The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1914-10-30
WASTE IN OUR
........ PUBLIC SCHOOLS
~. y Rodgers. Department
rlqf koueatloo, University o.
i,u l. Mississippi

ard expansion have produced an
economic waste of nen>e proper.
tons. Our losses ~ tire are out Of
all proportion 70 those, ana t 4
charged that the American family
wastes enough to support the aver
age family. This same eHment Of
waste has crept into our system,
and that in various ways.
Il is important that the citizens,
the laYman, recognize in outline our
sources Of waste in schools and as
sist in remedying these defects by
employing teachers who have made
a study'of the profession, and by
calling for professional advice when
a problem in this line is to solved.
As Illustration; il is true according
to official statistics that one child in
every four who 70 through public
school come out with defective eye
sight. This is a serious charge, but
true. Defective eyesight is caused
principally by defective lighting Of
buildings, and yet it costs no more
to light building properly than i'm
properly. The great majority Of
buildings have been constructed
without regard to this most impor-
tant matter. The citizen should de-
mand expert opinion in this, as in
other matters equally as important.
The time spent in school by children
during a year has been decidedly re-
duced as compared with former gen.
erations. aad as compared with other
countries.
BY making Improvements for the
physical welfare Of the children in
ventilation, lighting, gymnastics and
various exercises for his physical
well being, the time per day and
per week might be extended without
his physique being impaired and
and without being unsafe. To this
requirement should be added certain
pedagogical requirements, such as
interest, proper content OF subject
matter, method, etc. The schools
Of other nations run longer per day,
per week, and per year, and the
course is completed at an earlier age
than by the Americans.
The question Of the ORGANlZA-
TION Of schools furnishes a great
source Of waste. Even in a fair
sized rural school taught by one
teacher the classes are many with
but few in each class, and the time
is fritted away in a great number Of
short recitations. Another school
nearby will duplicate this one where
as the two combined would enable
the teachers each to have only half
as many classes with twice as many
to the class, and with recitation time
doubled. One Of the very greatest
sources Of waste is in the rural
school where consolidation is not
appreciated. In such communities
is waste in quantity, quality, finan-
ces, hygine, efficiency Of teachers
and teaching, equipment, and all
phases. But these conditions are
readily remedied where the advan-
tage Of consolidation are had.
There is at present an almost i'm
passable gap for many between the
common school and the institutions
Of higher learning. Consolidation
makes possible high schools for ever.
body. Or high school district
greater than the common school dis
tricts may provide secondary train
ing.
Pupils have different capacities
and abilities, just as they have diff
ferent bodies. Yet they are too fre-
quently all taught in the same way
as though they fitted the same
mould.
For these better programs Of study,
for better sanitation and hygiene,
for better organization and admins
traiion, we have need for better
teachers. For better teachers We
need a better tenure Of Office as they
have in other countries. We neec
more men who do not use teaching