A graduating system for country schools

Front matter

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Preface

Many excellent books have been written in the interests of popular education, and the author of this book has no desire to push aside any of them, but an earnest aim to fill a space occupied by none of them. A glance at the plan and scope of this work may, perhaps, give the reader a glimpse of some prominent points in which it dilfers from all other educational works.

The common branches are taken as a course of study, and all the plans and appliances of higher schools — annual examinations of graduaMng classes, granting diplomas, forming alumni associations, and publishing catalogues — are applied to country schools. This is simply the application of an old plan to a new purpose.

The common branches are considered as the tools of thought, and the teacher is encouraged to give his pupils constant practice in the use of these tools. He is encouraged to take the lead in the establishment of libraries, and in the circulation of newspapers and educational journals. He is encouraged to widen his work, and to elevate the school by giving the people outside of the school-room an intellectual uplift.

The school is considered a joint company, in which the tax-payers are stockholders; and it is maintained that the most sensible method of promoting economy in school expenses is to insist on constant progress in the qualification

IV PREFACE.

and skill of teachers and superintendents, and to pa}^ them in proportion to their preparation and skill.

The pupil's health is reckoned an element of supreme importance, alike essential to success in the school -room and in the business of later life; and the teacher is urged to secure, as far as possible, the healthfulness of the pupil's home, as well as the healthfulness of the school-room.

Motives are esteemed more valuable than methods, education is made pleasurable rather than painful, and it is clearly intimated that the teacher who uses the rod as an incentive to study is on the wrong track.

Woman's superior culture, and the refining influences of ornamentation and music, are regarded as elements of inestimable worth in the educational Work.

The Bible is accepted as the only standard of morals, and the fact that it is recognized as the seal of the citizen's oath before the court, is, of itself, considered sufficient reason why its sacredness should be impressed upon the child in the school.

The subject of industrial education is introduced, and the teacher is urged to inspire his pupils with a love for the several callings which they are likely to pursue in later life.

The schools of the United States and the schools of Europe are carefully compared, and the light in which both are viewed by leading Asiatic nations is considered. .

It is maintained that a uniform system of money, weights, and measures for all nations should be adopted, in order to lessen the labor of school life in all lands, and to bring the business of the whole world into harmony.

Illustrations and diagrams are used in this work wherever they are necessary to make the matter plain.

The author has, all through the work, introduced the testimony of living educators to prove the positions he has taken. In four of the chapters of this book, he has been directly aided by educators especially able in the subjects they have considered ; and although due credit in each case is given, he may be permitted, here, to acknowledge his indebtedness

PREFACE. V

to Rev. J. R. Thompson, president of West Virginia University ; Prof. D. T. Ames, editor " Penman's Art Journal," New York; and lion. E. A. AjDgar, late United States Commissioner of Education to Europe.

Outside of the author's own work, this book is an embodiment of the best and freshest educational thought of the broadest and foremost educational thinkers, — thought that is alike valuable to teachers and people. This book, therefore, hopes to find a welcome in the famil}^ library as well as upon the desk of the superintendent and teacher.

Without any expectation that it will rise above criticism, but in the hope that it may carry sunshine into country school-houses and country homes, this book is submitted to the public by

The Author.

MORGANTOWN, WeST VIRGINIA,

November 22, 1880.

COISTTEITTS.

PAGE

INTRODUCTION xiii

LECTURE I.

Needs op our Country Schools, and Aims of tub Graduating Systeji 1

LECTURE IL The Graduating System for Country Schools defined,

AND THE Mode of its Application considered , 9

LECTURE III.

The Graduating System for Country Schools defined, AND the Mode of its Application considered (concluded) 23

LECTURE IV.

Origin of the Graduating System for Country

Schools 43

LECTURE V.

Trials and Triumphs of the Graduating System . 59

LECTURE VL Growth of the Graduating System, and Official

Testimony op those who have tried it . , , 84

LECTURE VIL Editorial Reviews of the Graduating System in-

LEADING Educational Journals Ill

VUl CONTENTS.

LECTURE VIII.

What leading Educators say of the Graduating

System 121

LECTURE IX.

The Graduating System suited to the Primary

Schools op Cities and Towns 131

LECTURE X.

The Graduating System considered and commended

BY the National Educational Association . . 135

LECTURE XL Objections to the Graduating System considered

AND answered 138

LECTURE XIL Country School-houses. — Need of a National Architect 144

LECTURE XIIL Furnishments op the School-room 157

LECTURE XIV.

Ornamentation of the School-room 161

LECTURE XV.

School-grounds and Shade-trees 165

LECTURE XVL Music in Country Schools . 182

LECTURE XVIL The Dictionary in the School-room 199

CONTENTS. IX

LECTURE XVIII.

How TO HAVE A LiBRAKY IN EVERY SCHOOL-ROOM . . 220

LECTURE XIX.

Newspapers in the School-room and Family . • • 231

LECTURE XX.

Teacher's Salary, Library, and Educational Journals, 242

LECTURE XXL Teachers' Training-scAools and Institutes . , . 254

LECTURE XXII.

Teachers' Examinations and Course of Study . . 272

LECTURE XXIII.

Teacher's Salary, and Tenure of Office . . . 280

LECTURE XXIV.

Free Text-books in Free Schools 291

LECTURE XXV.

Methods for securing Attendance ... . 296

LECTURE XXVL First Lessons in the Common Branches . . . . 313

LECTURE XXVIL Hints upon teaching Writing 335

LECTURE XXVIII.

Hints upon teaching Map-drawing . • • • • 355

LECTURE XXIX.

Hints upon teaching Letter-writing and Bookkeeping 306

X CONTENTS.

LECTURE XXX.

Hints upon grading Country Schools .... 385

LECTURE XXXL School Government, Manners, and Morals . . . 395

LECTURE XXXIL Industrial Education in Country Schools . . . 404

LECTURE XXXIII.

Necessity for School Supervision 408

LECTURE XXXIV.

Women as Teachers and School Officers . . .411

LECTURE XXXV.

A Glance at Education Abroad 421

LECTURE XXXVI.

Uniform Money, Weights, and Measures for the

World 431

PAGE

Common School Diploma ....... 37

Card Notice of Annual Examinations .... 56

Form of Teacher's Report for Annual Catalogue . 66

Card Notice of AlUxMNi Meetings 71

Card Notice of Superintendent's Visits ... 78

The Capitol at Washington 167

Normal Schools in the United States . . . 256

Teachers' Training Schools in Germany . . . 265

Monthly Pay op Teachers in the several States . 288, 289

Diploma of Honor 301

County School Banner 304

Average Attendance in the several States . . 310,311

Time Globe 328

Positions at the Writing Table .... 341,342,343

Pen-holding 343

Monogram of Small Letters . 348

Monograms of Capital Letters . . . ... 348

The Seven Principles used in Writing . . . 350

Diagram of North America ^ 357

Envelopes . 369,370

Models of Heading 373

Xll LIST OF ILLUSTIIATIOXS, ETC.

Models op Introduction 375, 376, 377

Models of Conclusion 379,380

Number of Teachers inirLOVED and Salaries paid in

the several states 412,413

Metric Table 438

Progress of Metric System in Various Countries . 441