Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-10-25
QUESTION OF HOME STUDY
REPORT FROM SUPERINTENDENT OF
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
Position of Board of Education Ex-
neutrality-suspicious. of Medical
inspectors Recommended.

After the adjournment of last nights
meeting of the board of education 1t was
announced that the superintendent had been
called on to consider and report as to the
expediency and advisabity of reducing the
time for home study in the case of children
in the sixth, seventh and eighth grades and
the high schools The tendency of the
board, it was explained, was to reduce the
hours of home study to a minimum, esti-
mated at two hours for the high school
and an hour or less for the high-graae
schools. 1t was stated that the previous
decision of the board to abolish home study
altogether in grades below the sixth grade
appears to have been misunderstood. While
the board forbds teachers assigning to
pupils lessons to study at home, it does not
prohibit voluntary study on the part OF the
pupil
1t is not expected that the curtaiment
of home study in the high school can be
carried out without some loss in the orna-
mental education of the children, but the
members of the board believe that the loss
would be tritling beside the gain IN health
and in sound mentality. The members dis
cussed the recent failures of the high school
foot ball team to win games, and CONSIDERED
1t dangerous symptom of overstudy, re-
sulting in undeveloped physiques 1t is
believed that much will be done by cutting
down a part of the time spent in recita-
ton and giving it to the pupils for study
all home study will be of such character
that the children can master the lessons
without asking assistance from parents or
older friends.
Medical Inspections.
1t was also announced that the board had
decided to ask Congress to provide for the
appointment of eleven medical inspectors,
one for each division, at a salary Of $500
per annum, and also to provide for the APP
pointment of truant officer and an assist
ant Salaries not stated, whose duty it
shall be to enforce a proposed statute COM
polling attendance al public schools. While
truancy is forbidden under present rules,
no penalty is prescribed.
Superintendent Stuart has been instructed
to Investigate and report on the question
of admission of eighth-grade scholars to the
high schools. At present they are passed
on their standing during the year, but it
has been suggested that an examination
before entrance would be advisable.
AS several children had been hurt while
diSputng the right of passage through the
turnstile at the johnson School in Mt.
Pleasant. the board ordered that it be le-
placed by gate
Frank A Woodward. brother of Health
officer Woodward, has been appointed a
teacher of manual training. He made the
highest percentage-S1.5-at an examination
held recently. There We're seventeen candi-
dates for the position.
Sarah F. Robinson, fifth grade, at Bright
wood, and Catherine w. koontz, fourth
grade, Towers School, have been granted
three months leave of absence from No
yember l.
The question of field work. as jaunts
for nature study. and the study of govern
mental branches are called, taken Up.
1t was practically agreed that not more
than one such expedition should be made
by a class during each year. and then only
after the most careful planning. The sub
ject was referred to the committee on text
books
1t was decided that text books should be
issued to the night schools on the requisi-
ton of the teachers