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FAILURES IN HIGH SCHOOL K If you, Mr. Editor of The Times ^ will give this article space in youi paper, I shall be pleased. This is inj first attempt to speak through the press to the patrons of Union or ol any other town in which I have evei . taught. This may prove an utter failure, but I hope to be able to handli this question so that some light maj be thrown on the question, "Why art so many pupils failing in higli schools 1" y It would be much more of a pleasure to me if I could speak to the mother*; and fathers who have boys and girl? in the building of which i am principal. But if 1 should announce that I would speak in the high school auditorium some evening 011 this subject I can only wonder what response 1 would get or what interest mother 1 and fathers would show. However, 1 am taking the safe route, hoping that every patron of the high school will read and think about what I have to say, whether you agree with me 01 not. If I could get someone else to write this article, I certainly would. While I am writing with the Union high school as a basis and with the endorsement of t.hn sillU'vinl.miliinf ....-1 IK.. V. r " " vv iivtv114/ unu HIV high school teachers, I fee] sure that it will be read by other teachers and N patrons outside of the town. But let us go on. I want to be thoroughly fair and square in what I have to say. I have been studying, watching, thinking, trying to diagnose the trouble. I wish to get at the causes of so many failures. The first move I made in studying this question was to look at self. In teaching, formulating questions, and correcting papers, I find that I am using about the same system that I used before the war. If anything, I am more lenient. I came to Union November 17, 1920. . It always works some hardrv ship:? lo change horses in the middle B of a stream. So I wanted to fit in and tighten dowh gradually. After I left Union last June, I learned that it was the same old story of failures in Laurens. That was the subject of conversation. When I arrived at home several informed me about so many pupils failing in the high school. About this time, I noticed that Mr. Flora, principal of Hie high school in Columbia, had found it ,|, necessary to open a summer school because so many pupils had failed. */' The same thing happened-in Rocn llill * and other towns. Mr. Jelfries, feeling that something must be done in Union, wi'ote me and I returned and we began a summer school. While there I talked to numbers of our pupils who openly told me that they did not study last year. Some told me that they seldom ever opened a book away from school. They did not tell me anything new, but I appreciated tne trutn coming irom the pupil. While I was in Columbia towards the last of the summer, I discussed the school situation from various angles with numbers of teachers from over the state and with members of the department of education. I asked questions bearing on the subject of so many failures in high schools. The answers were, "Same looks, same teachers, better equipment, and same system of grading yet a larger number of failures." We have taught practically the same books for years. I have taught the same Latin Grammar, Algebra, Arithmetic, History, English and other books which are being taught in the high schools and I feel that-1 am familiar enough with the texts and the method of teaching them to nave an idea of when the book is being taught properly or of whether the examinations are In rea son. I have visited the rooms and observed the work as far as I have had m/BHaM The Win* There is a joyft the motor buri I gasoline that is a r have been using one-i MOTOR GASOLINE different conditions mobile must be ope ' ^ It is balanced to gh quiet idling? flexibiU mileage. It should ] give you the best re STANDARD >. (new : y "STAN The Balath > >' ' :V time and have made comparisons of the teaching here with that I hove ob j served in other schools. Our system of teaching and grading is practically the same as that used in other schools , of the state. r We started this year with a motto, f and this motto I frequently announced : during the chapel exercises, "Talk f less, think more," or as stated another way, "Use the mouth less and the head . more." We have striven during the ? entire year to get individual work r from the pupils. 1 have sought ? through study and application means i by which to accomplish results and t ani i rank to tell any one who is i interested enough to know that a i large number of the pupils of the Uni ion high school did not study Inst . year and the per cent is about the same this year. I believe the worst . is over, however, for the children are ; influenced and have been influenced by the conditions which we have found I ourselves in during the years following the war period. We have wit, nessed this shaking up in the financial and in the social walks of life; it is , only natural that "Young America' would be influenced in the schools just as we older ones outside have been. One hundred and fifty did not make their grades clear and above board last year while 134 failed on one 01 more subjects in mv building Ibis year. Why these failures? That is the question. When I checked up in the grades I found about the same \ < suits as one of the lady teaclv r; yhc checked up her grade one morning and found that eight out of 24 pupils had spent as much as 20 minutes preparing the lessons. Sometime ago I spoke of pupils as being divided into four classes: 1. The pupil who studies and passes. 