The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-04-22
Oar Graded School.

One Of the most frequent criticisms OF Grad.
ed Schools In tha: there Ia no thought for the
individual pupil. but every care for the grade:
that oil pupils OF grade are 70 advance ut
the aame rate when some pupil cooid advance
and ought to advance more rapidly.
Thin objection has been overcome 10 the
AbbeviIie Graded school in q most satisfac-
tory say. Superintendent K +. Gillian
last year introduced plan which should re-
ceive the attention OF all graded school
suthortiies. The plan. a. We understand IL.
is 10 divide each grade into at least two divi-
sions. the quicker or better prepared pupils
making tho advanced division. while the
slower. younger or less prepared pupils con-
stitute the lower Division.
A pupil can be changed from one division
to another at any time in the discretion OF
the teacher. but the Superintendent may be
consulted In cases OF doubt. But Q rearrange.
ment OF pupils 10 regularly made at the end
OF each term OF three moniha.
The ability and willingness Of the pupil 70
do the work 10 the sole test Tor ntness for o
given Division.
The advantages OF the plan are many, but
one advantage 10 distinctly ssen whom high.
or Division pupil. for one reason or another.
sbsenis himself from school for time. The
a6sentie returns to school to ind that bis
division has ad dvanced. and that be must take
position In the lower division.
Another advantage OF this system 10, that
II furnishes 40 Incentive 10 the highest and
best effort OF each pupil, and each student
may see the result OF his or her efforts.
As the advanced division progresses more
rapidly than the second. the pupils OF given
grade soon nnd themselves In different
grades, for a. soon ~ the work OF Given
grade b completed successfully the Advanced
division proceeds with the work OF the next
higher grade, without awaiting the next
year. Uuder the operation OF this plan. ne
understand that there are ave boys In the
dflh grade room who next year will enter the
seventh grade. This, however, docs not
mean that they have omitted the work Of the
sixth grade. They have completed success.
fully ali the work OF the fourth. nfIh and
sixth grades In two years instead of three.
under Two teachers instead OF three. In like
beginning OF the noxt session from the aixth
grade room into the eighth grade. all the
work Of the seventh grade having been &C.
|compiished.
Only email percentage OF the pupils gain .
gear undsr the operation OF the plan, % only
. few are able 70 do moro than Q fair allow.
anee for years work. Tho course OF study
% laid out for the average child and not for
the unusual one; but plan 10 adopted vhsr.
by the unusual pupil. either backward or .
forward scholar, may advance gradually. 40
Oording to his or her ability. The plan, more
over. obviatss the dlsoourasins practice Of
lbroing child to do q second time . yean'
work when . review Of three months work 10
frequently suficient.
Tho enrolment OF this School District fur.
nishes the best evidence OF the growth OF
Abbeviiie and the schools. When the present
superintendent Mr.. Gillian, took charge. he
iound thst his predecessor had enrolled. In
lsoesl, sN white pupils, and 26S oolored
pupiis. making total enrollment Of COS.
The white pupils today number go, which
10 gain Of over 81 por cent. The oolorsd
schools have now enrolled $50 pupils. gain
Of over LOO per cont There has been gain In
enrolment OF about II per cent per AMMAN,
for the past six years.
There are now more non.residsnt pupils
than ever before, and . large number Of
pupils live nom two TO flve miles nom tho
school house. A few ride, bat most OF the
pupils walk 70 school