantages Of the help
OF a teacher in the preparation OF their
LESSONS Stated briefly and stripped OF
ISits detail, the plan is that an hour VIII VI
be provided during the II day 4 for4S each
grade OF the High School when ths'
pupils must study They muy select tlie
lessons that are yet to come that day
or may A1S@NS SAeAJ
at their books and go3 through the out
ward appearances Of studying they must.
for a teacher will be there to watch.
and not only that. but to aid the honest
pupil who is trying to get ut the bottom
OF the task set.
Will be Approved. II
| It is believed by the board that the
pupils will hail the innovations here with
approval. and beneficial results VIII 1o!-
low Many Of the pupils have to work
nearly all OF the time they are at home
save their sleeping period. and going 70
school becomes a dreary burden hard to
bcnr ] But the aim, and In many cases
the effect OF modern methods is to bring
about better results at less cost to the
teacher and the pupil. A guiding word
here and there from the teacher often
saves many OF the pupils minutes OF use
less worry. Many pupils, teachers say
do not know how to study The watch
ful teacher will help his pupils also IN
this way. J,
Another departure which is apt to stir
up the lazy pupils bit Is that the
teacher viii select any day he wishes on
which to grade or mark" pupils. Here-
tofore Friday has been the marking
day and the truant pupil could, and
probably very frequently did. not over.
exert himself during the week, but
/ CrammeQ i'lNuISudy Ili6 ~
ing energy for Fridays test. This year
marking day may be Monday Thurs
| day or any other day. as the teacher
elects. This latter feature belongs also
| to the Normal School.
Examinations to Go.
It is now pretty certain that examtna
tions rs a rule are to ego. even In tn
| district schools. At the meeting OF tht
board when such action was taken IN re-
| gard to the High Schools. the question
| or extending what for Richmond Is al
| Innovation, to the district schools was
| discussed, but the body was not prepared
| to take decisive action Many of tn
members, perhaps all, were unquestion
ably In favor Of sending the ron-cad
custom to limbo, but were not prepared
ia fix the circumstances under whicl
the examination should or should not b.
held. A joint committee, composed OF the
school committee OF the board and OF
the district principals, was appointed
to take the matter up and report upon It
and, Il II favorably, detailed plan b!
which 1t could he carried into effect
That Joint committee held a secret ses
sion yesterday afternoon. There Is rea
son to believe that this body decided to
report favorabliy upon giving UP examlna