Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-07-04
Educator Claims Millions
of Taxpayers Money
Wasted Every Year
FOR PRACTICAL IDEAS
National Association Is Told
Youth Must Be Encour-
aged to Earn.

St- Haul, MIMI, July 4.-D1ScuSsion
OF problems confronting the school
superintendent and conditions preva-
lent in rural school districts marked
the opening session today of the SIND
annual convention of the National Ed
ucational association.
One of the chief addresses of the
day was delivered by Lloyd E. Wolfe
of San Antonio. Texas. He said:
The taxpayers of the United States
are losing tens of millions OF dollars
annually through the failure of boards
of education and superintendents in
cities and towns to put into universal
and effective operation the following:
The uniform selection and promo
tion of teachers on merit.
The organization of the teaching
corps. under the superintendent, prin-
cipals and supervisors. for the definite
professional improvement of the
teachers along lines vital to school
room efficiency, with corresponding
credits leading 10 higher certificates.
increased salaries. or normal diplo-
mas.
Observing Efficiency.
THE rigid requirement by boards of
education that superintendents. SUPER
visors, and principals spend most OF
their time in the school rooms criti-
uaIly and helpfully observing COL
plete recitations and reporting the
efficiency rank of the teachers on
each recitation observed.
THE establishment of four weeks
vacation school for pupils conducted1
by the most efficient teachers in the
schools, and a vacation school for
teachers attended by all the teachers
who are neither instructing in the
vacation school for pupils nor attend
ing a first class summer school for
credits.-provided that, on the recon-
mendation of a physician, teacher
may be excused from all vacation
work. forfeiting the salary for the
time excused.
THE substitution of a many-book
course of study for the present few
book course-at least six times as
many books as now, embodying such |
rich detail as will result in maximum
of social efficiency and a permanent |
taste for thoughtful books.
towns. and villages in habits of indus !
try and thrift, through the making of |
minor repairs in the home and school, |
and the use Of back yard, vacant lots, |
and suburban tracts for vegetable, ber-
ry, fruit. and tree culture the train
ng OF girls in habits of industry and
thrift through the systematic use of
he cooking. sewing, millinery, sani-
.ary, and general household plants in
he home; the Training of both boys
md girls through the study and ex-
ordination of disease-carrying insects
md through Identification and santa
ion in the home, the school, and the
Organize Educational Agencies.
The school. the home, the pulpit,
he press. and the platform shoult
mite in creating that sentiment which
will make a boy as proud of earning
md saving as of making a home run
,r touchdown, and a girl prize excel
ence in domestic duties as much as
he now prizes leadership in books or
n society. Although educational ex-
'enditure has practically doubled dur
ng the last decade, our enlarged jails
nd penitentiaries are full. and GRIM
nal costs, divorces. suicides, as calls
or charity are on the increase. To
ne it seems criminal for US who are
Doked 10 for educational leadership
D be Indifferent onlookers while four
lillion adolescent boys and girls in ,
tiles, towns, and villages are grow
lg up in comparative industrial help
,ssness. idleness. and thriftlessness.
Finally. can not this council and the
-ational Education association take
rompt constructive steps TO organize
II the educational agencies and in
in this country for the
early solution of problems
lat 90 TO the very foundation of pop
far education and national prosperity
should like TO see an executive COM
Iittee of this body whose duty IL
ould be to induce the county and
ty school systems. the state educa-
onal departments, normal schools,
nd educational departments In col
ges and universitities, to cooperate =,
a nationwide movement To solve ~
tal and pressing problems agreed
non by this body. II should be the
rther duty of this executive COM .
ittee. through a similar committee 3
each state teachers association, TO u
educate the people. ci
rough the press, upon the great q