The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-01-01
OUTLINES
PROGRESS OF
EDUCATION
More Democracy in Schools OF
the Country, Says Federal
Commissioner.

WASHINGTON, Jan. LIN strtk-
ing contrast with the upheaval IN
Europe is the peaceful advance OF
education In the United States as re-
corded in the 1915 report OF tns
commissioner of education.
Educational preparedness ts tine
dominant note of the commissioners
report. The upbuilding OF systems OF
Industrial education. whereby Amer
ica's natural resources are to be CON
served and developed through techs
nical trade training, to the end that
the nation may render highest SER
vices in the markets OF the world
the establishment of stronger com
mercial courses In public high schools
designed to meet the new interna-
tional trade courses in public: the
opening OF the Panama canal, the
European war. and the closer rela-
tions between the countries or North
and South America; the improve
ment of rural education, SO that the
boys and girls In the country may
have equal opportunities with Doys
and girls in the city, and that the
siEnifieance of agriculture and couri-
try life in national well-being may
be fully understood. These and other
problems wherein education plays 2
! Fundamental part are discussed In
the report and progress during the
current year outlined.
More Democracy. s
IN GeGeral, the report finds there
has been d real increase during the
year in progress toward that equaltt1f
of educational opportunity which -
essential In a democracy This ~
Indicated. declares Commissionels
Claxton. in his Introduction to the
report. in greater interest In the
health and care of young children
and in better type of home euu-
cation. In the revival OF interest IN
the kindergarten as an integral part
OF the public school system; IN in.
creased appropriations for longer
terms and better salaries Of teachers
particularly in rural commup!tieH
where school terms have been short
and salnries OF teachers have been
small; in the enactment of school at
tendance laws in some OF the states
which have not until now had such
laws, in the adoption OF the larger
unit OF administration OF rufaE
schools in several states; in the rnla4
ing OF standards OF required prepArn5
tion for teachers In some states ana
in the extension of the means Or
preparing teachers in normal schools
in departments of education IN col
leges, and especially in teacher
training classes in high schools; n
the Increased attendance in hi8n
schools: and in the differentiation OF
work and the adjustment of courses
of study in schools of all gredes 70
meet the needs of children OF vary
ing ability and the vocatlonai ~
OF the communities." v
REORGANIZATION OF schools.
Some progress has been made
within the year in the reorganization
ar the twelve-year OF elementary ana
high schools on the basis OF two
equal periods of six years each
There is a better understanding Q4
what college standards should p4
and colleges are trying more anu
more to adjust themselves to these
standards. This is made easier by
the constant Improvement Of the
public and private high schools enN
especially OF the public high schools.
.sThe elevation OF the stRndofl4
OF professional schools 10 due InEG G4s
iy to the demand for higher etepn-
al ds of professional life. MS mas
been accelerated by several enryeLe
of professional schools maae
some OF the great educational found
tons"
Surveys.
..The demand for inteliigent en0
comprehensive surveys Of ths can
ment. administration. and work OF
Individual colleges and sch0oir er<'
of state. county and cizy GystanfN
Of schools continues. Tno p1xnos9
OF these surveys II not to And fault a
but to make an Intelligent acc0iill
ing OF the schools and their re8sItts
to the people who support them e1'.
are served by them. ana - p4Ez5ni8
to discover means OF Improving them
and making them render ilIIe1
ilaeaslire OF service. Within tia Seer
several very valuable surveys s0f ftsio
Kind have been made. and more are
now under way The reports ~ these
surveys already consts tute 2 uqiQu4
and valuable body Of educ4flQf1I