The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-07-23
Agitation Started by State
Superintendent Greathouse
lis Meeting with Encour-
agement Here.
plan is BELIEVED
TO BE PRACTICAL
County Superintendent Says
\ Legislature Should Make
1t Possible to Hold School
in Summer.

The agitation which is being started
iby Charles A. Greathouse, state super
intendent of public instruction, to hold
school in the cities Of the state prac-
ltically throughout the entire year is
meeting with great deal of encour-
lagement from the local school author
tiles Superintendent T. A. Mott of the
Richmond city schools and Charles o.
Williams, superintendent of the
Wayne County schools believe that
the plans to have school during the
summer months is a practical one and
lone which will meet with popular ia
fvor.
Mr.. Greathouse argues that the an
cient system of breaking up the school
year into several terms and allowing
the school buildings and teachers to
remain idle for long periods in the
summer months should be abolished,
and that a new era, embracing a sys-
tenn very nearly akin to the German
be instituted if Indiana is to keep its
rank in the forefront of the education
'al circles of the United States.
Half Day Sessions.
At least halliday school session
iduring summer months, particularly in
the larger cities, should be devoted to
industrial and domestic education, he
says.
There is no comparison between
the disorganized methods Of maintain.
ing our schools and those used in a
modern business" Mr.. Greathouse
said. II the ordinary business man
should allow ! such things as four
month vacations, with the machinery
of his factory or store lying idle, with
in six months there would be no bust.
ness for him to handle.
"The taxpayers of the state will well
come such an innovation as already
has suggested itself to many of the
leading educational minds of the
state and l am in favor of making a
sincere effort during the 1913 session
of the General Assembly to have laws
enacted that practically will revise the
whole system of our school terms.
There is a general movement in
the direction of having school during
the summer months" said Prof. T. A.
Mott this morning, "and only a few
cities have changed their terms Of
school doing away with the summer
vacation. Cleveland tried the expert
,ment of having summer school for two
years and after thorough test decid-
ed to abandon the summer term of
school.
Will Not Attempt 1t.
&c hn nj fv IN Y,,l
which now has the continuous school
twelve months in the year." continued
Mr.. Mott. Chicago and New York
have continuous school in certain
buildings during the summer months
for those who wish to attend. At pres
;ent there are several cities trying the
experiment, and the result is being
watched with keen interest among the
best known educators of the country"
When asked if any attempt would
be made to introduce the summer
term in Richmnd, Mr.. Mott stated that
at this time there would be no attempt
to hold summer school as there is no
demand, but that sometime in the fu-
ture an effort may be made to hold
summer school in one or two of the
buildings.
The plan benefits the children who
have no occupation during the sum-
mer months. and who are forced to re-
main in the city during the summer
months because their financial circum-
stances will not permit them to take
a summer outing. Any child had better
be in school a half day during the
summer than be idle on the streets
for a whole day.
"This year the Richmond school au-
thorities are conducting two play.
grounds to the end that children who
are idle may have some place to play
under good supervision" stated Mr..
Mott
County Superintendent Williams
stated that legislation should be adopt
ed to make 1t possible to hold school
during the summer months in the cit
les. It would not only raise the stand
ard of efficiency of the teachers, but
aid the children along lines which
they cannot secure during the winter
months. Mr. Williams believes that
courses In domestic science and man.
ual training should be given during
the summer months.
The Summer Vacation?