The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-01-27
UNIFORM GRADED COURSE
FOR VIRGINIA RURAL SCHOOLS
Address on This Important Sub
ject by Superintendent Joyncs,
OF Accomac.
WILL HOLD THE SCHOLARS
Practical Educator Thinks the
Plan Would Prevent the Drop
ping Out OF Pupils.

One OF the most practical addresses at
the recent educational meeting In Rich
mond was that Of Mr. G.. g. Joynes, SUI
perintendent Of schools for Accomac
county. on "a Uniform Graded Course
OF study for Rural Schools" He said:
Mr.. President: Any business OF i'm
portance is n success or q failure just
in so far as it is systematized This is
true Of all school work rs we'll There
should be no break in our school work
between the rural primary schools and
our universities and colleges.
There viii always exist vanishing,
points, points where large numbers OF
children leave schools not TO return
These points should be reduced to the
minimum. In Il strong and properly
graded system there should be but two
such points: first. at close of grammar
school work; second. at close Of the high
school work.
claim that a uniform graded course
Of study will do more than anything else
TO hold the pupils In our schools. and
round them out at these vanishing
points, in lieu OF having them drop out
year after year, with only smattering
of the benefits to be had from either
the grammar or the high school work.
with this end In view we undertook.
three years ago, system OF uniform
graded work for all the schools in Acco-
mac, in schools of one, two three, four,
and up to eight, teachers. The outcome
of this effort Is no guesswork, no
longer an experiment but fact. We
nre entering upon our third year since
the Introduction OF our uniform graded
course into all the county schools. and
] beg 10 submit TO this conference of
educators, the testimony of some as
good teachers as are connected with the
rural school work OF this State. or any
other state. They have handled the
uniform graded course. and here Is what
they have to say about 1t:
W. G. Emmett. principal, three teach
ers, says: II .egard the uniform graded
course for rira! schools very impor-
tant step in systematizing the great
work OF education In our Commonwealth.
IT IL a great incentive to every boy or
girl 10 excei-the order of promotion 1t
adds system to individual effort. ! note
with qualification the marked progress
in our school work since my coming TO
Accomac five years ago. can suggest
no improvement
w. 4. p. Strang, principal, three teach
ers. says: The uniform graded course
OF study has been OF great value TO me,
enabling ME 20 secure system through
out my school 1t has also furnished an
incentive TO the children, placing before
them goal for which they strive. 1t
has occurred greater interest By parents,
and therefore. better attendance. In
short 1t has been highly beneficial to
the work, not only in my school. but
also wherever have observed 1t In use"
j. NJ. Shue, graduate Richmond Col
lege. principal. four teachers. says: The
uniform graded course has been OF spe-
cial benefit to me during the present
wear know of no other system that
would have given equal satisfaction, l
see no reason why 1t should not be taken
mn by the State and carried out in every
fetlil.'
Carrie NJ. Johnson, first assistant, four
teachers, says: I have found the uni
form graded c6nrse helpful IN many
WAYS. Pupils coming from other schools
arc more easily iciasscd. The pupils are
stimulated to do better work, since they
know Mt the beginning OF the session
that they will be required to do GER
tain amount of work in one grade before
being promoted TO higher grade. can
say without hesitation that the course
has been great benefit 10 both pupils
and teacher"
Lillian fillmore. principal. wa teac,l-
ers. a Farrnville woman. says: AS prih-
cipal OF rural scnooi nave loullu tile
uniform graded course of tnestimable
value in tile following respects: 1t Eas
proven to be an incentive to better at
tendance and more thorough study on
tho part of the pupil. Pupils from other
schools holding a grade certificate from
the teacher are classed at ore, without
examination or loss of time. Aside from
tho benefit to the pupil, 1 have found
1t n time-saving~ device. in as much as
have fewer classes than formerly, and
Knowing what ground there Is to be
covered, 1t enables me to see Just what
work is expected of the pupils.
George q. Ish, principal graduate OF
Richmond College, five teachers says:
In nv Judgment the adoption OF the uni
form graded course for rural schools
marked a long step forward in the i'm
nrovement of our public schools. 1t has
brought order out OF confusion. II holds
ont to- the individual pupil the fact OF
nromotIon. for which he is Wiling 70
strive; hence. it has infused q vlgor into
the schools which nothing else, ! pc
l,eve could have done, and in every way
Il has increased the efficiency OF the
schools" !, -
Halle B. Higgins in charge II pri-