Return to Mepham History PageOur historian found the following directive in our files from Principal Mr. Sanford Calhoun. Dated February 16, 1937, and distributed to all teachers and parents, it gives us a peek at the study ideas of the times. How does it compare to today's education policies?
1. REGULARITY OF ATTENDANCE: Special attention is called to the serious consequences of irregular attendance. It is well to remember that the loss of even a portion of a school session often seriously hinders progress. Loss of time and work can never be satisfactorily made up. Irregularity of attendance tends to produce a lack of interest and often times causes the student to become discouraged. The conscientious pupil attends school regularly. Regular attendance is all important.
The law recognizes only the following excuses:
All other excuses are illegal.
A written explanation of a pupil's absence is required from the parent upon the pupil's return to school.
2. APPLICATION TO WORK IN SCHOOL:
(1) The student should pay strict attention to the classroom procedures. He should listen carefully to all explanations, descriptions and recitation. Failure to follow the trend of thought closely will find the student unable to do his homework and ill prepared to write the tests which follow.
(2) The student should ask the teacher to clarify any particular phase of work that he does not understand. Our teachers are willing and anxious to be of assistance and will be glad to cooperate with the student to the fullest extent.
(3) The student should do his homework regularly. Homework is assigned in every subject in order that the new ideas, theories, and methods presented in the classroom may be definitely fixed in the mind of the student. (The amount of homework given is discussed in a later paragraph)
(4) The student should make proper use of the study hall. He should utilize his time rather than to dream of after school activities or to waste his time entirely.
The study hall offers the student the opportunity to complete some of his homework. The teacher in charge is ready to assist those students who need help. Adequate reference books are available. In general, an effort is made to provide an atmosphere that will encourage the student to apply himself.
3. HOME WORK: The State Education Department requires that forty-five (45) minutes of homework be assigned in each subject.
Many students inform their parents that they complete all of their homework in school during study periods. Such accomplishment is an absolute impossibility. Every student in Mepham High School should study at least two hours at home every school night.
If your child is studying four (4) subjects, he has but one (1) study period in school. During that period, he can complete one assignment. In any event, he still must spend at least two hours working at home if he is to finish his work satisfactorily.
The child who studies four (4) subjects and who, in addition, is a member of the Mepham High School Band, has no study period in school.. A student of this classification should spend, at least, two and one half hours working at home.
Your child, who has recently entered the Mepham High School, should carefully study and regularly follow the requirements stated above. Only by taking such action will he be successful in his endeavors.
4. HOME STUDY HABITS:
(1) The student should be systematic, that is, he should plan his work carefully and perform his duties regularly. The habit of system prevents waste of time and effort.
(2) The student should choose his place of study wisely. The living room where the radio is in use and where conversation is being carried on, is not the proper petting. One should study in a quiet room where it is possible to concentrate.
(3) The student should not wait for a so-called inspiration to bring him to his work. "Inspiration does not alight like a dove from heaven upon the placid brow of the well-intentioned. It is a state of mind acquired by consistent and continuous effort."
The student should exercise his will and plunge immediately into the job before him. Once he gets in a position of study and once he has actually started at his task the work is easy enough.
(4) The student should study his most difficult assignment first, while his brain is most active.
(5) The student should parcel out the time to the different subjects, and during the time allotted to the first subject exclude the others from his mind altogether. His work will thus be carried on in an orderly and efficient manner.
5. SPECIAL REPORT: Every second Monday each teacher reports the names of those students who are not doing satisfactory work in his or her classes. A "Special Report" is then forwarded to the parent via his child.
This "Special Report" serves as an excellent means of checking frequently on the work of the pupil as well as of keeping the parent informed of his child's progress in school.
The receipt of a "Special Report" should be regarded as a warning sign, - an indication of approaching danger in the form of failure.
On the other hand, the parent who receives no deficiency card may rest assured that his child is doing satisfactory work in school.
"Special Report" cards should be signed by the parent and returned to the school immediately.
SPECIAL REPORT OF FEBRUARY 15, 1937: "Special Report" was issued on February 15, 1937. On this occasion ______________ was reported as doing unsatisfactory work in the following subjects:
_________________________________________________________________________________
Examinations were given in all subjects during the past two weeks. The enclosed graded test paper will partially disclose the present causes for deficiency. Please note the comments, as made by the teacher, on each examination paper.
7. INELIGIBILITY: A student who is doing unsatisfactory work in two or mere subjects is "ineligible" for participation in exta curricular activities for the two week period following the issuance of the "Special Report".
8. COOPERATION AT HOME: The school can do little without the cooperation of the home. With the help of the parents great heights may be reached. The faculty of the Wellington C. Mepham High School pledges its complete and continuous interest in each member of the student body.
Signed: Sanford H. Calhoun
Supervising Principal
