The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-06-29
N 0 N-ESSENT|ALS
NEED MORE TINE
DR.. Claxton Says Public Schools
Should Give Them Larger
Percentage.
INVESTIGATION STILL ON
Expert Contradicts acti o II
Which Has Assailcd Method
Now i'll Vogue.

The net result of the school in
vcstigation last night was the state
ment made by United states Commits
sioner of Education Il. p. Claxton.
that the Richmond public schools give
too small a percentage OF time to the
so-called noncssential studies, such as
music. drawing, physical culture. man
ual training and physiology. This
statement. said DR.. ClaXton. was based
on general observations of school work
in this country and in Europe.
DR.. j. y. c, Chandler. city superin-
tendant OF schools, addressed the fol-
lowing quest on to DIR. CLAYTON after
the educator had given Il sixty minute
resume on school work in general lay
ing particular emphasis on the rela-
tionship of what he called regular and
special studies.
In the Richmond schools we allot
approximately so per cent. of the time
TO regular studies. arithmetic spelling.
reading, writing, etc. and 20 per cent.
to the special studies. such as manual
ira ming, music. drawing and the like.
From your knowledge such matters,
would You say we allow TOO much time
TO special studies?"
Commcnds Rugby Plan.
i should say that you allow an un-
usually small per cent. 10 special
studies replied DR.. Claxton gu, in
Gary Ind. they have school system
that allots 80 per cent. of tine TO
regular studies and 80 per cent TO
special studies. system which many
educators regard as ideal.
AZ the great English school. Rug
by, special studies are carried so far
that there is faculty supervision Of
recreation. and that school produces
the best educated men in the world"
In regard TO one OF the chief points
behind the school Observation-Disclosures
question whether the elementary
school curriculum OF Richmond is
overloadcd-Dr. Claxton was unable
to give an opinion when asked by
familiarity with the text books and
curriculum of the Richmond system
and answered the question in a gen
eral way only. He did. however. come
out in favor OF a longer school day
for the lowest classes when asked for
his opinion by DR.. Chandler.
Should the first year in elementary
schools be a halliday or a six hours?'
asked DR.. Chandler.
1t is better. a rule. to have a
full day for the elementary classes"
answered DR.. ClaXton. especially II
the regular studies and the special
studies are properly correlated"
Need Music and Drawing.
DR.. C!aXton also announced his APP
~ AZ u sSHOoi oar uSN!HE, ana stat
ed that he believed one teacher for
Richmond schools. to give his entire
time to gardening. would be of ines
Unable benefit Cooking IN white
schools DR.. ClaXton advocated strong
~. particularly. for the higher grades.
In very striking review OF soh4o!
work which prefaced his testimony on
the stand, DR.. Claxton called music
and drawing the heart of education.
The physical education OF the child.
he said, was of far more Importance
than the teaching of all other uplift-
ing sciences. He made a great plea
for specialization in elementary school
work. closing with the statement that
the giving of the same thing to every
child does not mean the giving OF an
equal opportunity for development
and preparation for life.