2. The pupil who is unnremireH foi the grade in which he or she is placed. I 3. The pupil who studies and fails. I 4. The pupil who does not study audi fails. Too often parents do not know their children. Perhaps I can hear some fathers and mothers say, "You are wrong." But I'll go further ami say that parents are more easily deceive ! ihan any other person with whom the child comes in contact. It's a hard proposition for children who sit together in the class room to fool each ether. They know each other's faults, and limitations. Playmates know each other. The child knows his father and mother. But I have met very few fathers and mothers who know thci?children. I could give numbers of examples which have come in my perronal experience as a teacher. Your bovs or girl fails in one of the four classes I have named. If he oshe fails in No. 1, why, there has never been a kick made. That is the normal child meeting all requirements. Class No. 2 finds pupils who have been promoted too carelessly or who come from the country schools unprepared. If the teachers do their duties very few pupils would be in this class. No child should he promoted unless it is prepared for the next higher grade. Class No. 3 is a 1 hard proposition to handle. I feel thai ! parent and teacher should get to! gether as quickly as possible with this class. The fa<ther and mother may not have a good chance to compare their children with other children. Therefore unless their attention is attracted bv some outstanding characteristic of the child, the reports continue to come in with low marks, while pupil and parent criticize the teachers for unfairness in the grading. This always leads to unpleasant feelings which could be avoided if the parent would come to the teacher and ask for the truth in the matter. If you will let me offer a suprprestion, it is this: Please never use a phond nor talk to a teacher about your child where the conversation can be heard js of Merc ll, business-like hum to ling correctly balanced evelation to drivers who sided fuels. "STANDARD" is built up to ipeet the under which every autorated. re your car easy starting, Ity, speed and maximum be used with Polarine to suits. OIL COMPANY JERSEY) % H. IDARD" ced Gasoline! by other people. In some of the larger schools special attention is given and special teachers are provided for the extreme (Ages that Vifnio under division No. 3. But in our sctiool, crowded as we are, teachers do not have time for much individual attention. A pupil in this division may have to remain in a grade two years and may never get beyond the 8th grade. If there is rnyone who believes that we teachers should give the children more individual attention, please imagine yourself a teacher in the high school. Here is the daily program: First period, 8th grade boys, 42 on the roll. Second period, 8th grade girls, See. A. 31 on the roll. Third period, 8th grade girls, Sec. B, 32 o|J the roll. Fourth period, Dili grade boys, 20 on the roll. Fifth period, 9th grade girls, 30 oa the roll. < Sixth period, 10th grade boys and girls, 33 on the roll. i ^ on will handle 200 pupils in the < six periods of 40 minutes each. You i hold an extra study period during the day. Remember that in these large lassos, discipline comes in for extra ! time and energy. When a teacher handling the above schedule is told that she is not giving 1 enough personal attention to her pupils and that complaints ar-e being i made, she replies with a complaint of I the fourth classification of pupils, namely, those pupils who constantly i prey upon the nerves of the teachers. 1 Such pupils know nothing about the i lessons and care less. Their motto is < to worry the teacher as much as pos- 1 sible, kill as much time as possible by ( asking unnecessary questions to draw ; the teacher off the lesson, make extya < noise, and when punished, try to place t the blame on the teacher. The father > and mother in some cases pity a child 1 of this class at the expense of the en- a tire school system ranging from the f trustees, superintendent to the jani- ] tor. Right then and there the "goose I s cooked" so far as that child is con- i corne I. If my classification of pupilis correct in a general way, to what t class of pupils does your child belong? i Do yo i know that ho or she has failed i on from two to five subjects? j Now each teacher in my building i nas oeon required to tile all examina-|i tion papers and monthly test papeisjc with, me in the ofliee. If any mother s or father is not satisfied with the t marks as given jn the report cards, ( shall he glad to go over the papers t with him or her. We will get after t the facts in the case from a real bus- \ iness standpoint. I have tried to de- i scribe the facts as accurately as I ^ know how. But a discussion