The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1912-09-20
OBSERVATIONS.

q. e. & " U IS
The opening Of the schools for
another years work is an important
AGRA in the lives of the children, which
most Of them do not realize. have
much / would like to say about it, and
about our schools in general; but the
following from the Springfield (Mass.)
Republican fits the present case; there
has been through the country for some
time loud outcry from the older
people against one of the evils Of the
graded system; and our best educa-.
tors have seen that some way must be
devised to meet the need. ~
OF special interest during the com
ing year will be the advanced system
Of promotion by subject which was put
into operation in the ,Ferest-park
school last winter, and which will be
continued throughout the present
school year. This system, which in
its operation here has thus far proved
very successful, is intended to supple
ment the old system Of promotion by
grades that has long been followed in
the schools of this and other cities.
DR.. James H. Van Sickle, superintend-.
emit of schools has keen interest in
working out solution of the problem
Of what the schools ought to do for
the precocious child. Throughout the
country in recent years special schools
and special classes have been organ
Szed for the purpose of helping child
rem who are mentally or physically de-
ficient. Children of more than aver
age ability. however, have been given
no chance to strike a pace in accord
ance with their powers. They have
had no opportunity to forge ahead, but
they have had to slow their pace toll
keep step with others who were fol-
lowing the grade system that had
been in operation for years. Under
the grade system pupils were guided
in classes through courses Of work, to
be promoted according to general ef-
ficiency. Its great problem has con-
cerned what was to be done with the
individual who had failed in only one
or two subjects. There is 4 waste in
an educational system which requires
pupil to repeat subjects successfully
mastered, in order to repeat subjects
that the pupil has failed TO grasp. The
new plan is to have the pupil repeat
deficient subjects and 90 forward in
the subjects in which he has done ef-
ficient work. The institution of such
q system means high speed work for
the teaching corps, but it Is worth
while in what it accomplishes for the
pupil, stimulating his interest and
keeping him keenyy alive to the school
work in which he is continually ad-
vancing. II the new system did MOTH
ing more than eliminate the dull hours
that many pupils are required to put
in on subjects already mastered. it
would accomplish much. More harm
than good is done in a classroom in
which the teacher. his own interest
dulled. drags pupils through weari-
some hour and fails to give a spice of
interest to the subject under consider
alton.
While provisions are being made to
enable pupils of marked ability to push
forward without hindrance, care is
also being taken to help children who
are handicapped by poor physical con-
dition, or who are not naturally quick
at their books. Frequently inertness
in child 10 due to weak body which
has had poor nutrition or has been
growing 90 rapidly 20 to cnervate the
child. We have passed beyond the
days when all faith was placed in the
virtue of birch rod to stimulate the
dull mind. Throughout this FIRST weei,
of the opening Of school, special ply
sicans have been at work studying the
conditions of the children and sorting
out certain ones whose physical con.
dition makes il inadvisablc to have
them attempt the pace Of work thai
] the average child will take. The Spring