The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-10-23

Y
vERsITY, WAS INTRODUCED.
beth, NJ j.. who spoke as follows. on
/ How TO Break Lockstep In Schools:
Fellow teachers--It was an accident
that delayed me and hope you will par
don me. We teachers must always find
something for thanks. though late.
Teachers are not understood, yet I trust
III be able to be understood. Let US
consider the meaning OF lockstep. A
proper classification OF students Is mecca
sary. A storm OF protest against the bar
barism and the lockstep was abandoned
In army and prison
"It Is impossible 10 make children keep
IN step mentally. for they may as classes
differ. yet because OF manner OF grading
all are kept in intellectual lockstep. Chill
dren are not alike and no one should
expect to grind out uniformity. Is not
the divinity of child to be nourished and
developed7 Is II not time TO stop finding
fault and try 10 prevent nonsensities I?
| The decree has been In together on to-
gether and outogether' This means
that the pupils are driven. Change all
this and better work follows. The course
OF study may be measured by the slower
! children. This hlnders the brighter ones,
| though some take the average OF the
| class. This is wrong. for some must be-
stretched. some compressed In this case.
Would IL not be Just as logical to do
that same thing physically. as mentally ?
The effect is injurious TO both bright and
dull students.
That Is why brighter children get into
mischief. There Is an injury also to the
duller ones. They become discouraged and
finally drop out OF the running. IL they
could De only allowed to go at the rate
God Intended Il would be much better. II
Is criminal to make them walk IN intellcc-
tual lockstep. This might be the theory
of faddists. but investigation shows that
the statements are true.
Who In II that suffers7 answer the
teacher and children. Such cause
causes overwork when we strive TO do
what cannot be done. A large amount OF
time is taken I'm nagging or hurrying a
portion OF the class.
Ten or Is plans are proposed. II Is mere
ly bluff TO say that II one In brighter
lot him 20. 1t Is binding the teachers
hand.
Another is doing away with nnai exam
| nations. Three term examinations and
| ungraded rooms are proposed. The other
] plans are two intervals In a year, two
teachers for room, extra teachers In
| building, a dual course OF study and un-
| graded schools.
Everyone OF these methods fails
because the pupils are not accurately
|
pupil incompetent to undertake the work
OF a grade. There must be u reclassifca-
tion 70 that those who lag can find their
places. The only satisfactory grading r.
accurate classification. The method OF
promotion must be remodeied.
The work must be regulated according
to the ability OF pupils In the matter OF
examinations.
AL forms shouid be done away with
| promotions should be left TO teachers
and principal. An examination IA not
n fair test and promotes duplicity among
pupils. The examination 10 system of
stuffing. The question n, how may
that be reached.
! When pupils go TO teacher and are
found incompetent. they are sent to
proper grades. II they fall behind by
absence they are put back.
Have them accurately graded at the
beginning and each grade sub-,iivided
and they are only n month apart. Every
one In thus In his proper class. Let them
advance. not by nying jumps. but by
proper steps. Any other method Is
harmful 10 students and destructive 60
| teachers
with this the session closed and the
meeting adjourned.
Yesterdays LATE SESSIONS.
The meeting OF the Rhode Island
| Teachers Institute yesterday afternoon
was but the continuation OF the excellent
speech making Of the morning The only
variation being that tho meetings were
divided into two portions. one section OF
which met at Infantry hall. while the
other held session IN the rooms OF the
Classical High school
The session at Infantry hall was for the
special benefit OF the grammar achool
/ teachers and was presided over by the
superintendent OF tho schools OF thia city
At 2.lb the meeting was called TO order
by President Small. and when he made
few remarks 81 an introductory ma
ture he introduced the first speaker OF
the afternoon. Rev. y W. GunsauiuS
He had az the title OF his speech. .s'rhe
next step IN Education." In his talk no
dwelt upon the religious phase OF our
education almost entirely and I'm con
| clusion said that. I'VE viii never cot a
full-grown American until ne Is religious
/ ~ educated"
For the second speaker OF the affair
noon. the session had Mr.. Charles m
Reeves. supervisor % the South District
schools OF Hartford. IIe spoke on .'rx.
preston Versus Repression IN Fauoa.
ton" His remarks were more Of a n "A.
monitory nature than anything else. He