Newark evening star and Newark advertiser., 1915-09-30

along hard and fast lines, but ex-
perience should guide us in the COM
plete development of the plan best
adapted to our schools.
For many years one of the prob
lens confronting Boards of Eduea-
tion in the larger cities has been
that of providing accommodations
for a rapidly growing school popula=
ton. In many cities, among them
our own, it has been impossible to
provide q sufficient number of class
rooms to give a seat to every child.
The population has increased faster
than buildings could be erected and
the halliday class has resulted. The
long single session, usually in the
low grades, has proved unsatisfactory
to both pupils and teachers, so that
some other solution of the problem Is
demanded
by the adoption of the alternate
class system and n change in the
length of the school days it will be
possible for us not only to give our
pupils a broader education at no
greater cost for instruction, but the
capacity of a given school plant will
be increased from 25 to 35 per cent. at
least.
Reduction In Cost of Maintenance.
I'm the alternate feature is to be
found the reduction of the money
cost of maintenance. The number of
different activities carried on, size of
classes, ETC., none of which are essen
tlal to the plan, will also determine
money cost | use the description
money cost because moral and edu-
eational values must be measured by
other than the money standard.
"In so radical a move it is well to
move somewhat slowly. [ advise,
therefore, that the experiment be first
tried in a few schools only
For purposes of organization a
school is divided into two sections
The proposed time schedule for the
first section is from $3.50 to 11:10 a. m.
and from 1920 to $3.50 p. M; for the
second section from $3.50 to II m. and
from 1:10 to $3.50 p. m.
Public opinion will need to be ad-
justed to the varying school hours
demanded by the new program. The
hours of to II and to have been
customary so long that it will re-
auire some time for public opinion to
view any change with favor.
II would recommend;
'F'irst-That at least three schools,
preferably the two alternating class
schools-the Cleveland and Madison
be allowed to develop their alternat
ing class system i'll such a way as to
give a broader educational program,
while at the same time accommodat-
ing a larger number of pupils than at
present. That in addition the Abing-
ton School be adapted to the system.
"Second-That the superintendent be
given a free hand in perfecting this
plan.
"Thlrd-That the building program
be SO adjusted that, if found de-
sirable, the plan may be extended to
the following schools in the near flu
ture: Fifteenth Avenue. Charlton
Street, John Catlin, and Sussex Ave-
nue..
Name Experimental Schools.
"Fourth-That the three first named
schools, to wit, Cleveland, Madison
and Abingdon, be reorganized as soon
as the necessary arrangements can
be made. These schools are at pres
ent overcrowded and will be COM
PEELED In the near future to provide
for a much larger enrolment than
they now have. All three have audi
toriums; Madison and Cleveland are
equipped with gymnasiums; Abingdon
Avenue with a combination gym
naslum and auditorium; Madison
School has a large well-equipped
playground. and the Physical Train
ing Field Is within a minutes walk
of the Abingdon Avenue School.
ITO put the plan In operation will
require q comparatively small outlay
of money. 1t would probably be nee
essary to construct some sort OF shell
ter over the roof playground at Cleye-
land School. The larger number of
shops and special rooms contemplated
would require little more than the
substitution of tables for desks. The
cost would be largely determined by
the types of special activities. The
desks removed from the rooms could
| be used In other buildings, and in
most cases would practically offset
the cost of new equipment"