Putnam patriot., 1919-11-28
THOMPSON SCHOOL CONDITIONS
 DEPLORED BY STATE BOARD
Supervision of Scholars Work Called Ineffective and Neg ligable. - Schools Running
 Under Momentum of Custom

entirely overlooked by the superin- tendent. In view of the fact that it is new one and introduces many radi- cal changes this neglect to train teach CTS in its use is serious matter.
 Good management demands ire ouent conferences with teachers both in groups and individually. At the present time after some eight weeks of school but one teachers meeting has been held and only in few cases have the visitations to the schools been more than calls to leave supplies or check up routine. Observation of the schools shows:
 That in beginning reading there is much waste of time in the use of the new method.
 That no provision has been made to provide educative seat occupation for pupils in the primary grades in place of the subject matter stricken from the former course of study. With no arithmetic for the first term, with less reading to cover, with no geography and history in the first year, and no provision for substitute in the new course of study, many teachers find themselves at loss to profitably oc- cupy the children.
 Il Observation shows that the lack of uniformity in school timetables has
 resulted in waste and confusion. In . several schools no timetable at all was found and in those where used there seemed to be the greatest vari. ' ety as to order of subjects and pei centage of time devoted to each oi . them. In place of lesson plans teach , CTS have been requested to keep wha'
 is known as the lesson record; namely
 notes on what has been taught. Thes.
 are supposed to be made up at thu close of the day. Unfortunately onl, two or three teachers out of the hf teen visited were keeping even thu form. In but few cases are teachers making any plans for their daily les sons. The evidence of this lack oi preparation was very cclear, partieu larly with the beginning, teachers oi which there are six in the district
 schools.
 The instruction in special subjects
 is very irregular and IS not under th' direction of the superintendent. Int visits of special teachers are not al
 ways according to schedule, the al
 reetions left by them seldom definite Neither of these special instructor : has met with the teachers as a group l At this writing the supervision O l Thompson schools has been ineffective
 and a negligible factor in their diree l ton and advancement. The teachcin, . force is disorganized, the schools arr s running under the momentum of GUS , tom, each according to it's own stand
 ard. They are headed toward condi t tions that will ultimately cause seri i, ous breakdown in Ntheir efficiency : These conditions are due:
 s 1. To system of dual manage P ment which cannot be commended
 The union of superintendent and pr'n : cipal in one office is never satisfac t tory policy. With the present higl 7 school organized for the junior de
 partment there is sufficient work t
 occupy the entire time of a principal
 ?. To the lack of management am , supervision in the elementary school as shown in the brief visits, infrequen
 teachers meetings, neglect for teach . CT training. The result of these con
 ditions will be to give Thompson . merely collection of district schools not a school system.
 In view of facts as stated above, su c peryision of Thompson schools canno | be approved at this time.
 f Respectfully submitted, f Signed. w. S. DAKIN.