Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-08-10
DECLARATION IN FAVOR
OF VACATION SCHOOLS
Supt. Thurston Expresses Belief in
Utility Of the
System.
Notes Results of Experiment in
Coaching Backward Pupils-May
Ask Appropriation.

Ernest l.. Thurston, superintendent of
schools. today expressed the belief that
Washington should have vacation
schools This is sequence of the
closing of the second year of expert
ment-if it may be called experiment
with few coaching schools for chill
dren who failed of promotion the last
term.
1t is possible that Congress will be
asked next year to appropriate funds
for the school Fairgrounds and coach
ing schools. but it is understood no
action will be taken by the school Of
ficials until public opinion on the sub
ject has been sounded. At present the
school Fairgrounds are supported
through funds raised by the children.
What is regarded as one of the best
reasons for the support of summer
schools by the government is that in
the long run it means a big saving in
money for the government and time
for the child.
Shows Saving in Time.
For instance. during the six weeks of
playground coaching which has just
closed on the few Fairgrounds where
this work was carried on, it is esti-
mated that of 200 children taught at
least $50 per cent will be able to go
to the grade above; in other words, for
$50 children-or more-one-half OF
school year will be saved.
At the rate of thirty children to the
class this means that the services OF
FIVE teachers are saved. or in salaries
more than $4,000. Deducting from this
amount the. comparatively small
salaries paid the teachers at the play
hn
summer months. one has the saving
which the system means to the gov
eminent.
The vacation school as defined by
Supt. Thurston is proper combina-
ton Of the two sorts of schools gen.
orally found doing work in the summer
school. They are school where hand
work is taught. giving the child diff
ferent occupation than studying books,
yet giving him something definite,
positive and constructive to do: and
the study school," where a child may
make up back work, may strengthen
some weak point or may take up ad-
vanced work.
Effects of Combination.
ties that proper combination of these
two kinds of school may be made
without putting any strain on the
pupll-iii 1dCl, tILS CIllluTeH may De
kept off the streets during the sum-
mer and at the same time be given
wholesome and valuable recreation
Pupils in the vacation schools make
better progress than those in the regu-
lar schools, according to observations
made by Supt. ThIrston. Few of those
who attended the coaching schools this
year were compelled to do so by their
parents, Mr.. Thurston explained today,
and the great percentage of them We're
anxious to make up for their lost
studies.
Evince Desire to Learn.
Because of their desire to learn, the
children made much better progress
during the six weeks than they would
have made in a siX-week period during
the regular school year.
More individual attention is possible
in the summer schools because of the
fact that the classes are kept smaller.
The question of discipline SO far has
been a negligible one. So many chill
dren have been DESTROYS of entering the
summer schools that a waiting list has
been kept, and those admitted to the
classes were given to understand that