The Grading of Schools; Including a Full Explanation of a Rational Plan of Grading (Paperback)

Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: Chapter II. EVOLUTION OF THE GKADED SCHOOL. The first step toward the graded school was made possible when the number of pupils increased so that several could recite together in certain branches. A second step still further simplified matters, by confining all to a definite course of study. This did away with much aimless teaching and study, saved a great amount of useless repetition and much time for both teacher and pupils. This method represents the best type of rural school at the present time. While it is a great advance over the primitive ungraded school, yet a lack of proper classification and of sufficient time to devote to the many classes prevents the progress which is desirable. An increase in the number of pupils makes possible a better classification; but the time which can be spent with each class is too short for the accomplishment of good work. A third step toward a proper plan of grading wastaken when the number of pupils increased sufficiently to warrant the employment of two or more teachers. Then, for the first time, was possible a division of labor. The classification and grading of schools is but the application to education of the same law of division of labor that prevails in every successful business. It is not only the most economical way, but it is a prerequisite to satisfactory progress upon any line. In the most primitive state of society, each does all. But long before man emerges from the savage state the division of labor receives some recognition, and, very early in the history of civilization, it is recognized as a necessary condition to human progress. As society advances, each takes up the work for which he is best fitted by endowment and education, and trades and professions result. As society grows more complex, each gives spec...