The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-11-17
SCHOOL DAYS.


An interesting experiment is being
tried out in the Richmond public
schools. 1t has to do with hardness
and department. Hardness is pun
ished by long confinement after school
hours. Good department is attained
by reduction in the grade OF the
child. The experiment, for such it is,
seems on the face of it, to have good
results, although it is almost too soon
to tell what the final conclusion will
be.
The basis of the grade for the term
ending is 10 per cent. for scholarship
and % per cent. for department.
Thus it is that the student theoretical
ly must attain 70 per cent. to pass.
The plan looks well on paper-but how
will it work?
The question of hardness is one
which has long been troubling the To-
cal schools, the high school in partic-
ular. The plan seems to work ad-
mirably-for those students who do
come are there on time. But it is be-
ing vaguely whispered around the
town that many scholars who are in
danger of being late. stay away from
school and have their parents write
out an excuse. These excuses are for
the most part said to be perfunctory.
1t is we'll for the authorities to consid-
er the matter, for unless this feature is
eliminated, the scheme falls by it's own
weight, in as much as there are hours
of school time lost by the students as
opposed to minutes under the former
system.
In regard to the department system,
it is doubtful whether the docking of
students grade is all it should be.
Parents are accustomed to look at the
grades for what they should represent,
i. e., the actual scholarship of the stu
dent But in the insistence upon good
behavior the authorities are upon the
right track There has been entirely
too little stress laid on good deport-
ment. 1t would seem, however, that
the demerit system such as is in vogue
in not only West Point and Annapolis,
but in other schools, might well be en-
ployed. A certain number of demer-
student from further attendance in
classes. 1t does seem that the COUP
ling of scholarship and department is
not quite fair. Whether it is or not,
it is being said among students that
department has not improved and that
many who were formerly good in de-
pertinent have become stubborn. The
the hearsay type, so that it may be
fairly held not to prove anything ex-
cept the talk of children who dislike
the new rules because they are effect
i've.
The test must necessarily come at
the end of the term when it can be
seen in comparison with the former
records for corresponding periods,
whether or not there has been an in
crease in hardness and absences, or a
great lowering of grades and an in
crease in failures.
methods will succeed well. If they
do. it will improve the school system
much. The attempt, whether right or
wrong in its details. has a good object.
as these things are above all others
the principal evils in our schools
Most authorities incline to the belief
however, that the question of deport-
ment is one which is entirely per-
sonal equation between pupil and
teacher Some teachers have the fac
ulty of keeping order with little ap-
parent effort, while others of even
higher mental attachments. often
fail. That, it is safe to say, will re-
main a problem as long as there are
schools. Up to this time, as far as
any one knows, the only way to keep
order is to employ such teachers as
can and will keep order and then to
back them up.
TRADEMARKS.
tho rr,ra food Inv han a