Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-11-23
Superintendent Cotfeen, of the
Public Schools, Starts Good
Work For Pupils
BETTER ADVICE ON coLLEol:s
Superintendent and Principal Brutn.
baush Address Letters to All coi'
Ieses That Have High School on Az.
credited List, in an Effort to Bring
About More Uniformity in Require.
ments.
ments.

Superintendent z. Z. coffeen. of t.le
public schools and Principal e. Y.
Brumbaugh, Of the high school. have
undertaken good work for their pl-
pills In the preparation Of a letter that
has been addressed to the manage
ments Of all colleges and schools that
have the Marshalltown high school on
their accredited list. The school men
are inaugurating a "ge.-together pol
icy" in requirements, ard at the Same
time are ascertaining just what work
is being done in the different schools,
that they may be better able to advise
their graduates when deciding on what
schools to select in pursuing a college
education.
Superintendent Coff sen's idea in
working out this get together" pol
| icy, as he terms 1t, results from the
varied assortment of requirements of
the different schools. This makes 1t
much harder for the high school to
prepare pupils for colleges, and the
superintendent believes that if the cpl
leges will get together on SOM o."
Line, the high schools can better equip
their graduates for college courses
Under the present system the de-
mands are too heavy on the high
school, and Superintendent Coffeen
thinks that the line of college requile-
ments should be in measure cut or
changed so as to MAKE. one course of
study suit all Now The high scht,ol
has to follow certain Mres for the pros
pective college students, others for the
pupils who are going into business,
and still others for those who expect to
follow teaching. In ether words do
away with the present indefiniteness
among the colleges, and formulate
some more definite lire that may be
followed in the high school course of
study.
| Mr.. Coffeen has suggested in his
| letter that committee from the SUI
perintendents' and principals assoc ell
alton visit the colleges to inspect the
work, and as result he better able to
advise their pupils.
The Letter to Colleges.
The letter that has been addressed to
the different colleges is as follows:
I'm view of the fact that many par
ents and pupils come to US for advice
as to what institutions are the best to
send their sons and daus,h-
tiers, we wish in order that we can
answer such questions more intelli-
gently, that you would answer The
| questions on the enclosed blank for
us You send to us each year blanks
which go into detail rs fully in re-
gard to our work as do the enclo sed
questions in regard to yours, in order
! that you may know whether to place
us on your accredited list or not That
! is, we wish to know whether your in
situations can go on ollr accredited list
and whether 1T is one that we can safe-
/ " recommend our students to attend.
We intend to favor nc, special institu;-
ton, but we do wish 10 be able to en-
tighten our patrons as to the character
OF the work done, ard the principles
upon which the freshman classes are
organized and their interests looked
after. An early response win be great
lily appreciated.
4 Yours very truly.
ELlMltlR u. COfEGE1N,
"Superintenda nt.
"E. v. BRUMBAuGa,
principal OF high school. .
| Following the letter list Of import
ant questions pertinent to the colleges,
and Of interest to all, Is appended. as
follows.
al. Upon what principle do you
choose the teachers for the freshman
courses?
| "a. Are they chosen because OF
their ability as specialists?
@b. Are they chosen because Of their
ability to teach?
&c. Are they chosen because Of their
personality and experience in tesLch-
ing?
"2. Do you allow fellows" or stu
dent assistants to larydle the freshman
courses? II so under what conditions
"3. Do your heads of departm ents
ever handle courses in the freshman
class?
| ~. Is there any definite (not hap
hazard) effort at supervision of the
work through class visitation by any
superior and experienced executive Of
f1cer of the college?
3. DO you require your instructors
or professors to have had experience
in high school teaching or other teach
| ing, before placing them in charge OF
the freshman courses?
So What policy is pursued in assign
ing instructors to the freshman cour-
ses?
'"7. Is any effort made in your col
lege through its officials or otherwise
to look after the freshman outside OF
the class room and study hall?
g. Are there any regulations as to
study hours and time for recreation
outside of the class room work?
SO. In charge Of what years work do
you aim to place your best instructors
and professors?
"10. In view of the fact that the coll
leges have an association for the in
spection Of high schools, would you
be In favor Of department Of the or
ganization of the superintendent and
principals Of high schools for the pur-
pose of college visits.tion?"
| Superintendent Coffeen so far is very
much pleased with the way the plan
| Is working out. He has already re-
| ceived answers from several OF the
| college arrangements, and some have
expressed themselves as being heartily
In sympathy with the plan. Some well
/ ~y@uSt ~cb q