Newark post., 1910-05-11

inspection OF the grades is made bv
the Principal, who frequently teaches
classes in the lower grades himself.
Among the subjects which receive
special stress in the upper grades are
arithmetic and English composition
he importance OF these two subjects
IN practical affairs is SO great that
every effort is now beng made to
drill every pupil thoroughly in these
branches to the end that he may be
able after he leaves school to write a
good letter, or explain a subject clear
y, or tell story effectively, and also
to work at problems in arithmetic
which come up daily in business al
fairs. In arithmetic the school does
now, in the eighth grade what was
done in the Senior year-Ioth grade
IN 1904. English composition is re-
qured up to the very end OF the high
school course.
Another advance in the efficiency of
the schools, which will be appreciated
by men OF affairs, is represented bv
plan which the Principal has submitted
to the Board OF Education by which
two courses are open to high school
pupils, both leading to graduation. The
regular course is the same as the one
already outlined and now in force. The
optional course is the same as the re-
gular, except that it does not require
Latin and substitutes bookkeeping,
commercial arithmetic, commercial
geography and commercial law II this
optional course is adopted it can be
put into full effect next year.
Two things which seem To me par
ticularly worthy of mention are the
bi-weekly teachers meetings and the
Friday afternoon talk by the Principa,
and others. BY means OF these fire.
quent teachers meetings the work of
the three schools, the primary school.
the grammar school, and the high
school. is closely correlated Teachers
talk over special difficulties, discuss
methods OF treating certain subjects,
or OF dealing with troublesome pupils
and the Principal has an opportunity
here to explain to all OF the teachers
his ideas about the work OF the grades,
the best methods to be used in teach
ing. and also to talk to them on mat
tiers OF general interest. On Friday
afternoons, the high school pupils as
semble to listen to an address BY the
Principal or by an outsider on some
subject not definitely connected with
the prescribed work of the school. In
this way pupils obtain general infor-
nation or ideas which will make them
better citizens of the town, State and
Nation. Some of the practical talks
this year were-Town Government,
County Government, State Govern
ment, the Delaware School System.
Taxation System, Consular and Dip
lomatic Corps. Two such addresses
a month have been given to the high
school pupils for the last six years.
Another praiseworthy feature OF our
schools is the inspection OF pupils for
defective sight or hearing which has
been conducted during the last two
years. In IooS-o the pupils were e.:
amined for visional defects; in 1900 10
the pupils in the first five grades were
examined for vision and hearing de-
iects and endeavors were made to have
these defects corrected Ii am not
misiniorined. the Newark schools are
the only schools in the State, outside
OF Wilmington which have had this
.MsyeeSdical ,ssyeSd lnspcctioneda- feature which is
,ose ,sS2. -rnstlch ~ u. ne lie .,cst schools
lilIouSHout tilc NoulIllN
Let us now turn our attention to
such matters as attendance. discipline,
and report As everybody who has
been even remotely connected with
public school work knows, the success
OF a teacher depends primarily on the
discipline which he or she is able to
mali tain in the classroom. Regulat-
ing the behaviour OF even small class
IS no easy matter; the adequate cor
troll OF over 400 pupils requires the
most conscientious, level-headed work
on the part of the Principal and his
assistants. ~otunately, in our schools.
the teachers have quite generally the
support of parents, and their labor is
reduced by one-half. There have been
no serious cases OF discipline during
the present year II pupils behav
iour is unsatisfactory. it is reported to
the Principal. who either writes or
sends printed form to the parent. In
this way, parents are informed about
the conduct of their children. and their
corporation is asked for The aver
age attendance at our schools for the
last year was 80 per. cent. OF the en-
rollment. This is an excellent show
ing. Daily at go a. m. a list OF pupils
absent or late is sent in to the Prin-
cipa:. II the cause of absence or tar
diness is known, it is stated by the
teacher: is unknown. it is investigated.
Notice is then sent to the parent Ex-
cuses are required for every case OF
absence or tardiness. For five months
in the year an attendance officer is en-
ployed. Reports are sent out ire
quentlv. In the first and second grades
thev are issued at the end of each
term: in the other grades. they are sent
| monthly. Every report comes to the