is not I complete nor is any criticism just I without an explanation of the cause i and a suggestion of the cure. Do not j get the impression from what you i have read that I am seeking to place \ the blame for the failures of the pu- t pils in schools on either the pupil, the ( patron or the teacher. It is my conviction that each of us should bear 1 our part but that we should get to- a gether to remove the cause. I do want t to say that I am endeavoring to get ] at the facts in the case, and since I i neither seek praise nor dodge com- f plaints, I am willing to bear the criti- s cisni rather than have hard things j said about the lady teachers who j worked faithfully in my building. A c fair and square proposition on a j strictly business basis is just as appli- c cable to a high school asto any other ( less important enterprise of a town, t I have been trying to keep the cause and the cure before me in everything r that I do in teaching. But since the , great majority of school failures fall j in Class No. 4 of our division, it t stands to reason that more study is j the only sure cure. We have study v periods arranged for each class. I j visit the rooms to see if I can catch ^ f r t c iJ A thirsty man doesn't go to a J. soda fountain and say "Give r me a soft drink." He gets the o drink he likes best?the one 1 that tickles his palate, that peps him up and does not g hurt his digestion. If your car could pick its own fill- f iner station. &iixnHnt? mnulA ha bought the same way. K^3Sn j \T^\x " j ury I ( |V? ' pupils studying. When I asked one ' class why I never caught them study- ( ing during a study period, one boy reElied, "It's because you wear rubber < eels." But it is the tendency of pu- < pils of Class No. 4 to want to get something for nothing. They are look- < ing for good marks but they are not i willing to buckle down and study to get them. It can best be describad by < the word "indifference." ' < The mind of the pupil is more generally tilled with other things. I am < not a mind reader but I am able to i read the thoughts of some pupils who sit under me. On arriving at school * every child wants to talk. They pro- 4 reed to relate their experiences of the afternoon and night nefore. In the * meantime the school is a great place 4 to plan for the following afternoon and night. It takes "pulling eye * teeth" to keep the average high school 4 pupil's mind on the lesson. Athletics come in for a certain amount of just 4 1 iticism but it is my experience that 4 i.i many respects it is best for the boy >r girl of the adolescent age to work * iff the surplus physical energy on the 4 utthletic field. But I am not discussing this phase of the school child. * However, I will say that the boys and 4 jirls who spend their afternoons playing games are much more benefited * than those who follow many other 4 forms of amusements. With me, teaching is strictly a business proposition. It is always best to meet at situation fair and square. Teachers do not want children to re- * main in the same grade two years. 4 But one of the best recommendations \ teacher can have is that a number >f pupils in her grade are failing. 4 However, this is contrary to the general opinion. I have heard fathers ind mother's say, "My children are < loing well at school. They do not seem .0 study much at home but they are jetting good reports." I have been 4 jehind the screen enough to know that < vhen the above statement is made somebody is falling down on the job. < [ have nothing but contempt for ( eachei's who pad the reports of their mpils. < Occasionally, I hear parents say ( hat their children made good marks intil they entered the eighth grade < ?r the first year of the high school. , \ book could be written in explanation >f this statement. But I shall only isk that you consider the age of the , hiId, the books studied and the high ichool requirements as compared with hu grammar grades. It is always a pleasure to discuss he work of the boys and girls with lie fathers and mothers. Often it is veil to have the child present. We an arrive at a mutual understanding vhereby the child feels an interest is )eing shown in him, and that either )y moral pressure or otherwise h<* mist do better work. But I have no uitience with any patron who comes o me in an attitude of criticism to- * vard the teachers, basing his or her 4 ugument upon the reports of tattlers r upon the whims of the child. * Now just a word about grading: 4 rhe passing mark in the Union high ichool is 70 on finals while the state < ligh school inspector recommends 75. 4 Pupils who do not fall below 85 will lot have to stand a final. Or if they i all beow 85 then they can make an 4 iverage of 90 and get out of the final. never went to a school nor taught * n one where pupils could so easily get 4 >ut of the finals. Our passing mark s not too high in comparison with ' thers schools, so I am quite sure that < >ur failures can not be attributed to he high standard in grading. * If a boy or a girl fails to make the < lext grade it is always a disappointnent to the teachers as well as to the 'athers and mothers. It is a sad mis- < ake to have a child fall in Class No. 2. 