The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-10-15
SCHOOL BOARD CUTS
COURSE OF STUDY
Grade Work in Future Must
Be Completed in Eight
Years

The members of the board of school
inspectors, as the committee on schools,
last evening decided to so arrange the
course of study in the public schools
that the grade work can be completed
in eight years, instead of eight and one
half years, as is now required in most
instances, and that there must be an
average enrolment of forty five pupils
in each room.
1t was estimated that this means the
teaching force of the city will be re-
duced almost fifty; that the saving in
money will be almost $4,000 a year,
and that sufficient room will be Gre
ated to accommodate large number
of grade pupils.
This is to be accomplished by the
superintendent SO simplifying the first
grade course of study that it can be
cared for in two semesters, instead of
requiring three SemeSters, as is now
the practice in nearly all of the schools
in st. Paul.
The requirement that there ssust be
an average of forty-five pupils to
room goes into effect at once, and the
seven or eight teachers who will be
displaced are to be put in positions
will later be assigned to rooms that
are to be opened in the Phalen school.
At the end of the present semester
Supt. Smith is to have SO arranged the
first grade course of study by simpli-
flying it that the pupils can pass in two
semesters of five months each.
Introducing the subject Supt. Smith
said that in most of the schools of the
city it had grown to be the practice to
consume fifteen months on the first
grade, and he estimated that the prac-
tice costs the city $4,000 year. There
was nothing in the course of study, he
said, that warranted the extending of
the first grade course to three semes-
tiers, and there was every reason to be-
ieve that by cutting out nom essential
work practically all first grade pupils
could be sent to the second grade at
the end of the first year.
First Grade Work in One Year
"Just where the practice of length
ening the grade school term to eight
and one half years originated I am uTl-
able to say" Supt. Smith said, but in
view of the fact that the cost OF main
tanning the schools is constantly being
increased it seems that it is necessary
not only to reduce the fixed charges OF
present schools, but to provide add
tionaI room for the constantly 1ncreaS-
ing number of pupils. My belief that
the first grade work can be effectively
done in one year is upheld by the Judg-
ment of a large majority of the princi-
pals of the schools. It has been Sug-
gesteff, and with much apparent rea-
son. that too much time is spent by the
teachers in preparing the mind of the
pupil for actual study"
In support of his argument that the cost
of maintaining the schools can be reduc-
ed. Supt. Smith submitted figures from
the principals showing that in many in
stances there is net an average of forty
pupils to a room. He argued that this
was entirely too low, and that it is pos
sible to properly instruct greater num-
ber Instances were cited where teachers
are required to instruct more than fifty.
This number might be too high, but he
suggested that the rule allowing an aver
age of forty be amended, saying that the
saving should be in the neighborhood OF
$4,000 year.
Age for Entering High School
"our children enter the high school at
an average age of fifteen years argued
Mr. Smith, land we should make 1t so
that they begin high school work at four
teen at the latest. This can, believe,
be done by simplifying the course of
study in the first grade. What we are
now really maintaining is primary grade
and B first grade and A first grade. The
result of this is shown in the fact that
there are seventyfive teachers in what is
officially termed B first grade as COM
pared with forty-three in A first. BY
simplifying the course so that the pupils
can complete it in one year we will save
thirty-two teachers, or the difference be-
tween forty-three and seventy five To
teach an extra semester in the schools,
taking the total cost and figuring the pro-
portion shows that my recommended ton
would result in saving $4,000 year.
On motion of Inspector Fisher, Supt.
Smith was instructed to at once estap-
lish the rule making it necessary that
there be an average of forty-fiVe pupils
enrolled in each school, and that in all
buildings where the enrolment falls be-
low this to close a room. Supt. Smith
said that he could give employment to
all such teachers displaced. as there are
a number of substitutes now working, and
they could be regularly assigned at an
early date because of designations.
There was considerable discussion on
the proposal to shorten the first grade
work from fifteen to ten months, but all
remarks were favorable to the stand taken
by the superintendent, and the motion or
INSPECTOR Holman that Mr.. Smith be in
structed to carry out his plan received the
votes OF the six members present, In
spector Rogers being absent.
ITO put the proposition plainly" said
INSPECTOR Holman, 81 understand that
our action means that the course of study
shall be so arranged that each Of the
eight grades can be completed in one
year.
'"That is the PLAN, answered Supt.
Smith. sit was the original intentionvto
make the grade course in st. Paul six
teen semesters, but in some manner it
became seventeen semesters, and we are
correcting the fault.