The Greeley tribune., 1909-11-25
FACTS ON EDUCATION
BY WELD COMNilrIEE

Following Is statement oI cold
facts compiled by educatiOnal au-
thorities of Weld county who have
summed up local educational prob
lens and have offered solutions
therefor. The committee comprising
A. Il. Copeland. U. G. Gordon, l., II.
Bliss, Horace =. Brunelle and \. b.
Craig was appointed = year ago for
the purpose OF preparing = report
upon the teaching OF high school sub
jects in rural schools.
The report follows:
In the consideration of tn sub
ject we have endeavored to tax into
account all the important elements
that logically enter into 1t and to
give due weight to each. Our obser-
vations and inquiries have been con-
fined chiefly to Weld county, but We
saw no reason why we should 20 out
side for data to be used in determin-
ing the needs of Weld county regard
| ing this matter
Before submitting the details OF
our report, We wish to most earnest
/ ly assure our fellow workers that in
/ reaching our conclusions and lu Civ
/ ing expression to them, We hdgt not
the slightest desire to cast any re-
aections upon any teacher. or any
class of teachers; we only @esre to
give to this association the ylainest
kind of facts, based upon careful
inquiry and close observation ex-
tending over long period Of time
The motive of rural school boards
in providing high school Instruction
at the home school is always a most
worthy one. indicative OF IN enter
prising, progressive and LIBERAL spir-
1t, but the wisdom of such course
must be determined by other consid-
erations as well as good motives.
The elementary work OF the Ameri-
can public school, as the result OF
long experience. close observation
and the consequent natural evolu-
ton. has come to be divided into
eight grades, each based upon a
school year as the time unit and we
believe that in ordinary schools en-
ploying only one teacher. IL Is
practical impossibility to 10 thor
oughly good grade work if any of
the teachers time and en- ergy is
given to secondary or high school
teaching, and even If there are only
six or seven grades in such a school,
as frequently happens, 1t is an un-
wise use of time and energy to at
tempt anything outside of grade
work unless the classes are very
small
Schools In Which Higher
instruction May Be Placed
In schools employing tW, teach
ers, we believe the same Is usually
true as it is not often thar , second
. teacher is employed until the attend
, ance has grown so large and the
work so heavy that there plenty
OF work for the two If thev do strict
~ good work, and there 's never any
economy or advantage I'm ANYTHING
short of first-class work.
In schools employing threa mr. four
teachers, we believe that one lines
or nigh school work NAV ne profit
ably done providing lD no grade
classes are not too large and (2) not
100 much high school work is at
tempted Science work reouiring
aiy considerable amount or iabora-
TORY equipment should not be at
tempted outside Of high soh,ols hav-
ing such equipment and toachers
qnalihed to use il; but Win to,chors
who are thoroughly qualigs, nv ex-
perience or training. or hon and n
'udiciously selected rcfcrargr. ,ihr,rv
'esen though it be smallI a limited
amount of high school tis,orv or
Eheiish or mathematics or even of
foreign language NAV bo done In
schools employing three or four
.eachers' There is great danger
however, that such school will ot-
,.inpt 700 much, especially If the
principal teacher upon vbom most
oi thls work win deyolvr Is a person
g, good mental attalnmonts and ia
alnoltious to do advanced work. The
.hlns to be avoided win arcotest
,S tare Is the gripping of anv part of
Vhe work by trying to 40 100 much,
me school history of MA a. comnty
u M. IT. were fully recorded and care
,Iy examined. would in nmr onin-
''I r,rs, pso'e e9nclusiyely three things
r,g rlrst, n that the elementary WORK
mas been none too won Invo even
most favorable, as for instancs ,'nrs inc
most carefully graded town scbools
Second, that in most .V%h schools eGsoo1s em.
p,oylns sanSdtIsi one and two teacbers and
sometimes SON in those cmpIovinu three
ana four, the time and g'iy'nt a.tention r,o
l. -