2vcry child should be put in the grade vhere he or she can do the best work. 1 t is up to the teachers to look after his class. If a child falls in Class No. ! of our division of pupils we should < five our sympathy and encourage- . nent and thus stimulate such a pupil o put fourth greater effort to over ome his handicap. But if a boy or a , rirl falls in Class No. 4 as a large >er cent of those who fail do, we ' lave a problem where positiveness i^ ^ iceded and needly badly at each end f the line. * 'romotions and Failures in the High 4 School Building. Tenth Grade: Promoted, 19; failed. * I; dropped out, 6; total, 33. 4 lNiiiln urado lioys: Promoted, 3; 1 ailed, 15; dropped out, 2; total, 2(5, < Ninth Grade Girls: Promoted, HP. 4 ailed, 13; dropped out, 3; total, 35. Eighth Grade Boys: Promoted, 14; < ailed, 23; dropped out, 5; total, 42. 4 Eighth Grade Girls, A: Promoted, 3; failed, 13; dropped out, 5; total, * 1. 4 Eighth Grade Girls, B; Promoted. ; failed, 23; dropped out, 5; total, 2. Total: Promoted, 78; failed, 05; Iropped out, 2(5; total, 109. * i rani mar Grades in .High School 4 Building. Seventh Grade Girls: Promoted. * !7; failed, 5; dropped out, 2; total, 34. 4 Seventh Grade Boys: Promoted, !(5; failed, 8; dropped out, 8; total, 42. Sixth Grade Boys and Girls: Pronoted, 23; failed, 6; dropped out, 5; otal, 34. Sixth Grade Boys: Promoted, 17; ailed, 13; dropped out, (5; total, 36. Sixth Grade Girls: Promoted, 23; ailed, 7; dropped out, 4; total, 34. Total: Promoted, 194; failed, 164; Iropped out, r?l; total, 379. ailed, 0; dropped out, 1; total, 21. Grand Total: Promoted, 214; failed, 134; chopped out, 52; total, 400. Z. L. Madden, . Retiring Principal of the Union High School. Cracker Jack The picnic was fine. I wish all of he writers could have been with us. ' am sorry 'Everyday Worker" got ^ lis finger "cut. ^ Miss Louise Lawson spent Sun- 4 lay with Miss Coline Ijawson. 4 Miss Nellie Inman and Miss Jettic 3reer spent Sunday with Miss Ella ifaughan and attended services at Philippi church. Mrs. R. L. Young and daughter, ' Helen Young, and Mrs. Kisler spent ruesday with her mother, Mrs. Davis. Misses Annie and Lillie Belle ' Greer have returned home after '.pending some time with their sister in I^eeds. ' Mrs. Luis Wood, Willie Taylor, and Mr. and Mrs. C. S. Worthy, of Leeds, ^ *pcnt Sunday with Mr. and Mrs. Lester Greer. Mr. and Mrs. Clyde McNeaee were )D this route this week. \ Miss Gladys and John Greer spent , the week with their grand-parents, Mr. and Mr*. Tom Clark. Miss Mable Clark spent the week i ?nd with her aunt, Mr?. Edna Clark. 1 Clumb and Sidney Vaughan, of 1 Adamsburg spent a short while at < During June the regular 25c size 19c \ 5^2^ Liver Salts | ? A granular effervescing Saline aperient. Very pleasant to take, and mild in 1 action. Will aid in the relief of stomach, liver and intestinal disorders. j Regular 60c size, Special 49c C v [* HARMONY LIQUID SHAMPOO | ^ contains all the necessary ingredients for ihe proper clerr.sing of hair and sea lp. Y [ including Saponified Cocoanut Oil, which by feeding the roots gives strength to the p hair. Leaves the hair soft and fluffy. V . Regular price 50c, June Special 33c v t * ? With every FLASHLIGHT a regular two-cell battery FREE. % ? The Scout FLASHLIGHT is t-e best you have over seen, se'ling [* at $1.35 % C ? Y * \ . CASCADE LINEN STATIONERY | f Pound paper and envelopes represent the greatest economy in Stationery at or- Y r dinary prices when together they cost 80c?BUT during this sale you can buy over V* > f 90 sheets paper and 50 envelopes for 50c ?? f ~ A Saving of 30 cents V f ~ . ~ Y i DR. TULLAR WHIRL SPRAY SYRINGE X % [ Made of high grade rubber. Onyx color, eight ounce capacity. This is the original J ^ patented by Dr. Tullar. The unusual shape of the pipe, the globe spray and quick j ^ action make it an effective syringge. The pipe is highly polished hard rubber of col- $ or to match the Onyx (red and black mot .led) buib. Has soft rubber cap. % [ Regular price $3.00, June Special $1.98 \ Storm's Drug Store I ! ? The ^R&XOJUL Store | i UNION, SOUTH CAROLINA _____ Phone 76-9 E. Main St X ? X he home of Mr, and Mrs. George ' ^ nman Sunday. Haiti was proclaimed independent | SUMMER CAMPS FOR BOYS AND GIRLS I in 1804 from the French. ?jj j| Bees will not swarm without their j | IN THE MOUNTAINS OF J ]u?en. k WESTERN NORTH PA PHI IMA I _ . - - ?? ? ? ? ' VrtlW/LUllfl The United States destroyer mine REACHED VIA layer Israel No. 98 has a speed ol"| " 1-2 ma^jn hour. SOUTHERN RAILWAY SYSTEM John Shell, 135 years of age, a KenLnckian, was married a few montns Accommodations reasonable and every feature of ago. amusement and education available. Write or call on The wood of 500 trees must be nan- # COTNER, ofactured into paper to provide ma- District Passenger Agent, terial for the publication of a novel Spartanburg, S. C. H-M i I YOU SAVE MONEYI & X I Bargains For Month ol June | ? A jpf These are days when every cent count). We have gone through the store and ^ ^ selected some articles of the highest quality and merit, and are going to sell them at greatly reduced prices. 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