Evening journal., 1910-09-09
LEGAL TRUANCY
TEACHERS PLANS
Want Pupils to be Given Their
Vacations Whenever
They Want Them
SCHOOLS OPEN
THE YEAR AROUND


= CHICAGO, ILL.,, Sept. Don't ques-
ton little Johnny's pains and cramps
to-day.
Don't scold him and hurry him I'M
willingly back 20 teacher
Chicago professors have published
an ultimatum 10 all parents in
America that they are on Johnny's
side. even !. If his sickness" does
battle diagnosis.
The educational authorities in the
University of Chicago school of edu-
cation are even advising a country
wide and systematic "truancy." They
wish II so arranged that pupils and
teachers alike can within set limits
follow their own individual inclina-
tons I'm taking their vacation-in
winter or summer, spring or fall.
This new plan will probably be put
into effect soon at the University Of
Chicago and at its elementary school.
In return for this the professors
propose to keep all schools open all
the year around and make OF the pres
ent summer schools" a fixed institu-
ton. The educators explain their
new theory in an editorial I'm the
September number of The Elementary
School Teacher, issued yesterday by
the University of Chicago Press.
Vacations When Needed Most.
In brief, the professors think the
children ought TO take their vacations
when they need them most, instead of
between certain old-fashioned dates
in summer. If Johnny can get away"
with his mythical pains. therefore it
would appear that he needs an extern
sion of the ordinary period of leisure.
! The wise pupil I'm the future will per-
/ feet himself in the techique of battling
diagnosis.
The author Of the editorial declares
that the belief in the necessity of va
cations in summer only is a dogma.
/ A dogma is regarded at the university
as every bit as dangerous as a hydra.
Teachers as we'll as pupils may re-
ioice at the university dictum, for the
school of education officials think the
individual vacation should not be
confined to the students. According
TO the educational plan, school build
ings should be used during the entire
year and provision should be made for
allowing leaves of absence to all con-
cerned in the growth of knowledge.
Exhaustion Must BE Avoided.
or the direction the modern school
must follow the writer says
First. all school activity must be
so organized as to furnish its owr
safeguard against exhaustion.
Second. amusement should 81
mixed with serious work and botf
should be guided intelligently. TIT
! public must learn to play as we'll al
to read serious books and do sums II
/ addition. One of the great discoverie
of social workers is that modern me-
and women are as clumsy about rec
reation as they are I'm other forms q
Z organized activity. We must teac
, men and women to enjoy themselves
= and we can do this best by teachin
: the children in the schools.
! Third, we should recognize ths
periods OF delay in individual deve
opment do not obey any law Of tn
calendar One child is interrupted l
his development at one date anothe
child at another. If In addition I
4 these individual Interruptions we i'm
pose a general interruption. the sur
for a given child may be great In
single twelvemonth. Why not pro
] vide for continuity in the institution
and allow individual needs to dictat
the interruptions?
PracticabIIity of Theory Proven.
THE fact is that we are providing
now for all kinds of individual inter
ruptions. Children are sick of fami
lies move from one place to another
or parents are negligent until the &C
tive truant officer terminates a vaca
ton which does not limit itself to thu
conventional dates.
Finally, what will come to tn
teacher through the. adoption of thi
program? Nothing but advantage
Many a young woman goes into
store or Office now because she cal
there earn wages twelve months Il
the year. She simply cannot affon
the present school vacation. Further
more, in a well organized system tn
teacher, like the pupils. could hav
some option as to absence from tn
school.
1.-The better school systems ar
even now providing leaves of absenc
for teachers and others. This sys
TEN of vacation for a reason doubles
will develop. When it becomes an es
tablished practice we shall have
more efficient school and a bette
~ fpufr,.ofore