Evening journal., 1916-10-11
cur OUT TIME WASTE AND LOST MOTION.

CUT OUT TIME WASTE AND LOST MOTION.
BECAUSE of the prevalence Of infantile paralysis in
~ Our city, the public schools have opened for the fall
term a month later than usual In consequence, the
usual schedule for the term has been thrown out Of
joint and efforts being made to readiust It to the
extraordinary conditions that exist.
Our Board OF Education already has taken preimi-
nary steps in that direction. Decision has been reach
ed that the early dismissal of pupils Friday ar
tenoons for perfect attendance during the week be
discontinued and that "the remaining weeks of the
school year 1861 be divided into two terms about
equal length and that February 16 1877 be the last
day OF the first the school year February
49, 1917. be the first day Of the second term"
We do not think there will be serious objection in
any to the Friday afternoon plan. but il the
readusment of the school terms under the resolution
quoted above means that 1850 pupils are to be kept
hot stuy. dusty and mperfectly ventilated school
next July when they ought to be out and enjoy
ing the recreative advantages Of the Summer vaca-
ton. do not think the parents in this city will
submit to it.
In addition to the foregoing it also has been sug
gesed that the school day be heightened by hour.
No formal action looking to such a change has yet
been taken by the board.
We submit that it would be wrong for our Depart
Of Education to pile too much Of a burden on
the young shoulders OF the thousands Of and girls
who attend the public schools Such action inevitably
viii result in the impairment of their health and do
harm than it will do good.
Between class work and home work the children
had in the past all the mental and physical strain
they should be called upon 10 endure in the future.
The teachers too have called upon do all they
should be expected TO do with respect to the length OF
the school day and the length of the school term
THAT in a calendar sense month OF the pres
school term has been lost because OF the prevail
OF infantile paralysis is fault Of the pupils
the teachers should they be penazed because of
the conserving precauton represented by that
lost time
II the suggestion that the school day be heightened
hour adopted. and IL the added hour were
divided the studies as TO permit Of longer
lessons il would mean about nine minutes more day
OF classroom devotion each study Il also would
an longer time devoted at home to each
study That would be the result despite the fact that
many Wilmington parents have complained bitterly in
the past of the amount OF home work their children
have been called upon TO do.
Lengthening the school day would cause nconven-
fence and dissatisfaction in thousands OF homes. be
unfair to the teachers and to the pupils and preudi-
cial to their health 1t probably result in little
real educational benefit because of the brain-fag
physical strain that inevitably would result there
from.
II the lenghening Of the present school term which
usually ends on February l. be predcated upon the
thought that the ensuing also shall be extended
and that the Summer vacation OF the pupils and the
teachers shall be shortened correspondence the pro
test that will be raised will be restricted by any
TO those pupils and those teachers Parents who
plan Summer vacations and who value the health of
their children will make themselves heard if a scheme
Of that sort be proposed seriously.
There is no denying that time has been lost There
is denying that it should be made up so far as Il
may be practical and sensible TO do so. Perhaps Il
would better for the Board Of Education and Super
intendent Scott to forget the longer school day
the longer second school term and make up the los
time by cutting out Of the school work at least To-
the school year. such fads and frls ii ma!
have contained in the past and bringing the lessons
and the exercises down to absolute educational funda
mentals. Enough time doubtless is wasted each year
under the system heretofore prevailing to make up