The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1931-10-15

manner, and to digest 1t thoroughly 1t also
accustoms the students to methods of self
study and stimulates their initiative. For nearly
two hours after each class, the groups read aloud
from the assignment made, and discuss the sub
ject exchanging experiences from their own
lives to illustrate the points made. Should any
question come up in the groups which the stud
ents are unable to solve, or a disagreement
arises, the comrade in charge of the school, who
is always present, is called in to settle the diff
ficulty This comrade also goes from group to
group, stimulating discussion, guiding the
study, and at the same time, getting personally
acquainted with all the students individually
The method of teaching which all the instruc-
tors use, is the question and discussion method,
linking up the lesson as closely as possible with
the lives and struggles of the students them
selves, and drawing them into taking part in the
class. The method of giving lengthy lecture
and having a formal discussion afterward is
absolutely out of the question. We can best
make the students understand trade union
strategy, the role of the Party, and the cap
italist system of exploitation, if we base their
study on their own experiences, and if we can
make the students contribute as much to the
class the teacher does. Thus the two-hour
class is general discussion of concrete nature,
guided by the instructor to cover certain sub
jects and to avoid an abstract handling of the
subject-matter.
The Students Run The School
Another important factor in the school Is the
system of self government by the students
students council of seven is the guiding body,
and submits its recommendations to the general
assembly of all the students which is held tW-
ice week. Here also the method Of teaching
the subject-matter of the courses and other
questions of an academic nature are also dis
cussed. number of student committees take
Of the student needs The students run
the school themselves. This has had a very
healthy effect on the school, 1t stimulated in
the students a spirit of self discipline and res
possibility toward the school, 1t eliminated the
need of discipline from above
Reading And Literature
The lack of simple elementary literature on
any of the three subjects given, is tremendous
handicap. The literature available is too diff
ficult for elementary study
In connection with giving assignments for
practical activity, we must remember that the
students come for limited period Of time
Therefore it should be bound rule that
assignments should be given only from the point
Of view of the education the student gets The
tendency Of using the students as pinch-hitters
In emergencies in the District work. must be
rigidly curbed
The students must be Systematically stimuli
ated to read. Therefore provision must be made
at home and in the school curriculum, for OPP
portunty for individual reading. We must be
careful not to overtax the students. They must
be Ia position to digest what they study and
what they are taught
Written assignments are important because
they train the students to express their thoughts
in an organized manner, and develops habits
and methods Of self-study.
Selection Of Students Decisive
One of the important lessons, however, to be
drawn from this school, IS on the method of
choosing the students Due to circumstances
prevailing in the District at the time the school
was organized, the preparations we're insuffi-
Gent and the method of choosing the students
was faS from satisfactory. The day before school
opened, the students we're still being selected.
The candidates should be chosen from among