Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1913-03-28

Was Impressed bv System Foster
ed by Professor Kennedy, Broth
er of the Hon. C. B. Kennedy of
Our City.
In a recent number of "School Edu-
cation" a magazine published in
Minneapolis, one of the leading edi-
torial articles is devoted to the Ba-
tavia system Of individual instruction.
The writer, Mrs e. X. Jaques, who
is the associate editor, visited Batavia
schools last October and tells the re-
suits of the system as she observed
them. Her article which is highly
complimentary both to the system and
its founder. Professor John Kennedy,
gives briefly the story of individual
instruction from the time it originat-
Below are extracts from the article:
One November evening, in 1898,
John Kennedy. superintendent Of the
City schools in Batavia, N. Y, pre-
sented to the Board of Education of
that city the principles of individual
instruction now known as the Bata-
via System. So strange and unprece-
dented were the suggestions present.
ed to the board by Superintendent
Kennedy at this time that they SEEM
ed not only a revelation but a revolu-
tion.
ITS INCEPTION.
''The occasion that precipated these
ideas was an over crowded room in
one Of the buildings. The method of
overcoming such obstacles had been
in the past to divide the room and
provide anothe" teacher. Another
room was not available and the con-
viction came to Superintendent t
Kennedy that another room was not
necessary. For many years he had
studied the problems Of education
He had observed the evils of class
instruction, he, had seen teachers
break down under the strain of try
ing to keep the backward pupils
spurred up so that they might not
impede the progress of the whole
class He had seen the backward oues
made sullen and discouraged by class
instruction methods not adapted to
their needs. To overcome these diff
culties and to supply a remedy for
these evils Supt. Kennedy urged a
second teacher for the room, whose
duty should be to bring the backward
pupils forward. Although 1t was an
experiment without precedent the
board, without hesitation, unani-
mously passed a resolution providing
that a teacher should be engaged for
individual Instruction" From such
a small beginning we have system
that is known far and near.
THE SYSTEM.
This system includes the two teach
er phase and the one teacher phase.
"In rooms containing more than tif-
ty children there are two teachers,
one giving class instruction continu-
ously to classes reciting alternately,
and the other teacher giving indivi-
dual attention all the time to slow
and backward children. In rooms
containing less than fifty children
there is but one teacher, this teacher
giving half her periods of time to the
needs of individuals This phase of
the plan permits it's extension and
use under all conditions. 1t has fur
i,I, = Ja fnr r,rnh1c, N,
OF individlalling the high school. A
general individual teacher is in the
high school; and in addition to that
each teacher there gives half Of his or
her periods to individualing. This
gives briefly the plan of the system.
SOMEOF THE RESULTS.
Many and varied are the results
springiDg from the use of this plan:
"Over train resulting in Ereak-
down of both teacher and pupil is
eliminated; worry has practically dis.
appeared. All are calm, com passed
and vigorous.
"Order and discipline are improved
and are such as nourish the growth or
character.
"The sanitation is conducive to the
recovery of impaired health.
High aims through interested oc
cupation promote character.
Pupils advance rapidly. The indi
vidual teaching moves the grades
There is no retardation: no necessity
for skipping grades in order to ad
vance A pupil is allowed to gain &
grade at any time where it is to hi:
advantage to do so. The gamer of ;
grade needs attention. Individual
=. ing is for any and all pupils. Th'
gamer of grade is not skipping ;
grade. His work is full and complete
through individual teaching. In
dividualling is not for pupils of ques
tionable capacity. AS soon as an!
pupil in. any grade shows by his worl
that he can do more advanced worl
he is given tile chance.
zone conspicuous result of indivi
dual teaching is that is has enabled