Evening star., 1912-07-21

For the seventh season the department
of education of the Young Mems Chris
tian Association ismaintaining its vacation
school for boys Of the fifth, sixth. seventh
and eighth grades of the public schools.
Nearly 16O boys in the last six years
have been directly aided to make up the
deficiency Of their respective grades and
qualify for promotion on the recommen-
dation of the principal in charge Of the
school. under the regulations Of the su-
perintendent and the public school au-
thorities. The school was inaugurated
at the instance Of Myron ] Jones, direc-
tor of education of the Y. NJ. c. A.. and
was one of the pioneer experiments in
this field of summer school work in
Washington. Twenty-four pupils have
been actively at work in the school since
June "A, representing principally the three
grades-sixth. seventh and eighth. The
first term closes July 81. second term
will begin August / and continue until
the middle of September.
With the introduction of the semester
plan" or scheme of half-yearly promo
tions In the public schools four years
ago. the necessity for making up the
deficiencies of the grades in order that
the pupil might be promoted was dimin-
ished in the minds of good many par
ents. who felt that they would rather
country and seaside rather than swelter
in Washington over their books and
schoolroom desks. Still the demand for
the school has been SO insistent that
Principal Charles A. Johnson, who has
been in charge of the work since it's
inauguration in 1905, determined this year
to introduce a modified plan of study
and meet the requirements Of the re-
adjusted school schedule more fully.
With this in mind, when the Y. NJ. c. A.
vacation school opened June "a. it was
found that the boys from the fifth sixth.
seventh and eighth grades We're present
and that they covered great variety Of
special needs. 1t was, therefore deter
mined to limit the size Of the groups
to five or six and to adopt an intensive
tutorial scheme of instructiol which
would meet the requirements of each boy
supt. Davidson Approves.
As in previous years this institute sum-
mer school for boys has had the indorse-
ment of the superintendent Of the schools
Supt. Davidson in advising the Y. NJ. c.
A. officials of his approval Of the idea
did not hesitate to express his apprecia-
ton Of the effort to aid in this private
way the public service of the s-,.o1ls.
One reason why the public school officials
have been appreciatfve Of the work is not
only because Principal Charles A. John
SON of Smallwood School has been in
cnarge or this work, but the educational
committee of the Y. NJ. c. A. has been
insistent that no boy shall be received
into the school who cannot present a
written Endorsement from his teacher
with specific statements as to his def
c1encies and the subjects In which he
should be thoroughly drilled
Sessions are held every day from to II
in the classrooms Of the association in
stitute in the Central Y. NJ. c. A. No
boy is obliged to attend more than three
sessions in a week, the other days being
reserved for home work The second
term begins the first week in August.
Most OF the boys In the present class
will have finished their work the last of
July. BY this new two-term arrange
ment boys who have taken their vacation
out OF town during July may have the
preparation in August. Immediately pre-
ceding the opening Of schools.
Pupils may enroll at any time, as the
staff Of instructors in the summer school
OF the Y. NJ. c. A. In mathematics and
English includes, In addition to Principal
Johnson. the work Of Prof. l.. Adolph
Richards, Charles ". INLAY and Ralph
McNeai Dunbar. Special work in any
branch of mathematics for the grades
| or for high school or college preparation
and special work in the languages in
cluding English prose composition, Ger
| man and French, may be had.