Greenbrier Military School - Yearbook (Lewisburg, WV)

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Personal Conferences ln the Monday faculty meeting, an instructor who has found some particular cadet is having trouble with his subject will ask for the opinions of other teachers. The superintendent will pass along helpful information which has come to him. Often in one of these meetings the discussions result in a better understanding of specific problems and the cadets involved are helped to over- come those obstacles which had been causing a let down in classwork or making them discouraged. But the interest of the faculty does not stop there. Often an officer will request that a par- ticular cadet be allowed to visit his quarters for help with a particular lesson during study hall. Each faculty oihcer is Personal Adviser for approximately fifteen cadets. He keeps a friendly eye on their progress, and they feel free to go to him with personal problems as well as academic matters. This personal relationship often develops into a lifelong friendship. The boy may also visit the superintendent with any problem at any time. Col. J. M. Moore, calling on his wide experience training young people, holds personal conferences with cadets through- out the year. Col. W. J. Moore is also available to the cadets at any time. Each boy is called in by him at least once each month so a personal check may be made on his progress, but we emphasize the fact the boy may see either of these men any day. Monthly Reports Each teacher keeps a daily record of the recitations of all members of his classes. At the end of each month he records a general average, together with H, M, or L to indicate in which third of the class-highest, middle, or lowest-the student has placed. These reports are never inflated, but every consideration is given to each boy's effort, ability, and achievement. Cadets Studying in Their Own Room. 28

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INDIVIDUAL ATTENTION We believe the strength of our academic program lies in the fact we emphasize a continual process of understanding guidance and intelligent individual assistance which encourages a student to work for improvement. When your son comes to Greenbrier he is interviewed personally by the superintendent, the dean, or the headmaster. He is then placed in the proper classes for work and instruction. The headmaster directs our carefully worked out testing program. Each fall a battery of tests is given to each cadet. These tests yield a score on general scholastic ability as well as an achieve- ment score on reading, arithmetic, and English. This information is at the disposal of the superin- tendent, who uses it in conferences with individual cadets. The information is often helpful to instruc- tors and faculty advisers. These scores are accugnulative for each cadet, making it possible to judge the degree of improvement shown during his academic career here. Afternoon Coaching Classes Our instructors spend much time showing their pupils how to prepare the classwork. We insist they do not attempt simply to get answers from the pupil, but that they show him how to get the work. Because of our small classes, each boy has an opportunity to recite each day as well as a chance to ask about everything he does not understand. Our instructors do not teach subjects as much as they teach boys. We want our cadets to know how to think for themselves, how to obtain knowl- edge and apply it. The great majority of our students become interested in their classwork and learn to master it. Twice weekly each instructor holds special afternoon coaching' classes. If the instructor feels your son needs additional explanation and practice in his work, the boy will be required to attend this coaching class. Others may come voluntarily, and many avail themselves of this special instruction. Help in Study Hall Our faculty officers meet with the superintendent each Monday morning. Boys who have averaged eighty per cent or above are allowed to study each evening in their rooms. The Oflicer-in- Charge makes regular rounds and is available for help with lessons. Boys who have made a lower grade study in a supervised night study hall during the regular evening study period of two hours and twenty minutes, including a recess at 8:30 p.m. We want you to know that this is not the type of study hall where boys in their rooms are visited occasionally by faculty officers. Such a method is far easier on school authorities and of far less value to the students. Our students are assembled in a large well-ventilated and lighted study hall under the constant supervision of two or more experienced teachers who give assistance at all times and are glad to show a boy how to study. All your son has to do is to hold up his hand and an instructor will help him with any knotty problems. 27

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Our The reports also record any absences from roll call and merits and demerits received by the student. Parents are earnestly requested to examine these reports carefully, and to cooperate with us in helping their sons maintain a high standard of conduct and scholarship. With each report there is a personal note by the superintendent commenting on specific points which need attention. Several patrons have asked for weekly reports of their sons' work. This may be arranged upon request. Disappointment with these reports is sometimes expressed by parents who occasionally find them twenty-five per cent below expectations, especially in the case of new cadets. We are fully aware that it is easy to please both parents and pupils by inflating reports, and we are also fully aware that a low report often seems to a parent to show a lack on our part of ability to teach, or a lack of appreciation of the ability or progress of a pupil. Our reports are made out not to please ourselves, our patrons, or our pupils, but to tell exactly and honestly what a boy is doing according to our abso- lute standard, enforced without fear or favor. When parents realize the justice of this, those who have been disappointed become fully satisfied., Attitude Reports One feature of Greenbrier reports is especially liked by our patrons. Each month the report sent you will carry a symbol indicating your son's attitude toward his studies. These range from Unsatisfactory through Fair, Good, Excellent, to Superior. It is possible for a boy to fail a class or two and at the same time receive a high attitude rating from his instructors. Likewise, it is possible for him to pass his classwork but receive an attitude report such as Fair', or K'Good or, in unusual cases, even lower. This means that although he made a passing grade, he definitely was not doing his best. The average of the various reports from instructors is given as your son's general attitude for the month. Since we insist that each instructor make out these attitude reports with thoughtful care, it becomes clear at once that this is a valuable indication of how your son is measuring up to his responsibilities. Term Reports Examinations are held three times a year-December, March, and June. Christmas examina- tions are held far enough ahead of the holiday so the students will be able to give their best efforts to their studies without thinking about going home on leave. Examination grades are combined with the average of monthly grades to determine the standing. No student is exempt from taking these, even for high class standing, as taking tests is good train- ing in itself and is necessary to prepare one for similar examinations at higher institutions. A boy who goes to college without having taken any examinations in preparatory school is at a distinct psychological disadvantage. 75 W is our passing grade, SOW to 85 71 is required for recommendation for college, ninety per cent earns Distinction and ninety-five is a High Distinction. Re-examination Privileges A re-examination will be given to a cadet who has failed a subject for a term provided he passes the work of the next term but the passing grade is not sufficiently high to bring his average up to the passing level. The re-examination grade can not be combined with the daily grade average, so 755721 must be made on the re-examination. No student is entitled to a re-examination on either of the first two terms unless he is able to pass the next term. N0 student is entitled to a re-examination on the work for the third term during the current school year. Under certain circumstances, he may be permitted to take a re-examination during the 29