Smyrna times., 1917-07-18


uted table of ratings will show how |
many schools of each rating there are, |
as so whose rating is 100 credits. 40 |
whose rating is 120 credits, and so
on for the 500 or more schools of the
state. By study of this distributive
table, and by comparison of the rat
ing of each particular school with the
tabular list, every community can see
just how its own school ranks, whether
high or low, whether there are many
others as high or as low, and from the
study realize that the school in that
community occupies a place and is in
a group, which is cause for pride or
just and proper reason for shame.
Such a comparative standing should
be brought hCme to each community
for its school house and equipment.
School betterment would get its
healthiest impulse and impetus from
such comparison.
Valuable to Teachers and Commission
The scoring up the points or items
of credit would be most valuable les
son to the teacher and the Commits.
sioners. The inexperienced young
teacher and the inexperienced Com
missioner would get the best lesson
they have ever had on the right con-
ditions and circumstances for a mod
ern school. The marking up of the
credits would give kno Wedge of
proper requirements, would act as
suggester of betterments that are de-
sirable and possible, and would also
awaken a sense of responsibility to
secure possible betterments that are
desirable and possible, the stim-
ulation of the sense of duty and obli-
cation, of moral responsibility to
get the best procurable for the chill
dren, is the surest dependence, as mo-
tive force, to work steadily and un-
haggingly for better conditions. If
for no other reasons, the Department
of Superintendent should next year,
therefore, require from each teacher,
as part of Annual Report, a scoring
up of her school and room on this
standard scale. The report tabulated
would make such a survey of ''hous-
: ing conditions" of the state as nc
state as yet had the means to gather.
One of the results that wonld surely
follow would be the preparation anC
publication by the State Board O1
Education, of suitable plans ant
drawings for school buildings ant
ground adapted to supply the needs O
its communities, whether the needs b,
a three-roomed one-tescher school o.
a ten-roomed town building.
The Proper Diagnosis in the Case
If proper diagnosis is the first ste
y FOR the physician when called to visi
L a patient, then this scoring up o
school premises and properties accord
ing to the adopted standard, to fin
e that environmental ''pulse" an
Temperature which make up tn
: sound working condition for the schoC
u child, should be taken without fail a
ID the indispensable first step towar
> the thorough planning of wise recon
T. structjon of the system. Thus
i would be learned beyond any doubt
and beyond the possibility of argu
ment or controversy, which localitie
have school properties that are nc
worth repairing or improving, an
IN which properties and localities shoul
at once be helped by making thel
q part of an ultimate Consolidatio
NJ Plan. The old building should b
4. abandoned and temporary provision
70 for the pupils should be made at tt
lv point or place which is to become tt
90 future Consolidation centre. "StanC
~ ardization" as the necessary first ste
~ in such far-sighted formative pr'
Al gram will vindicate itself as the pc
n fectinn of council, and as the acn
A. of professional foresightedness and {
M educational craftsmanship. Thus wi
r. other new laws also justify then
a. selves. A. WAGNER, Con
g missioner of Education.