Evening star., 1914-03-29
ADVOCATES CHANGES IN
PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM
DR.. P. P. Claxton, U. S. Commis.
sioner Of Education, Voices
Views.
Would Consolidate Rural Schools
and Keep Children Outdoors as
Much as Possible.

Radical changes in the public school
systems of the United States were advo-
Gated by DR.. Phflander P. Claxton, United
States commissioner of education, in ar
address at the University Club last even
Ing The several changes which he urged
are now on their way he believes, and
Will be In effect here within twenty-fiv
years. The most important points advo-
Gated by the commissioner were.
1. That the rural schools shall be con-
solidated and that in place Of unframed
girls. "tust out Of their teens" men OF
experience shall be employed at substan-
tfal salaries, who shall act not only as
teachers, but also as leaders in their COM
munity. That these teachers shall be
furnished suitable home or ''teachery,'
just as preachers are given parsonages,
and that they shall conduct q model
farm. keeping in close touch with all the
national agencies devoted to improving
rural conditions and life.
q That instead Of pupils in the city
schools changing teachers every year,
half year or quarter. a teacher shall ac-
company the pupils until they reach
about the sixth grade, or where depart
mental work begins. In this manner
teachers will understand their pupils bet
ter and can act as guides. Much greater
advance could thus be made.
For Shorter Grade School.
g. To have a six-year elementary
school instead of an eight-year institu-
ton, the high school being six years in
length. At present the seventh and
eighth grades for the most part are
marking time or the pupils in them
are being taught high school subjects by
teachers who are trained for elementary
teaching only.
4. That many Of the colleges
throughout the country which are now
lege courses become preparatory schools
or junior colleges in which pupils can
be prepared for their freshman work. In
this manner the mortality rate by
trants die before completing the junior
year would be greatly lowered and a
probable rs per cent would be successful.
These junior colleges should have only
men OF the highest ability and person. i.
ality.
Children should be made to do work.
preferably gardening or other work
that would keep them out of doors, Mr..
Claxton said. THE children ought not
to be ground in the shop or the mill,
soil, their head in the sunshine and
breathing good air. They will go home
tired and with health for their old
age" By this means many children
could stay in school longer than at
present.
Favors "Half-and-Ha1f" Plan.
DR.. Claxton also advocated half
and-half" plan for Washington by
which boys and girls who have to work
would go to school one week and work
in a store or factory the next week.
This plan has been tried with con-
siderable success in many places, he
said
Following DR.. Claxton's address, former
Senator Marion Butler of North Caro-
lima offered a resolution asking the au-
ditors to pledge their support to the
speaker in his efforts to improve educa-
tional conditions here The resolution
was unanimously adopted. 1t was ex-
planned during Mr.. Buffers discussion
that the amount of money asked for by
the bureau of education this year was
three times that previously requested.
and that If the amount asked was re-
ceived for fifty-six years 1t would be
enough to build one battleship.
Many local educators were in the audi
ence. Claude N. Bennett presided.