The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-01-30
REDUCTION OF
SCHOOL COURSE
Christensen Wants to Cut it
Down TO Eight Years.
AND ALSO STRENGTHEN IT
he APPOINTS COMMITTEES TO
ASSIST HIM.
AND ALSO STRENGTHEN IT

Der OF principals and teachers upon
committees TO assist him in devising
means whereby the present public
school course OF eight and a half years
can be reduced 20 eight years At the
same time he wishes to strengthen the
course instead "a weakening it by the
change.
That can only be done, he says. by
eliminating features of certain studies
which now require time that can be
taken out Of the course 10 permit of its
being condensed To decide upon
what features of specified studies can
be eliminated without hurting the edu-
cation Of the pupil, but strengthen his
qualifications for entrance into the
High school or the preparatory depart
ment of the state university, is the
problem which COnfTOnts Mr. Chrtsteh-
sen and his special committees.
The chairmen of the several commit
tees compose an advisory board, of
which Mr.. Christensen is the head.
Sub conmittees are 10 report 10 the
advisory committee during the process
of the attempt to bring about reali-
zation of Mr. Christensen's scheme.
When the whole has been evolved It
will be submitted TO the board Of edu-
cation for ratification.
School Years a Month Short.
Prior to 1893 the course Of study in
the public school was eight years, ol-
vided between the primary and gram
mar grades. Each school year consist
cd Of ten months. When the financial
depression swept over the country the
board OF education found IL necessary
70 retrench, owing to a Curtailment OF
revenues from taxes. That made It
necessary to cut the school year in the
number of months and the employment
of less teachers.
The cutting down OF the monthly
length OF each school year extended the
whole course from the eighth into the
ninth year making Il eight and hair
years. The time has never come since
then when the income of the board or
education would permit OF the Ola
status Of affats being revived. While
the board has had more money in re-
cent years, tine increase in the school
population has made it relatively the
same as it was in 1898 and later, when
both ends would not meet.
The extra half year added TO the
course of study means an addition or
about 500 pupils each year for that pc
riOd. They require from six to eight
extra teachers. who draw from Sb,WV
TO $4,000 per aEnum- by reducing the
"A
disposed of. the extra teachers are not
necessary for that advanced class OF
the eighth grade, and the money saved
can be used for other teachers in other
grades. which are now oVercrOwded- It
means more teachers. an many OF the
schools without increasing expenses.
Speaking OF the matter yesterday, Mr.
Christensen said:
Christensen Explains His Scheme.
1T is an easy matter 10 cut the
course down to eight years but what
I aim. at is to make the reduction and
at the same time strengthen the course.
by eliminating features of certain stu
dies The eliminating of irrelevant mat
fer from the fundamental subjects IS
where the care and study must be eN-
ercised To secure the best results
within the quickest time. I have given
the matter OF elimination TO commit
tees composed Of principals and teach
ers who either teach that particular
branch or are very proficient IN 1t.
To make myself perhaps d little
clearer. let me cite You an example.
Take arithmetic, for instance In the
regular course e certain amount of time
and attention is paid TO stocks and
bonds. Now 7 contend, for an argu-
ment. that a knowledge Of stocks and
bonds. as derived from an arithmetic,
is perhaps not essential to q pUpils
mathematical education. Perhaps the
week devoted to that subdivision Of
the book can be reduced TO one day. or
two. and the other days or a part OF
them. given over to a further perfec-
ton in the requirement % taS Tudi-
ments of arithmetic.
Strengthen the Whole Course.
a banking institution. for instance,
cares more for a man OF woman who is
exceptionally proficient in addition and
subtraction and computing interest than
for knowledge of stocks and
bonds. I simply cite that as a poin,
showing more clearly what I mean
when / say eliminate Irrelevant sub
5ects and give more time to more im-
nortant subjects which wiz make the
pupils general education along mathe-
matiCal lines more efficient.
BY taking of a few days here In this
study. and few more. in some other
all the time keeping in mind the
desire to strengthen the course, we can
we hope, see our way clear 10 getting
the old eight year course OF ten months
into an eight year course Of nine
months. in many of the larger cities
eight years and less are prescribed
Take Kansas City, for instance. It has
only q seven year course, sun It's SES-
TEN of educati stands at the head al
the HIST Salt Lake City devotes q wear
and a half more to attain tho same
educational degree Of perfection. II
they can do IL in Kansas City in seven
years, we surely ought TO he able &c
accomplish the same IN eight years.
Personnel of Committees.
The committees appointed by AR
Christensen. whose duty il is TO SEE
where and how the elimination can be
made. are as follows, the hrst named
being the chairman
Geography +. Keller r. s. Hal
lack. ". :. Wallace. =. s. Sanborn and
y. r. Coombs.
Speuing-Oscar Eaa Cott. W. "
Barton, u. A. Nelson. i. s. Hallack. G.
A Eaton.
Reading-W. 4. Wetzeu. J. II
Coombs. Miss May Dysart Elizabeth
Mcmillan. Mrs. Matte Mckay.
Arithmetic. L. Martin. Lucy Van
Colt. Elizabeth Fritz, Samuel DOxey, J
H. Coombs. W. L. Brown
Languages and recommendation
Bradford. Miss /. If. Qualtrougn W
D. Prosser. Miss Mary Dysart
History-H. 3. Folsom. J. o. Gross
Eta Powers, ~, A. Wetzeu, Ira J.
Travis.
FOUND GUILTY.
L.eavenwOrth. Kan. Jan. 29.-Accord-
ing 10 the findings Of q courtmartial