Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-06-16

and direction, and this means not only
funds sufficient to employ a competent
person to take the whole matter in
{ charge, but enough to supply trained
assistants, TO provide facilities in the
various centers for the education, rec
reauon, and amusement of those at
tending"
Manual Work i'm Grades
Upon the subject of manual train
ing and domestic science in the gram
mar grades Dr. Downes discusses
these needs at some length.
There ought to be courses in at
least woodworking, cooking and sew
ing IN the grammar grades. Should il
be decided to provide for junior high
schools in connection with the general
high schools plan now being devised
by the board, facilities will then doubt
less be provided for pursuing these
subjects in connection with the junior
high school plan now being devised
/ nigh schools are not TO be established,
the work should be inaugurated at an
early date in the grammar grades as
at present organized"
Wants Physical Director
What Harrisburgs school system
really needs in tho development of
physical education. in DIR. Downes'
opinion, is general physical super
visor. incidentally discussion of the
physical educational problem suggests
l.
tary question. He says:
What is really needed is a director
of physical education, whose duties
would include the supervision of the
athletic activities of the entire school
system and the direction of physical
education In general. An investigation
would indicate, | think, that such an
| of1cer is part of most city school
systems.
During the past two years the ques-
/ ton of military training in the schools
has received considerab attention
throughout the country. While many
advocates of such training may be
found, a still greater number, doubt
less, may be found who believe that
the best contribution to preparedness
that our schools can make is a system
of physical education that will fit the
youth of the country for such tests of
physical endurance as would be re-
quired in actual service. To my mind,
our schools cannot neglect at least
this much looking toward our nations
safety.
"A few weeks ago the president of
the board suggested that the work of
physical education should begin with
proper ventilation, temperature and
sanitation in the schoolroom. To this
/ heartily subscribe, and l hope that
these important matters may receive
the attention which they deserve"
Training Schools
! The teachers training school ques-
! ton IS touched upon as follows:
1T has been our CUSTOM since the
establishment of the teachers training
school, to supply the needs of the dis
| trict in the elementary grades, as far
! as possible, from the list of graduates
! of this school. BY this plan 1t is prac-
tically impossible for graduates of
state normal schools or other insti-
| tutions, presumably as we'll equipped
as our own school for preparing stu
dents for the profession of teaching
to secure employment in Harrisburg.
Il believe that some plan can be
/ devised that will protect the interests
of the training school and at the same
candidates from without the city
school system. My proposal would be
! to reduce the number of admissions to
each class of our training school, ap-
proving applicants in the order of
| their general excellence until the pre-
scribed list has been reached and to
admit outsiders as needed, after the
| training class list has become eX-
hausted, in the order of their merit as
determined by competitive exami-
nation"
Would Beautify Buildings
The Telegraph window box cam
paign is suggested in the school super
intendent's recommendations relative
to Identification of the school grounds
and buildings. On this subject DIR.
Downes SAYS:
School Identification
ut is a fundamental principle of
school government that physical en-
vironment has much to do with
child's development and may even
have an important bearing upon his
conduct and character. The entire
spirit of a school Is often changed by
changed surroundings. A schoolroom
should be as bright and cheerful as
the best of homes. and an example in
cleanliness and attractiveness to the
poorest of them. There is no reason
why a school yard should not be as
we'll kept as a public park. and no rea-
son why the interior of the school
building should be any less attractive
and stimulating than the interior of
well-ordered home. We refer here to
clean floors, dustless benches and pol
ished windows, as well as to fresh
paint and decorated walls.
| The Returns
Anything that will eventually be
done to make the school environment
more agreeable and attractive will
bring MANIFOLD returns for the pains
taken or the money expended"
In discussing the high school Ques-
ton DR.. Downes shows by a table that
the percentage of pupils who attend
the high school is increasing each
year. During the year Just closing
nearly 9 per cent. of the citys entire
student body attended the high