Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1914-11-11
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!. OUR SCHOOL PROBLEMS. J.
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Editor Keowee Courier: We feel
sure that many people will agree
with "Agitator" that we have puz-
Zling school problems. But it seems
to me that "Agitator' has struck too
high up in the majority Of cases. AS
| general thing, the supposition Is
| that the trouble begins in the lower
| grades. The foundation is too flimsy.
In the first place, there Is no uni
formity of capacity in any genera
ton of children. Therefore, it is un-
reasonable to expect hundreds and
| thousands Of children to begin at,
| say, six years OF age, the first grade,
| and move up a grade each year until
| they are about 5 years Of age. To
do this they would have to have no
| serious illness or other interruption.
| And, even then, all children cannot
| master a grade each year. 1t may
| not be lack OF capacity, but 1t Is we'll
| known that some children are
| quicker to learn than others. Chill
dren's minds cannot be forced to
move along in the same channel, re-
| gardless of individual talent or en-
| vironment.
education is not always indicated by
the rapidity with which one passes
| from lower to a higher grade.
| Thoroughness should be regarded of
| far more Importance than the recep-
| ton Of promotion cards.
| 1t may be considered as old fogy-
ism, but would 1t not be better, after
the child plays along through the
kindergarten age, to let him be
taught to spell, at least the words
| that he has learned to pronounce and
write? Seemingly photography is not
regarded Of vital Importance. We
hardly think that children of this
age are usually required to study the
various diacritical marks.
Would it not be better to master
the ordinary branches before at
tempting the higher grades? After
| reading, writing and spelling, then
arithmetic, geography, grammar, his
tory and simple hygiene should be
studied until the pupil has more than
| a smattering Of these fundamental
| branches. l imagine an inspection OF
the School Commissioners office, af-
ter an examination of teachers would
| prove to the average person that the
above branches have been very much
neglected. Even college graduates
do not always regard these branches
of much Importance.
So, "Agitator," | move that we
have a good, firm foundation laid for
the educational structure. After
that let the ornamental touches be
added. 1t is the opinion Of an Gig
noramus' that if a pupil cannot pass
an almost perfect examination in
these ordinary branches, he Is not
ready for the high school, 1t matters
not how many grades he has passed
through.
We hardly think the teachers
should receive too much condemna-
ton, for they have to run the gamut
Of criticism from various kinds OF
doting parents. Therefore the pu-
pills go through the process OF
squeezing from one grade to another.
Let us hope there will be a reac-
ton in the schools during the pres
ent shake-up. or all other branches
of business the practical side is to be
regarded of vastly more Importance
than the superficial.
To bring the school problems
nearer to perfection there must be
no friction between the teachers and
patrons. Let us try to remember
that the school is a stock company
tea hers and patrons are the stock
holders, each child share, and the
future dividends OF the company de-
pend largely on the handiwork of
the company at the present time.
In addition to text books, young
people should be taught that to be
equipped for lfe-work they must
have muscle, brains and character.
But there is poor market for mus
; Gle alone, except for the athlete;
brains without character often lead
to trouble; but a mind well trained,
combined with an honorable charac-
ter, generally leads to success.
Courtesy is also a good asset, even
= in this day of hurry aid chase after
the dollar.
Our young people should be made
, to understand that even if they have
been endowed by nature with a
strong mind and body, their influ-
ence is far greater by training and
, education. Onlooker.