El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-08-25
ADVANCEMENT IS SH0WN MALL
GRADES Of THE CITY SCHOOLS.
Attendance Increases - to Is PERCENT Junior High
Grade Inaugurated; Benefit Of Model Building Is
Shown; Going in for Physical Instruction, Teacher
Training and Community Service.



the great advantage 70 a city OF n
good high school building with ample
room and proper equipment Inc
members TO graduate from the senior
high school department last year
were five Iu the negro and 90 lu vs. llLe
high school. making a total OF 100 or
ten percent OF the enrolment This is
two percent higher IMAM IN previous
years
High school Library Feature.
A new feature of high school work
was the opening Of the library with
a trained librarian in charge and
greatly increased facilities for study.
In this respect Fl PasO has taken an
advanced step In high school training.
The additions 10 the library last year
amounted TO over $500 and about the
same amount viii be added during the
coming year. The number OF vol
umes this year viii be about $500.
split Junior High.
Owing 10 the prospective growth In
the high school and in the Alta vista
and san Jacin.O schools next session
IL viii be necessary 10 split the junior
high school department. returning the
seventh grades TO the elementary
schools and sending all eighth grade
students 20 the high school building.
ais is not an ideal plan, but it IS
, hoped that DO U-l be only temper
AIRY arral cement
In the near future FL Pas0 should
have TWO separate junior high school
buildings one Tor the north side OF
the city and another for the south
side These schools should include
the seventh. eighth and ninth year
students. In TINS way the advauta ges
Of the junior nigh school can be pre-
served and the distance 10 school
would be greatly. reduced for sucn
students. Inc Bailey and san Jacinto
schools would do for the beginning
Of such a plan. II the senior high
school continues 10 grow a its pres
ent rate some such arrangement may
be necessary within two years.
Physical Education Distinctive.
One OF the distinctive features or
the Fl Faso school system is its op-
portunity -or physical education The
need OF physical training has been
forcibly demonstrated during the past
year in the number OF young men
that have been rejected by the army
and navy. il reports are correct
from so to so percent have been
turned away as physically unfit such
a condition places a great responsible
ity on the schools of the nation Fast
currIculums have been given over TOO
much 10 book work with consequent
neglect Of the development OF the
physical side OF the child. The well
balanced course or study must give
attention 10 the physical being as
well as 10 the Intellectual and moral
The sound body IS the necessary
abiding place % the sound mind,
No BeNeAoNlueAA DuN OF SCHOOL
We have been too prone TO leave
the physical development Of our chill
Qren IN this CouU try until after school
time Recent surveys iu several cities
F OF the cou1 try SHOW that on the aver
{ age children out Of school are oCcu-
Z pied as follows
Working. nine percent. playing. 40
percent, loafiuE. a percent But the
statement ls made that about one
I half of the play is mere foolng in
I eel Han
I dren out Of every five out Of school
are engaged In any activity that by
any rational standard can be Cousid-
cred as worth while for the promo
I tiOn OF visor and vitality
The I'd Iaso Se-oOl authorities have
been endeaTOrlnE 20 meet this all-Im-
pOrtant phase of education during the
/ past four years by giving time and
place on the programs for systematic
drills in calistheuiCs and play actiVi-
ties under the direction Of trained
Z teachers In the elementary schools
approximately 45 minutes a day are
given 60 such training and during the
coming year all students Of the high
4 school viii be required TO train i'm the
gymnaEiums or I'm the cadet corps.
To Have Teacher Training.
/ u is proposed 10 establish courses
+ for the training or teachers in the
I school during the coming session.
/ These courses, supplemented by OBJ
I servation and practice in the elemen-
/ tary schools. enable students gradual
ing from the high school to secure
I first grade teachers certificates and
with the two additional years now be-
/ ing offered by the College Of the CITY
I OF Fl PasO such students may secure
/ permanent state certificates author
/ iZing them to teach for life In any
| public school in the state. The es-
Enlistment Of this department should
: be Of distinct advantage to the citi-
zens OF Fl Paso and the ueighboring
I section who wish TO take teacher
/ training courses. because 70 viii ma
] terially reduce their expenses and add
greatly TO their opportunities for
practical work and observation IN a
good system schoOis.
Agricultural Courses Offered.
The number OF high school students
who are directly or Indirectly inter
3 ested in local agricultural horticul-
tural and ranching activities has
prompted the board OF trustees TO Of
z fer courses in these branches during
the coming session. The success or
this venture will depend largely on
] the kind OF advice given to high
school students by their parents and
] teachers. All signs at present point
TO profitable careers in these indus
tries and a. behooves the advisors Of
I high school students to see and take
| advantage OF conditions.
It is believed too that this DEPART
meut Of agriculture can be made OF