The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1905-12-28
The School Term;
Shall Il be Divided?

Snail II be Ulvlueu!
1t has become the customin great
many districts in the country for the
school boards to divide the school
term, hoping that the school may
thereby accomplish greater results
than il the term were continuous. In
a few cases the people at the Annual
School Meeting have voted to divide
the term; but this il clearly illegal,
since that is not one 81 the powers OF
the Annual Meeting. To divide the
school term ia u mistake. Instead
of bringing about the desired results,
it helps to defeat those results. In
every case it il better and proper to
have a continuous term for the fol-
lowing reasons:
l. The school law contemplates
one term during the year, and thata
continuous term. The law says that
she people at the Annual Meeting
shall determine the number Of months
In excess OF six; and In several places
IL speaks OF "the school tern" but
in no case does it speak OF the school
terms. 1t ia evident, then, that there
is no legal authority for dividing the
school term. The law certainly con-
templates continuous term.
2. City and village schools always
have continuous term. IL this il
best for these schools, Is It not best
for the rural schools? The ends to
be attained are Identical; and the
conditions do not differ materially.
3. The usual reason, and about
the only one, given for dividing the
school term is, "to give the small
children a better opportunity to go
to school," This is very commend.
able; but In doing this the large boys,
and perhaps the large girls, are
robbed OF some OF their time to 60 to
school. II the school term is to be
arranged to suit any class of pupils,
should 1t not be arranged to spit the
larger boys and girls, whose days Of
going to school are few? By divid
ling the school term and having q
few weeks vacation during January
February and March, the large boys
are deprived OF the very time, and In
some cases perhaps the only time, al
which they can 90 to school. They
must stay out of school during the
fall to gather corn and to do Other
farm work. When their work is done
they can 90 to school during the
winter months. They must return
to the farm again in March to gel
ready for the crop season. Now, !
the school Is dismissed during the
winter months, when can these boys
have an opportunity to attend
school? On the other hand, the small
children usually have four months o.
good weather before the Christmas
holidays; and then more or less good
weather during the remainder OF the
term. A continuous term. then
gives the small children advantage
in time. Why give them a further
advantage by dividing the term and
at the same time dspriving the larger
boys of their opportunity OF going
to school?
4. By having a vacation OF 6
month or two during the term, tht
pupils lose interest and the study
; habit. It. is very common to say
that It takes about q month for thu
school ITO get started" II this II
true, why divide the term and neces
state two "starts," thereby losing
time and interest in the school work
and breaking up the study habit tn
pupils have iormedf
s Not only is the school term ire
quently divided, but at the sam'
time school boards often chang
teachers. Perhaps there Is no ON
condition 20 detrimental to goot
school work as the frequent chang
Of teachers. II q teacher is doing
good work, he ought to be retainet
indefinitely. II he is not doing goot
work, the sooner he IL disposed Of th'
better. Some school boards are will
!. Ing to pay $40 per month for I
teacher for the 'fall and white
term" but only $2Oor $25per montl
for q teacher for the "spring term,
as they call it, when the school at
tendance perhaps Ia lees, A cheape