The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-12-16
SCHOOL VACATION WASTE,
WRIGHT TELLS THE BOARD
Takes Too Long To Acquire Edu-
:, cation Under Present Sys-
tenn, Official Says.

Radical changes in the American
educational system were advocated
by Luther l.. Wright, state superin-
tendent OF public instruction, i'm a
TAX before the Detroit Board OF Edu-
catlon at the close Of the boards reg
ulaI meeting. Thursday night Mr.
Wright declared that the long sum-
mer vacation is a waste OF valuable
lime. saying:
pWhat would you think OF a manu-.
facturer who would close down his
plant for two or three months at a
season OF the year when he could
operate II economically"
Mr.. Wright pointed out that in many
instances men are 30 years old be
fore they complete their education
ANd are ready 10 take up their life's
work and added:
Thirty years is too long a time TO
spend in getting ready TO do some
thing. Why that's nearly half a mans
life and all that time he Is consum-
sT and not producer"
The superintendent called attention
20 what he considered serious defects
N the teaching system in vogue in
this country Too much time was
spent in teaching writing and in train
Ing pupils TO read aloud, when none
out an elocutionist ever makes prac
sfce of reading aloud. He found seri-
GUS fault with the methods of teach
ing arithmetic and thought that more
attention should be paid TO the de
velopment OF the perceptive factul-
ties OF the child than to his reasoning
faculties until he is able to use the
latter.
a Mr.. Wright congratulated the board
on the great advanced Detroit had
made in the matter OF education and
thought this city had gone as far
as any city in the country in the de-
velopment OF industrial and vocation
al education In his opening remarks,
Nr. Wright said that the amount OF
primary school moneys TO be distrib-
uted among. the schools OF the state
Is likely 10 grow less with the in
crease of general assessments and the
resultant decrease OF the railroad tax.
Preceding Mr. Wright's talk. City
Controller David f. Heineman, who Is
tt-officio treasurer OF the board. adj
dressed the inspectors in a compli-
mentary vein II was his first visit
TO the board since he became con-
roller He spoke in terms OF high
praise of the work OF Secretary MARI
And his assistant, Mrs. Reeves.
Early in the session, the board re-
elected Ralph Phelps a member OF
the library board. Inspector Nc
Michael, nominated DIR. James A. Nc
MILAN. but the latter received only
two votes, those OF DR. McMichael
and Inspector Goldberg.
Inspector Goldberg reported that
information had come 10 him to the
effect that the specifications were not
being lived up to In the foundation
work on the new George school. and
he understood that the contractor on
the lob, Ootto Misch, had ordered
of the inspector, employed by the
architects, Malcomson & Higgin-
&botham
Mr.. Malcomson admitted that his
Inspector had reported that the con-
crete going into the footings was not
a proper mixture. There had been
warm dispute between the inspector
and Misch's foreman, In which the
'trormer had referred to the work as
highway robbery" Mr.. Malcomson
said he had sent another man around
to look at the work and this man
had found that the concrete work
had not properly set, though he
thought this might have been due TO
sweather conditions. No work had been
accepted as yet, nor would 1t De until
II was found satisfactory.
Inspector Burton suggested that Mr..
Malcomson put the inspector that had
been ordered off back on the job and
insisted on his being kept there.
'If Misch isn't doing his work
l. tnn Cd NJ
Burton added.
On motion OF Inspector Hely the
whole matter was referred TO the real
yttate committee for investigation. II
has been suggested to Mr.. Burton,
chairman of the committee. that sam
ples of the concrete be tested as the
surest way OF finding out whether 1t
s proper mixture.
Inspector Began brought to light an
Interesting situation when he called
attention to the fact that the vacuum
nlesner system provided for in the
Eichol school has not been Installed
and that numerous other finishing
touches have not been put on. 1t
transpired that the board used all
the appropriation for the purchase of
vacuum cleaners and made no allow
nnce whatever for their installation.
, II has been discovered that the trans
formers In most of the schools where
the cleaners are TO be in stalled are
too small to carry this additional load
and the cleaners cannot be used until
new transformers are put in.
why didn't you investigate the
question of installation when you
bought the machines?" demanded In
Spector Mumford OF Mr.. Burton, open
ing up what promised to be lively
argument, but President Robertson
threw oil on the troubled waters by
saying:
81 guess we were all al fault The
matter was simply overlooked
= II Is thought the board will be able
to find the money somewhere 10
make the necessary changes. The
lighting commission gave Mr.. Burton
a price on the work, but the inspector