Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-10-20

S~~ANN
economic grounds.
20. The enlargement of the pres
ent Technical High school at an ap-
proximate cost, including site, of
$300.000, to accommodate all the
boys.
school for girls at an approximate
cost of 100000 to sS50.O00, not in
cluding site and equipment
"A. The taking into consideration,
In this construction, of the present
junior high school movement. thus
reducing the size and expense of the
buildings suggested for our immediate
high school needs.
"5. That the matter of Capitol
Park site be submitted to the voters
for their approval.
Has Changed Views
Two years ago or even one year
ago l would not have been willing to
advocate all 1 have advocated to-
night. Then our co-education prob
lem was not as definite as it seems to
be to-day The boys were not drift
ing so rapidly to the Technical High
school. Then there were about S25
students there, whereas now there are
$50. Then parents were not so in
sistently as now demanding new
courses in that institution. Two years
ago the agitation of junior high
schools was practically only begin
ming. Now junior high schools are
part of new order of educational
classification throughout the coun-
try.
"It is not the duty or perogative of
the superintendent of schools to Sc
lect sites or erect school buildings.
The most he can do is to state the
needs of the school district as he sees
hA aF11 Et a
he may feel himself qualified to offer
and at liberty to offer This l have
attempted to do this evening. | do
not presume to say that the sugges-
tions l have made constitute the only
solution of our problem. There may
be other and better solutions. But
do say that the course l have out
lined appeals to me personally, after
the most careful study, as the best
one to pursue|'
Conditions Deplorable
The Rotary Club educational COM
mittees report was much similar to
DR.. Downes'. although both had been
written independently and without
any collaboration. DR.. Shope, chair
man, pointed out the deplorable con-
ditions in the Central high school with
its two half sessions daily and the con-
seQuent disadvantages to faculty and
students. He said that the Harrisburg
high school graduates should at least
have as high standing before college
and university entrance boards as such
towns as Lebanon, Greensburg, Cou-
dersport, York, Wiconisco and other
places with only a fraction of this
city's population.
Lays Blame to Citizens
He pointed out that no blame at
taches to the superintendent of schools,
the supervisory principals, the high
school faculty or the School Board.
but laid the blame at the door of Mr..
Citizen and Madame Citizeness-to-b be.
who have not evinced any interest in
the Harrisburg school affairs except
to see that the school tax is squeezed
down to the lowest possible limit"
Based on data obtained after sew
eral years of research and study,
DR.. Shope said that the Rotary Clubs
committee had decided that the high
school problem could be settled best
by the establishing of junior high
schools. the erection of a modern
senior high school for girls and the
alteration of the Technical high school
to make it a general academic and
manual high school for boys The
committee suggested that the present
Central high school, the Shimmell and
the Steele buildings might be used as
three junior high schools.
Urges Junior High Schools
DIR. Shope explained that junior
high school enables the teaching of
the pupil along departmental lines
much earlier than under the present
system and showed that educators all
over the country favor this system of
instruction.
He quoted from statistics by the
best authorities in the country show
ing that the junior high school system
is much more economical than the
present system of eight years of ele-
mentary instruction and four years of
high school. DR.. Downes corroborated
this end of the Rotary committees
report, but said that the figures were
incorrect to some extent, he believed
Dr. Shope declared at the end of his
report that the time is coming when
the high school will indeed be the
peoples college" from which young
men can enter the professional schools
without the burden of time and eX-
pense now demanded in the entrance
clause insisting that applicants have
several years of college work.
Ladies' Night"
It was Ladies' Night" at the Rotary
meeting and the Rotarians right roy
ally entertained their wives and
youngsters. Arthur D. Bacon, presi-
dent, delivered an address on Rotarian
principles and ideals, which was fol-
lowed by a varied program including
the singing of Rotarian songs and the
personal introduction of each mem-
Der of the organization.
Miss Mary Buttorf sang several Sc
lections. and addresses were made by
Casper Dull, president of the Library
Board of Trustees, and Miss Alice r.
Eaton. librarian. Mr.. Dull pointed out
what the library is doing for the city
in an educational way and urged the
Rotary members to boost the library
whenever possible. Miss Eaton told
of the ideals of service which are the
keynote of the present day library,
and read to the Rotarians a list of
books along business and engineering
lines on the shelves which business
men find are helpful. A little blue slip
was passed to the Rotarians which
read:
ASK THE LIBRARY
Our business is supplying in
formation. Let us find you the
right book. Telephone us for the
information you want. Service
cheerfully rendered No charge.
Harrisburg Public Library
George w. Bogar, chairman of the
entertainment committee. told of the
,oIans for tl1a nip puhIic Rotarv nnaat