Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-10-18
Supt. E. [. Thurston, in Annual
Report, Urges Reforms in
Educational System.
FOR TEACHERS PENSIONS

! AUl6 70 LILO 0uuCdllOuhA oySlCn VI
Washington. The report is about 10000
words In length. and embraces . num-
ber Of statistical tables.
Here are q few Of the salient points
the superintendent makes:
washington's public schools are being
used widely as community and social
centers. but should be used even more
extensively.
The need for vacation schools has
been proved. This system should be
extended as expediently as possible.
Substitution of supervised study in
school in place Of home study is desir-
able. Steps In this direction are to be
taken as expediently as feasible.
Method Needs Improvement.
The present method of furnishing
substitute teachers is weak and needs
Improvement Plans for a new method
are outlined.
Incorporation Of elementary business
courses in new Central and Eastern
High schools offers Business High
School opportunity for more technical
manship. window dressing and account
ing are advocated.
A teachers retirement provision is
needed.
supervision are needed. Work In this
field has proved its value.
The school system should nave
digestive system" for testing and re,
search work A small research board
probably will be organized in the. near
future.
The report, speaking of the COM
munity use of school buildings, shows
that in the white schools buildings were
used for forty-eight mothers clubs.
parent-teacher associations and similar
organizations: nine were used Tor cit
liens associations, and ffty-four were
used for other civic and community
bodies. In the colored schools thirty
five buildings were used for mothers
clubs, parent-teacher associations and
similar organizations: seven for cit
bodies. The total membership using
the buildings was approximately
1854, of whom 9,2s6 were white and
1856 were colored.
Community Use Desirable.
TT is evident" says the report, that
the people of the community intend to
use their schools in Increasing measure
and that is as it should be. With
Increasing use has come increasing ac-
S,laintance. The various associations
offer splendid opportunities to school
officials to put before the parents ana
CltlZ608ulD
desires Of the educational system. and
to secure in return the real reaction
of the community. With knowledge
and acquaintance must come power OF
accomplishment and right co-opera-
ton"
Saying that while home study for
some pupils has certain advantages, II
places many pupils under marked dis
advantages, Supt. Thurston states:
more and more am Of the opinion.
considering our system as a whole. that
the problem of studying and now 10
study is a school problem. to be met IN
school I believe we must begin to
weigh seriously the best plan for intro
duction Of definite, supervised study. at
least in the higher grades and IN the
veloped this should mean a reduction OF
retardation losses a lessening OF dis
couragement and a saving in student
lives. 1t may mean more teachers or
more teachers temporarily only. 1t may
mean a slight lengthening OF school
hours. but accompanied by absolute
freedom from school demands when the
school hours are over. IT certainly
means some readjustment OF our teacn-
ing methods"
The group principal plan, whereby
one principal has charge OF two or
more schools. has proved successful, III !.
difficulties. the teachers conducting the
experiment, who conferred with me
when the year was over. showed inter-
est in it, recognized its possibilities Tor
greater efficiency and expressed de-
sire to keep on" says the superintend-
emit
Would Extend Bank System.
Speaking of the success of the school
banks. Supt. Thurston presents a plan
for the extension of the banking sys-
tenn in the grades. The main feature
of the extension work is that it does
not provide a bank for the individual
school. but merely makes the teacher
responsible up to the time that the pu-
pill deposits a dollar to his credit in a
local savings bank
Supt. Thurston dwells at consider
able length on the future Of Business
High School. In this connection he
points out the need for a more techni-
cal course, including craftsmanship and
an opportunity for Continuation
work.
The Business High School should
become great, technical business
school. training for special fields of
bination high school is likely to at
tempt. The great field of salesman
ship offers wonderful opportunities for
direct instruction and for cooperation
with the business community. There
should be developed also extensive
courses in advertising and window
dressing. in stock keeping and distri-
button systems and in the work of ex-
ecutive secretaries. There should be
developed a practice plan in advanced
stenography and Office work and in ac-
counting, whereby students would
spend part time in actual Offices. Just
as our normal students are required to
do in practice teaching. The various
Offices in the school system and at the
municipal building might well Coop
crate IN this work.
There should be. also. properly or
ganized continuation school depart
fnent in the Business High School
when business men are ready for it
for those Of their employees who may
f@ spared part time and who need ad-
ditional training of high school grade
Everywhere fields for broader service
80 the community suggest themselves
The city study we are now making
Will make evident many. Surely the
friends Of Business High School should
not fear but rather should rejoice.
For Salesmanship Study.
"The matter of teaching salesman.
ship is worth considering. aside from
the Business High School. The ele-
ments Of retail salesmanship NIGH
wen be taught at other schools fol