Omaha daily bee., 1917-05-20
TO MAKE SURVEY
OF SCHOOL PLANTS
Prof. Strayr of Columbia Uni
versity to Work During the
Summer Under Direction
of New Superintendent.

An expert survey of the public
school plant will be made during the
summer vacation by Prof. Strayer of
Columbia university.
This project has been in the minds
of members Of the Board of Educa-
ton for some time and is recon-
mended by Superintendent-elect Bev-
eridge. who met with the board in
committee OF the whole.
The survey will cost $4,000 and will
give the board a definite program to
which they may work for a period
OF years.
Prof. Strayer will be here within
few weeks and will be accompanied
by two assistants, who are attending
the university, and who will do much
of the field work here for the ex-
perience they will gain
Two New High Schools.
The board will have a definite build
ing plan to submit to voters next
fall when bond proposition shall be
oASiSd Aoi oPPioNdi. III tllC lOl LII
coming survey the question OF junior
high schools will be considered. and
a north side high school will be an
other feature.
1--WE will have something practical
to work to in the future. We will
know what kind of schools to build
and just where to !. "a them," ex-
planned Chairman Wells Of the teach
ers' committee.
1--WE want to avoid the mistakes of
the past and to be guided by expert
advice. 1t wi be the application OF
modern efficiency. Our school sys-
tenn is growing to be an extensive
plant and mistakes are COSTLY" added
Mr.. Wells.
At a meeting of the board in COM
mittee of the whole it was noted that
one Of the comparatively new schools
of the system was erected to accom-
modate $40 pupils, whereas for sew
eral years the attendance has been
half that number.
To Save Cost of Survey.
Mr.. Beverage outlined to the board
the practical phase of the survey
which will be made. He told of similar
surveys made in other cities and
showed wherein the cost of the sur
vey will be saved many times in fu-
ture development of the school
plant.
Next fall the teachers committee
proposes to make a survey of the
course of study and teaching methods
Of the schools. Last year Mr.. Bever-
idge was member of a committee
of the Iowa State Teachers associa-
ton, which prepared an extensive re-
port on Elimination of Obsolete and
Useless Topics and Materials from
the Common Branches" That COM
mittee also prepared THE Positive
Program" which was read before the
annual meeting of the Iowa teachers.
Mr.. Beverage expects to take up
his work as superintendent of the
Omaha schools on July |.
Minimum of Waste.
Mr.. Beverage stated: an survey
of this kind we should keep in mind
economy and efficiency. There should
be minimum of waste, the conserva-
ton of all the good we already find in
the system and the adoption of ap-
proved progressive features. If we
learn that high school already in use
cost $500 to $500 per pupil, and other
cities are building high schools for
$500 per pupil, we should know the
reason"
Believes in Physical Training.
The new superintendent is vitality
interested in the physical welfare of
public school children. He believes
that government statistics from re-
cruiting Offices indicate that more at
tention should be given to physical
training in public schools.
"In one recent year," he said, "only
1888 out of 4l,15S applicants for
United States marine service were &C
cepted as physically fit"
Lighting, floor space and air space
of school rooms are other features he
believes should be fully considered in
survey for future guidance.
ca,,op+oon ThnIicand