Newark evening star and Newark advertiser., 1916-01-22
DR.. CORSON'S s
PLAN To KEEP
DOWN FAILURES
Confers With Heads of Depart
ments to Increase Promotions
in Language Courses.

EndeaNoring to increase lie num-
ber of promotions and 10 eliminate
the present large percentage of fail
ures resulting in the modern Ian
guage courses in the local high
schools, DR.. David B. Corson. first as
slstant city superintendent of schools,
is holding a conference today with the
heads of the department of languages
in the local institutions.
One of these conferences was held
Yesterday afternoon in DIR. Corson's
office and it was we'll attended. The
purpose of these conferences is to re-
wise the courses in German and
French. The present requirements in
these courses. in DR.. Corson's opinion
are in excess of other high schools
throughout the country
According to DR.. Corson the pres
ent courses in these languages do not
carry out the recommendation made
by the committee of twelve of the
Modern Language Association of
America. This committee, according
to the assistant superintendent, is the
authority on modern languages for
the whole country
I'VE desire to have our courses re-
constructed so that the students TAX
ing these languages will be more sue
cessful." said DIR. Corson Il am re-
ceivinG the hearty cooperation of the
heads of the department In revising
the courses. We will arrive at a more
successful and satisfactory scheme of
study"
UnifyinG the Courses.
According to the assistant superin-
tendent, with the assistance of the
various department heads. he is uni
flying the courses with the idea of
benefiting the students taking these
languages.
THE work in modern languages is
too difficult. We are requiring more
in German and French than is being
required in high schools throughout
the country" said DR. Corson.
1t is the contention of DIR. Corson
that there are too many failures
among the students taking German
and French in the local high schools.
According to records produced by the
assistant superintendent there were
eighty-nine failures in a class of 221
students in a fB class in one of the
local high schools in January. 1911.
Many Failures.
Another example of the unsatisfac-
tory conditions of affairs was shown
by DR. Corson during the last pro-
motion when in 1B class of III
students there were twenty eight
lHlIuTeS. in dnOtner lB class twenty
one failed i'm a class of 104 pupils.
The most glaring example, according
to DR.. Corson, occurred in a IA class
last July, when thirty failed in a class
of forty-four pupils. In a "a class
twenty-five failed in class of eighty
five pupils.
Practically the same results were
obtained in the French classes during
the promotions last July. In a 2B
class there were twenty four failures
in a class of siXty-four pupils. in a
pa class there were ten failures in a
class of forty and in 3B class
eighteen were not promoted in a class
Of forty-eight pupils.
When fully revised the two courses
will be submitted for the approval
of the members of the Board Of Edu-
cation at the meeting of the commit
tee on instruction and educational
supplies, to be held next Wednesday
night.
The heads of the modern language
department include Jennie A. Giehl
OF South Side George A. Genzmer of
East Side; Peter Nicklas, OF Bar
ringer: Elmer w. Triess. of Central,
and Robert Metzger. of Barringer.