Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1922-10-25
THE NEW PROGRAM

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splendidly and at this time is causing
no more confusion nor concern than
was caused each year by the old pro-
gram There always was and always
will be some teachers who object to
and find fault with any program or
plan that requires organization, or
system. Such principle requires
them to do some thinking and some de-
finite labor. Such procedure is pain
full to some people in every walk of
life, and of course few such people
are scattered among teachers. The
new program has been given us for
our guidance-we are to cooperate to
the end that it shall have an honest
trial. The idea is not new. 1t is used
in the state of Illinois and in one west
ern state and has proven advantag-
eous. 1t is the schedule. Those who
are putting effort and thought into it
are already praising the new program.
TO GRADED SCHOOL PRINCIPALS
This letter is sent you to aid in or
ganizing your work for the year. 1t
should be kept on file, and it is ex-
pected that you and your assistants
will be found familiar with its con-
tents when your schoolis inspected.
LEADERSHIP:
Every state graded school is in
charge of the principal 1t is the prin-
cipal's business to have charge of the
entire school and to direct the work
of the assistant or assistants accord
ing to the graded course of study and
communications from this department.
This calls for tact and good manage
ment, but the desired results must be
secured. Every principal must con-
trive to find time to observe the work
in all departments of the school.
THE REGISTER:
This should be neatly kept in ink
and it should be footed each month.
Consult last years record and learn
which pupils need most to be encour-
aged to attend regularly. Proper at
tention to this early in the year will
be productive of good results. 1t is
not expected that pupils will be adj
mitted to school (unless there is a
kindergarten) if they have not reach
ed the age of at least five and one-half
years in September. There should be
no beginners class admitted in the
spring. At the end of the year all
who have been enrolled will be count
ed in the final report.
SCHOOL HOLIDAYS:
The following are legal holidays:
Labor day, if school begins the week
before, but otherwise not; Thanksgiv-
ing Day; Christmas Day; New Years
Day; Decoration Day. The day af-
ter Thanksgiving is not a holiday.
The school board has no right to give
nor should the teacher ask for any
other days except days of teachers
meetings and conventions. School
should be in session in the forenoon of
February %, and patriotic program
should be given in the afternoon.
VACATION:
At times when attendance is bad be-
cause of roads or illness it may be
found desirable to have a short vaca-
ton. Good leadership and coopera-
ton with the board may thus be made
to insure better attendance. By all
means, cooperate with the county
nurse in regard to epidemics of colds,
etc.
THE COURSE OF STUDY:
All state graded school teachers are
expected to follow the state graded
oughly. These should be found in the
state superintendent and ask for one.
Some notifications of the Course are
made for this year.
l Phonics should not be taught
earlier than the seventh and prefer
ably the ninth week of school. The
thought is to teach children to read
and when they can read, then teach
phonics as a tool to help them in their
reading. 1t is desired that phonics be
followed up strong in all grades, in
GLIDING the grammar grades.
2 Not more than one month should
be spent on that part of fourth grade
geography on page 81. At least four
teen weeks should be spent on pages
SO and 80. The work of the second
half year should treat the countries OF
North America after the manner of
the work of the first half year. In
stead of beginning on North America,
first study Wisconsin, then hte United
States, and finally the other North
American countries.
8 History is to be greatly modified
and attention is invited to these points.
The new outlines viii be followed in
stead of those printed in the course of
study for Graded Schools.
a. Sixth grade history is to be
extended this year I'd include America
exploration BY the European nations.
b Seventh grade history win be-
Gin with colonization (about 1900 and
include United States history to 1890
Eighth grade history viii be-
gin at 1880 and the whole year win be
spent on the history of the United
States, from 1880 to the present time.
Solid work with plenty of reference
reading will be expected in seventh
and eighth grade history. Outlines
for this work win be available.
1t is suggested that all graded school
teachers familiarize themselves with
the schedule of classes on page Is,
and that all graded schools use that
schedule to modify the daily program.
Attention is also called to the model
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