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<br /> good scholars, and we commend them for cheerfully submitting to the first term, others drag along through the year, sometimes two
<br /> the verdict, and trying again, but to disarm those who so readily years, but only those, as a general rule, persevering to the end
<br /> attacked our board for their action; but we think we have shown who were best fitted to enter.
<br /> enough for our defence; and we shrink from exposing any further The committee indulge in no visionary schemes as to our High
<br /> these glaring deficiencies, lest they.bring discredit to our town, School. They do not expect for the present to make it in all
<br /> which now enjoys a reputation for good schools. respects equal to similar schools about us, or, even,properly speak-
<br /> These shortcomings of its pupils,,or graduates, can not justly ing, deserve the name of High School; but they do desire to have
<br /> reflect upon the High School, its course of study or its instruction. the work of the preparatory schools better done, and to have none
<br /> We have been obliged to modify the course laid down for that admitted to the High School who are not ready to enter at once
<br /> school, to meet these very deficiencies—insisting upon a thorough upon the course of study laid down there.
<br /> drill in arithmetic, grammar, reading and spelling, and thus, at The questions given for examination for admission to the High
<br /> the expense of the regular.High School studies, doing the work School for the past two years have been very generally seen by
<br /> there which should have been done in the grammar departments. parents. We do not expect for the present to make them more
<br /> Neither is it entirely the fault of the grammar schools—though difficult,,or extend over a wider range; but we do expect to have
<br /> we believe much more can be done there by a thorough classifica- seventy-five per cent. correctly answered. How near those who
<br /> tion. We trace the difficulty through all the grades to the parents were recently admitted came to this per cent., for their credit we
<br /> themselves. We do not now refer to the instruction which chil-, will not state; and if we were to mention how low the per tentage
<br /> dren should receive at home, but to the unaccountable desire of of those who were rejected was, we should not expect to be believed.
<br /> parents "to get their children along"--to the pressure brought to We think it plain to every one that a change is demanded, and the
<br /> bear upon teacher and committee to allow a scholar to go from a committee will endeavor to gradually accomplish, it. The cordial
<br /> lower class or school,'to a higher. The work of each year and f support of parents will greatly assist us in the work.
<br /> term, from the primary school up, should be thoroughly done, and We recommend that monthly written examinations,of the higher
<br /> in this way no scholar will be passed from one grade to another classes at least, be held in all the schools,—that the teachers
<br /> until he can grapple understandingly with the work of the higher examine the papers carefully, calling attention to errors in penman-
<br /> grade and the usefulness of no school will .be impaired by the ship, use of capital letters, punctuation, structure of sentences;and
<br /> necessity of doing the work of another. general appearance, as well as in the subject matter; that these
<br /> The argument that our High School is small, and should be papers be carefully ranked, and a record kept by the teacher, with
<br /> filled, is a poor one. We believe that one of the chief causes of the understanding that the`rank thrch the year is to be averaged
<br /> the small number of its scholars, is that too manyAiave been with the rank given to the papers in the examination for admission
<br /> admitted, a paradox easily understood by those familia with the to the High School. In this way the scholar's rank in his class in
<br /> workings of the school. Over three-fourths of the scholars who the Grammar School, will have as much weight as the result of his
<br /> enter that school fail to complete the course. The present first examination,in determining whether he shall be admitted to the
<br /> class consists of only two members; and all our graduating classes High School.
<br /> have been lamentably small. Scholars are wonderfully eager to During the year we shall attempt a more thorough classification
<br /> 11 get in," but they have generally found it much more difficult to in all the schools, and arrange a scheme of work for the whole
<br /> stay in. Not thoroughly grounded in the fundamental branches, school course—beginning with the lowest grade.
<br /> without good habits of thought or study, they find it no easy task
<br /> to overcome the difficulties which the High School work presents, a
<br /> and so fall behind, lose all ambition and drop out; some even in
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