Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-10-25
OUR ELEMENTARY
SCHOOLS IN NEED
Superintendent Martins Appeal
Seconded by Journal of
Education

CNMALL the elementary schools continue
~ to wear the old clothes Of high school
boys and girls? That is a question that has
been raised and that cannot be suppressed.
In the Philadelphia EVENING LEDGER,
September 12, Superintendent A. s. Martin,
of Norristown, Pa, had an article on "1ne-
qualities Of Expenditure in the Public
School System" It is the ablest presenta-
ton of comparative cost of elementary and
high schools that we have seen. 1t presents
with great thoroughness the facts as they
appear officially for New York, Chicago,
Philadelphia, Cleveland, Pittsburgh and
Baltimore.
As usual a city that is hard hit yells at
the umpire. We are grateful for the study
1t is of inestimable service. We think it
silly for any city to whine at facts. When
every player muffs the ball 1t makes mighty
little difference which muffs the most
On the other hand, we have no interest in
any effort TO show that the city high
schools in those six cities get too much
for buildings, equipment, supervision and
teaching, but we are intensely grateful to
! Superintendent A. S. Martin for giving re-
newed and definite emphasis to the vicious
neglect Of The elementary school buildings,
equipment and teaching.
| Far be It from us to object to all the
| high schools get, but we protest against the
| elementary schools wearing out to a finish
/ the old clothes-buildings equipment and
grounds-which the high schools cast off.
The next great problem in American edu-
cation is to magnify dignity and intensity
,l,1 II f0rh
! school has taken the two upper grades
away from the elementary school, In this
| we rejoice In this we have had a large
mart That was the problem until II was
| achieved But 1t has left the elementary
| school in a worse plight than before. II
virtually removes all hope in most cities of
having any men In elementary schools.
This is no argument for or against men
principals. We merely state a fact 1t is
a condition and not theory that con-
fronts the elementary school of the future.
We recently heard a prominent business
man who is much interested in education
saw: 81 was the youngest of three boys
and l hated school until / got to college
because always used the books my broth
ers had made very much secondhand"
| one of the great sayings of John II
Francis. now of Columbus, is: '"The ele'
mentary schools must be made as spec
tacular as high schools before they car
get public attention.
Evervwhere we hear it said as an argu
r,ent for the junior high school that the
elementary school needs "the old building.
| Danver has taken one of her very ole
buildings and has made il absolutely al
mn 10 date as though it were new. II car
he done anywhere. Pass the slogan alonI
the line--au along the line? mo more oil
clothes for elementary schools"
The kindergarten and the primary schoo
ore full of pep" They are spirited, haV
Games and all sorts OF fun. No one hear
Of f"drIllt-boring-be the fourth grade
hut n Is about all one does hear in tn
tourth. flfth and sixth grades These ar
the very boys and girls to make school an,
, community games. picnics and pageant
wildly successful
Those are years In which teachers an,
superyisors putter, nag and boss most ex
| cruciatingly
Z THE burden Of the song of the teacher 4
This grade is all too apt TO be- you'll no
get promoted" Let the thVee elementar
grades have a place, purpose, a mission,
message ali their own. Let no teacher b
better equipped or better paid than tn
elementary teacher.-Boston Journal Z
IThe article referred 70. entitled Unequal
tiles OF Expenditures IN the Public Schos
svsten." is one OF several on eduoaflonl
problems BY A. s. Martin, snperlntondrI
IL schools Of NorfiHtOwn. Pa. which has
nonnnred t6oent|y |o the EVDNIN4 I0UIa
IneE1 n1IIc|r. have attracted much 4II1NI|