In Wilbur, Washington, a scheme providing for a credit report for the semester is in successful operation. Here Superintendent E. O. McCormick carries on the plan by means of two report cards, the one sent from the school to the home, the other from the home to the school, every six weeks. The home card is reproduced below.
_Report Card from the Home to the School_
_For_............................ _Name._
......................................... _Parent or Guardian._
_First Semester_ -----------------------+-----------------+----------------+---------------- Period | 1 | 2 | 3 -----------------------+--------+--------+-------+--------+-------+-------- Subjects |Average |Quality |Average|Quality |Average|Quality |Time |of work,|Time |of work,|Time |of work, Answer yes or no |Spent |Good, |Spent |Good, |Spent |Good, |Daily |Fair, |Daily |Fair, |Daily |Fair, | |Poor. | |Poor. | |Poor. -----------------------+--------+--------+-------+--------+-------+-------- Sleeping with open | | | | | | window | .... | .... | .... | .... | .... | .... | | | | | | Keeping temper | .... | .... | .... | .... | .... | .... | | | | | | Washing teeth | .... | .... | .... | .... | .... | .... | | | | | | Time in recreation | .... | .... | .... | .... | .... | .... | | | | | | Off streets | .... | .... | .... | .... | .... | .... -----------------------+--------+--------+-------+--------+-------+--------
This report sent to the teacher when the report card is returned to the school will help raise the standing of your child in its school work.
The following subjects are of a suggestive nature; you may use as many as may be applicable to your child. Others not listed may be used. Write in the blank spaces on the front of this card those subjects under your observation.
Sawing wood. Washing dishes. Care of house. Care of cows. Making beds. Sweeping. Ironing.
In bed by nine (yes or no). Building fire in mornings. Care of chickens. Churning. Making bread, biscuits, etc. Preparing meals for family. Blacking the stove.
Any work or interest in home as shown by the child should be noted on the front of the card, under the list of subjects.
Mrs. Elizabeth Sterling, of Clarke County, Washington, was one of the first county superintendents to get out a card suitable for use throughout her schools. She strongly urged the teachers of her county to try the plan, and in 1914 eighty-five teachers were operating it. This card provides a record for the whole school year, with a general average for the nine months. To secure credit the pupil is required to average eight hours per week, or thirty-two hours per month, at "real honest, helpful labor that relieves the father and mother of that amount of work." This done, the teacher is to add three credits to the average gained by the pupil at the school during the month of his or her studies. Additional credits are to be given for more than thirty-two hours per month at the rate of one credit for every ten hours' work. The parent or guardian is cautioned to keep track of the number of hours that the boy or girl actually spends per week at any of the kinds of work named on the credit report card, or any other real work that is not there listed. The printed list comprises:--