Evening star., 1927-04-03
YOUR CHILD
In SCHOOL
BY DR.. Frank ". Ballou,
Superintendent of Schools. Washington,
d. G..
HOME STUDY OR SUPERVISED
STUDY. OR BOTH?

There was time when the class
room was viewed almost entirely as a
place for recitation of lessons studied
at home. At the close of each school
recitation the teacher would assign
certain matter for home study, and
the pupils would turn Immediately to
the next recitation.
Discussion OF the merits OF this plan
or that OF combining all study, an well
as recitation, to the school involves
many factors, with much to be said
for and against both methods. There
Is a definite trend away from the
older idea Of home study, and. viewed
largely, there are some excellent rea-
sons for supporting such trend.
In some school systems pupils OF
the public schools do not take their
books from their school buildings. Su-
pervised study in school time is the
rule. Elsewhere one finds modified
program Of supervised study, in which
only a limited amount Of preparation
is made outside OF school hours. Since
one plan or the other, or a modifica.
ton Of either, is followed in various
communities. 1t is well to say at the
outset that this discussion Is intended
to be suggestive, and a review of
some Of the factors involved, and is
not to be construed as adverse criti-
cism.
It is obvious to the thoughtful OBJ
server that the trend Of modern life
is factor which enters very vitality
into this problem. When the home
was q place with fewer distractions
than at the present day, home study
could be carried on with much more
benefit to the child than now. when
the movies beckon and radio enter
tainment is apt to break in upon that
quiet which IL necessary to proper
study.
The success Of home study depends
also upon the degree OF parental
discipline exercised toward the child.
II discipline is lax. home study is likely
to be pretty much Of a failure; IL It
is firm and Systematic, lessons prob.
ably will be perused with much profit.
In large cities especially home study
is made difiicult, not only from the
various distractions Of life in great
city, but also by reason of the fact
that in many instances both parents
are employed. Under those circum-
stances school children are not likely
to receive much supervision In their
home study. In fact, home study Is
likely to be somewhat sporadic and un-
organized. Ideal home conditions pro.
vide the best likelihood for successful
home study.
Partly because Of the absence OF
those conditions in the home which
are essential to the highest quality of
home study, the school has been reor-
ganized gradually to provide for the
proper supervision of the study Of chill
dren. The school recognizes that
study is essential to the mastery OF
terry and assimilation will depend ma
terially upon ones capacity to study
properly. Since in school supervised
study is carried on under the super
vision Of a trained teacher, 1t will
have the obvious advantage OF being
more orderly than that study which
is left to the pupil in his home.
Nevertheless, some home study is a
necessity IL school work Is to be done
ceive the desired training from the
school. When one leaves school he
should be qualified to continue his
reading and study Independently. 1t
Is the business of the school to incul.
cate, as far as possible, that ambition
for further study; 1t Is equally impor-
tant that the school should have
trained it's graduates to pursue eff.
ciently, Independently and without
supervision the study of those mat.
ters which come within the scope of
every ones life.
Supervised study in school does not
take the place of home study; rather
it makes proper preparation for it. In
the beginning of a childs education In
school no home study can be expected.
As the child advances through the ele-
mentary schools 1t becomes increasing.
ly possible for him to do home work.
Likewise 1t becomes increasingly de-
sirable that he should begin thus early
his training in more or less independ-
ss tcopyraghs. 1s77.l