The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-07-16
END is NEAR IN
SCHOOL INQUIRY
DR. Chandler Concludes Case for
Board at Threc-Hour
Hearing
CURRICULUM IS ALL RIGHT
Superintendent Ascribes All Ills
to Crowded Glasses and
Short Equipment.

IN my opinion the School Investi
eating Committee has been barking
up the wrong tree in going after the
curriculum; the investigation should
have gone into the ovcr-crowded con-
dition OF the schools-thats the only
real source Of trouble. Under pres
ent conditions Of operation 90 not
believe that the curriculum now in
force can be improved"
In these words superintendent J. y.
c Chandler. Of the Richmond Public
schools, summed up the problem
which, in his opinion. oonfronts the
committee The hearing last night
dragged Tor more than three hours
and Yielded nothing that had no, been
thoroughly throshed uut by witness
es al earlier meetings. The only rea!
gain was IN the completeness OF the
survey DR.. Chandler fortified him
self with a pitcher OF ice water and
lemon, and in the space OF three
hours reviewed the entire elementary
school system, placing before the com
mittee, In easily digestiole form, what
he considered TO be the things which
most needed attention.
Would Eliminate Nothins.
II would eliminate no subject ut
present taught IN Inc primary
schools" said Or. Chandler Some
shortening or modification might. OF
in most cases, be attained by proper
correlation"
While as regards the general cur
Iiculum. the exercises in hand work
and drawing might probably be re-
duced 10 per cent, said Or. Chandler,
he would not modify the courses In
music or physical education. He
would. by all means. he said. retain, and
md even enlarge, the manual training
courses.
As regard. the retention Of the
group system, DR.. Chandler was posi-
tive in his statements.
The greatest curse of most schools
is the system OF uniform grading II
demands sameness and dead level
OF uniformity which is opposed TO
the history OF human development.
and to every law OF psychology
The group system. he said. en-
rourases independent study and Gull
tivates in tho child habits OF initia-
tive which It must gain somewhere in
us V-all.!NE OF Go WITHOUT during the
rest OF life
Ninny Recommendations.
IN concluding his testimony. Dr..
Chandler asked permission OF the
chair to submit number OF recon-
mendations TO guido the committee
in making up its report 10 the Coun-
Gil. In hts opinion they represented
the most pressing needs Of the public
schools. With these supplied, he
thought. the school problem will ap-
preach measurably nearer solution.
First amons hts recommendations
was an appropriation for thirty teach
ers TO separate \ and q grades. so
that each grade could have 400 min
utes per week. instead OF 900 ana 100.
respectvely. The amount needed from
september - to January for this
project would be $500. This would
mean an addition to the pay roll next
Year OF s15.5OO
Another thing much needed he said.
was an appropriation at once to turn
John Smith school into a vocational
school at q cost of 500. 600 for cquip-
ment Dr chandler recommended also
That the city employ special teachers
in hand w".k Throughout the system.
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