Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-08-23
WILLIAM PENN HIGH
SCHOOL HEAD URGED
FOR SUPERINTENDENT
William ID. Lewis Has Boom for
Post of Chief Of Philadel-
phia's Educational
Department
MODERN" IN METHODS
Revolutionized System Of Promotions
in Face Of Strong
Opposition

William u. Lewis. who declined a po'
sltion as assistant superintendent Of New
| Nork's public schools year ago. to re-
| main In this city at a smaller salary, Is
/ now being doomed as the head OF Phlla-
! dClphla's educational system.
Mr.. Lewis is head OF the william Penn
/ High School for Girls, 18th and Wallace
| streets. He came TO this city FIVE years
! ago to succeed Dr. Cheesman A. Herrick
when the latter left the principalship Of
the William Penn High School to become
president Of Girard College.
Mr.. Lewis had been principal Of the
North High School. OF Syracuse, for a
year when he was called by the local
Board OF Education. His work here at
once prompted adverse criticism. Mr.
Lewis began his career in Philadelphia
by reorganzng the promotion system Of
the school.
The grading methods were antiauated
he believed. and when he set out to
abolish them educators with 18th century
notions gazed with horror upon his icon
oclastic efforts He eliminated the words
freshman sophomore" etc, from the
Technology Of the school government.
Students were not promoted" in the
generally accepted sense. II girl were
deficient in algebra. she was required to
work at algebra until she demonstrated
10 the faculty that she had overcome its
difficulties. II she showed extraordinary
ability as a French scholar, she remained
in the French class only as long as was
necessary to master the entire French
course. She could not be held back" by
students Of lesser proficiency. Nor could
her failings as an algebra student inter-
fere with the progress of her more mathe-
matically- minded classmates
This was the promotion by subject"
method employed successfully in other
cities but generally discountenanced in
Philadelphia until the advent OF Mr.
Lewis This step accomplished, he re-
vised the curriculum. Mr.. Lewis decided
that II a girl intended to become a book
keeper, she should not be denied a di-
ploma because she was hopeless as
chemistry student.
In churches and at teachers meetings,
In magazines and I'm educational journals
he preached the doctrine that od-fash-
ioned pedagogy was "all wrong" and the
more numerous the protests at his
preachments the wider became his repu-
tation. Offers from college corporations
were followed by a request from the New
York Board Of Education that he accept
an assistant superintendency.
He would have received n greater salary |
han Philadelphia paid him, but he de- |
clined the job preferring to remain in |
his city to continue his propaganda of
modernism" He is now paid S45OO a |
year. II he is elected Superintendent he |
will receive twice that amount
Two members OF the Board of Educa- /
ion have anonymously declared that he is |
a strong" candidate. While not commit
ing themselves to vote for him, they in- |
Heated that they would probably act in |
lis favor Numerous other candidates,
everal OF them women, have already
,een mentioned.
Mr. Lewis was graduated from Syra-
use University in .S92 and was a member
Il the Phi Beta Kappa Fraternity. He I
aught in the Syracuse schools for sew
raj years before becoming head OF one
4 it's high schools.