The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1917-01-19
Useful Additions to Curriculum
Are Planned by Superin-
tendent Thurston.
LOCAL GEOGRAPHY is ONE
Children Will Learn History of
Capital and Useful Voca-
tionaI Attachments.

What is the shortest route to Kenil-
worth, D. G.. and how good are the
roads on this route?
In what sections of the fty is prop
erty increasing in value, and in what
section sis It deprecisting?
Locate the higher priced shopping
districts and the lower priced shopping
districts
From what sources does the District
get it's milk supply, its meats, its
vegetables?
How many mail deliveries are there
daily in the vicinity OF Eighteenth
street and Columbia road?
Could you pass this examination? If
you can't you won't know as much as
a grade school pupil after the study of
these and kindred subjects relating to
Washington have been introduced into
the geography course.
One OF New Courses.
The study Of civic life in a thorough
and comprehensive manner. is only one
of a series of new subjects which Su-
perintendent Z. L. Thurston is planning
for introduction into school courses next
year.
The other subjects being formulated
for teaching in all grade schools in
clude:
Thrift, with special reference TO val
ues and prices, banking, and insurance.
Some of this work will be introduced
this year following a conference with
teachers next week.
Home finance, with emphasis on house
hold budgets. cooking, sewing. and bug
e. ing Of supplies.
Useful Vocational Training.
Vocational training, to be based on re-
piles now coming in from Washington
business men in response to question
naire sent out by Mr. Thurston asking
what sort OF training is required in vari-
ousssorts of employment here.
The first step toward broadening Of
vocational work was taken this week
with the appointment of teacher in
printing. to divide his time between the.
Smailwood Vocational and the McKin-
ley Manual Training Schools. and to
work the rest of the year in formulat-
ing a practical course.
This arrangement was made follow
ing conferences of the superintendent
with representatives of Columbia
typographical Union. The union has
expressed a willingness, Mr.. Thurston
said, to shorten the time of appren-
ticeship in the printing trade, if
proper training is given in the
schools.
Glasses for Workers.
Continuation schools. part time
schools, and sextension of night
school work will form a part of this
vocational work. Many merchants
have said they will co-operte in part
time school work, a field which has
been developed in other cities, but
not in Washington. Continuation
work will be based particularly on the
need for specialized training by pupils
who are at work, and continuation
schools will be held in the evening.
The work in home economics will
be developed through experimental
work, probably in some outlying
school such as that at Chevy Chase.
Mr.. Thurston wishes to choose a
school for this work which lies in a
community somewhat Segregated so
the results can better be isolated for
study Ninety per cent of the girls
who graduate from public schools, it
is estimated, get married. Marriage,
then, is their vocation. Mr.. Thurston
argues, and home making should be