The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1912-08-30
New Departments in Public Schools.

New Departments in Public Schools.
To the Public:
A number of changes having been
made in the course of study and school
system for both the grades and high
school, it may serve to clarity the new
situation and assist parents in deter
mining certain lines of work to be fol
lowed by their children if some explain
ton is offered thru the medium of the
local papers.
A big problem in the educational sit
uation in the grades of our public school
system is to provide, first-a condition
for that child who is capable of advanc
ing more rapidly than the pupils Of his
grade, that he may be allowed to pro-
gress as rapidly as his ability warrants;
second-to do justice to that boy or girl
who is weak in some one or two
branches only and in consequence is re-
tarded by being held back as tho he
was weak in all branches. If such
pupil is allowed to continue with his
class he becomes drag upon his class,
if denoted, his ambition is destroyed
and the class of which he becomes
member hampers the individuals prog
reSS.
In virtue of this condition the board
of education determined upon the es-
Enlistment of a department which is
today universally regarded as the ped
agogically scientific thing to establish,
known as the "ungraded department. "
1t should be clearly understood that
this department is not for pupils hav-
ing sub-normal power. 1t will be es-
tabIished primarily to provide special
help for three classes Of children: First
those exceptionally apt in acquiring
knowledge and who do not have enough
to do in their regular work; second
those who are studious but find some
one subject especially difficult; third
those who for any reason are behind
their grade and have the ability to
catch up if given little help.
The second change instituted by the
board of education is a course in man
ual training. 1t has become fact
which needs no argument that present
day education is weak in that it does
not educate to meet the problem of life.
Our big problem is to unite labor and
learning. Over 90 per cent of the boys
leave school before the completion Of
the eighth grade to earn their living
with their hands. Very little is done
to fit these boys for the occupation
which they are to enter. Manual train
ing is the connecting link between the
world of learning and of labor. The
tendency of this work is toward indus
trial training.
The work will begin in the fifth grade
where boys begin to drop from school
and continue thru two years of the
high school course. 1t has been DEM
onstrated that manual training invar
iably serves to hold boys in school,
makes them like and prolong their stay
in the institution. While it is not pos
sible to teach trade in the local
school, yet principles underlying all
trades can be taught and the boy who
leaves school to earn his living with his
hands will have better idea of his
work The manual training which we
will teach will give the boy some indus
trial intelligence so that when he be-
comes a laborer he will not become a
human machine but will retain his
human element which will enable him
to master the machine he directs.
One great aim of the school today is
to make the pupil feel that it is no dis
grace to work with his hands. There
are many failures today in business,
law, medicine, who would be successful
mechanics if they could appreciate
equal dignity in the two lines of work;
Parents of pupils entering high school
are invited to confer with the principal
concerning the nature of the work.
The course in manuel training will be
in charge of graduate of one OF the
finest equipped manual training schools
now operating and is to be conducted
in no half-hearted manner.
F. O. HOLT, Prin.