The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1916-07-06
WOULD MAKE GOOD CITIZENS
Try to Fit Every Pupil So That at
Whatever Age Compelled to Leave
School He rs Fitted
for Life.

Kenosha was given prominence in
the annual convention of the National
Education Association in New York,
this week when Mrs. Mary d. Brad
ford, superintendent of city schools,
told the assembly how Kenosha got its
Junior High School in her address
before that BODY,
fFThe children Of the rapidly grow
ing, industrial city of thirty thousand
people in the middle west, where I
work, are Indicted to economic rea-
sons for the arrival of the time for
the reorganization of the public school
system,' said Mrs. Bradford fThe
situation there 10 typical. Overcrowd-
cd conditions in the elementary schools
and High School made some sort of
REIMBURSEMENT necessary. The compile
tion of large, new, grade school build
ing permits changes by which it is pos
sible to vacate another grade building
centrally Located, which can accommo-
date the seventh and eighth grades
from five schools, thus starting the
new organization. Our overcrowded
High School wsll also receive the bene-
fit of this change by being freed from
the necessity Of taking care of these
pupils when ready for the ninth year.
The subject discussed here today is,
therefore, one in which I am immedi-
ately and personally concerned.
"In my state, Wisconsin, by very
wise provision, the superintendent Of
schools, or some one in his office, may
be deputized by the State Industrial
Commission to issue child labor per-
mits. An excellent opportunity is thus
offered for finding out the reasons why
children leave school and go to work
The questioner sometimes has evidence
in the child's quivering lip and broken
voice that hard necessity is causing
this step; but oil too frequently the
answers show that these children are
leaving school, not because they are
particularly eager to work, or because
it is necessary for them to do so, but
because of lack of interest in school
The curriculum of the upper grades,
promises them little change from what
they have been doing in the grades
below, and offers them, apparently, no
kinds of work that seem to them worth
while; or else, if ready for the High
School, they shrink from the new ex-
periences which their sensitiveness at
bhis age causes them to dread"
In telling how the Junior High
Schools have tome to adopt the curri-
culum they have, the speaker said:
F'The courses of study being follow
ed in Junior High Schools variously
located show what changes are being
tried in subject matter and in content.
ga common fundamental belief
seems to be shaping these courses of
study-namely, that the school should
return to society at any stage of their
progress, those prepared as far as pos
sible at that stage, to become intelli-
gent, able-bodied, progressive citizens
citizens 'noS only good, but good
for something
"We, therefore, find in these courses,
first, certain fundamental subjects for
every pupil whether he contemplates
entering the high School or not.
These make up the constants Of the
curriculum.
"We find, SECOND, variable elements.
What these axe depends upon circum-
stances, the size of the school, and its
facilities, and the demand of the com
munity, but ia general they point for
ward to some specific vocation or to
further schooling. The courses are
both basal and culminal
"Tn naming the constants" Mrs.
Bradford included, first, English, with
out which forseful, clear expression is
impossible, as is enjoyment of our
wealth of literature Next she incIud-
ed music and iramatization for all.
Citizenship she emphasized as i'm
portant. Physiology, biology and a
course in hygiene she called neces-
sary to desirable moral and physical
life. Mathematics, constructive work,
so that boys learn use of tools and
girls housekeeping.
Mrs. Bradford also gave space to the
discussion of the inclusion of the vari-
able studies, which make electives pos
sible for the pupil. One of the import
ant of the variables, Mrs. Bradford
Said, was foreign language
Miss Marion Jones, formerly of KEN