The midland journal., 1917-07-20
SCHOOLS IN war Time
Activities Should Be Extended,
Declares Doctor CIaxton.
Uncle Sans Commissioner of Educa-
tion Says Children Should
Be Kept in Glasses.

activity for different types of educa-
tional institutions during the war have
been made by DIR. P. P. Claxton, United
States commissioner of education.
After pointing out that attendance
laws should be enforced as usual, Doc
tor ClaXton says:
parents should be encouraged to
make all possible efforts to keep their
children in school and should have
public or private help when they can
not do so without it. Many young
children will lack the home care given
them in times of peace, and there will
be need of many more kindergartens
and Montessori schools than we now
have.
"The attendance in the high schools
should be increased, and more boys
and girls should be induced to remain
until their course is completed. A
school year Of four terms Of IL weeks
each Is recommended for the high
schools, as for the elementary schools.
In the high schools adopting this plan
arrangements should be made for half
time attendance for large proportion
of pupils as possible.
"All laboratories and Misunderstanding
shops in high schools should be run at
their full capacity. In many of the
shops work should be done which will
have immediate value for the national
defense.
'Tn all high schools in which domes-
tic science (sewing, cooking, SANTA
ton, etc. is taught, large units of time
should be given in the summer and fall
to sewing for the Red Cross and for
local charities.
"Classes for grown-up women should
be formed, in which practical instruc-
ton can be given largely by lecture
and demonstration in the conservation
and economic use of food.
'For all boys and girls who cannot
attend the day sessions of the high
schools, continuation classes should
be formed, to meet at such times as
may be arranged during working hours
or in the evening. All cities should
maintain evening schools for adult
men and women. In cities having con-
siderable numbers of immigrants eve
ming schools should be maintained for
them with classes in English in civics.
and such other subjects as will be help
full to these foreigners in understand
ing our Industrial, social, civic and po-
litical life.
''In few states is the supply Of
o1Y nd a I'M n
teachers equal to the demand. The
normal schools should double their
energies and use all their funds in the
most economic way for the work Of
preparing teachers. Appropriations for
the support Of normal schools should
be largely Increased, as should also the
attendance of men and women prepar-
ing for service as teachers.
''The number Of students in colleges,
universities and technical schools
should increase rather than diminish.
Many of the older and upper class
men will volunteer for some branch of
the military service, but all young men
below the age of liability to selective
draft and those not recommended for
special service should be urged to re-
main and take full advantage of the
opportunities offered by the colleges,
universities and technical schools, to
the end that they may be able to rem
der the most effective service in the
latter years of the war and the times
of need that will follow. Practically
all woman students should remain,
and all boys and girls graduating from
high schools should be urged to enter
college, technical school or normal
school.
"In agricultural colleges special in
tensive courses should be given to pre-
pare teachers, directors and supervi.
sors of agriculture and practical farm
superintendents. It should be remem-
bered that the scientific knowledge and
the supervising and directing skill OF
these men and their ability to increase
the productive capacity of thousands
of men of less knowledge and skill are
far more valuable than the work they
can do as farm hands,"