UIHistories Project: A History of the University of Illinois by Kalev Leetaru
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Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1924 [PAGE 108]

Caption: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1924
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1923]

U N I V E R S I T Y O F ILLINOIS

I05

be presented by all. O f the remaining nine units, six must be from an elective list of academic subjects, while three m a y be from vocational lines, when taught under favorable conditions and in a satisfactory manner, as more or less definitely prescribed. There are further specific requirements in order to register without condition in certain colleges of the University, as two units of the same foreign language for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences; a third unit in mathematics for the College of Engineering, a second unit in laboratory science for the College of Agriculture, etc. All these specificrequirements,intended to save students from a handicap in their college courses, the Visitor must take into account in inspecting a high school. H e must see to it that proper and adequate equipment is provided for instruction in each subject and that effective methods are in use for laboratory work, the use of the high school library, and the conduct of class-room and study-hall work. In addition to the above an annual report is required from each accredited school showing changes in teachers, enrollment, curriculum, equipment, etc. This report, together with the last Visitor's report on a school, goes with the Visitor on his trip. Schools are revisited everyfirst,second, or third year after last accrediting, according to the conditions reported at the time of the last visit. H I . Methods: First of all, for new schools, an application for accrediting must befiled.In this the school takes the initiative. This report indicates the scholastic preparation of the teachers, the salaries paid, and the teacher's load in daily class work; the amount invested in laboratory and library equipments, with departmental provisions in the library; the school enrollment, length of school year, and length of recitation and laboratory periods. If this application, which is in the form of a report, is found satisfactory, the school is listed, along with schools whose credit terms expire the following June,/or visitation and inspection. For this work groups of schools in the same locality are selected in order to economize in time and cost. The Visitor goes unannounced and inquires carefully as to the three points mentioned under Standards. The adequacy of the school plant in general and its sanitary features arefirstconsidered. Laboratories, shops, and the library are appraised. In physics, for instance, suitable tables for experiments should be found, and duplicate pieces of apparatus for individual or small group experimentation provided, and of a character to include the problems to be studied in the year's course. Suitable lighting and ventilation are also to be insisted upon. In the shops, care of thefloors,tools, and materials are observed, as also the lighting and ventilation. T h e character and amount of equipment and materials provided as compared with the work undertaken is noted and attention called to any deficiencies. The provisions made for domestic science, agriculture, and the teaching of commercial subjects and music are similarly investigated. The library provision is considered with reference to the needs of the different departments of instruction and the uses made of it by teachers and pupils. Recitations are visited. Here the Visitor seeks to estimate the teacher's ability to instruct, as well as the reaction of the pupils to their work. Careful attention is given to the relative ranking of pupils in scholarship as on the basis of what a good high school should accomplish. T h e conduct, attention, and general bearing of pupils is observed in order to determine thefinerqualities in the character of the school as expressing the spirit of the school and its probable effect on the pupils and'on the ranking of the school. The Visitor summarizes these in a written report which is later considered by a committee of the Faculty which recommends to the Council of Administration the action to be taken in each given case. In connection with the visitation, or in response to special requests, or by appointment at the Visitor's office, frequent meetings with superintendents, principals, or school board members are held for advisement as to ways and means of improving the high T hforHigh School Conference, meetinghigh schools and given University, is also a lated schools with reference to thebetween of schools. at University methods of accrediting work maintained high accrediting the meeting of the remeansto the improving and developing theby once University.the above.is directlybest e mutual understanding conditions the a year This