Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-02-21

right Mt this pointg BY the simple ex-
pedient OF putting the high schools on
a basis of twenty-five pupils per
teacher there would result an annual
saving OF more than s250,0oo. Again.
the striking gap between the ENROLL
ment of eleven In n class in one OF
the higher schools as compared with
an enrolln,Snt OF seventy-two In
class In one Of the elementary schools
cannot fail to arouse questioning. Still
again, study might make clear the
reason for the extravaganza of run
ming Two schools for the preparation
OF teachers when surely the consollda-
ton of the two would be more eco-
nomical in overhead charges II nothing
else.
These then are the general and some
particular charges against the public
school system.
Are they justified?
They have, at least. stirred the Board
OF Education to definite action. Econ
omy through efficiency" is the slogan
OF the first annual report of Edwin
Wolf. the new president OF the school
board.
The first step toward the adoption Of
the economy through efficiency" pan
was taken at the February meeting or
the board. II was decided to appoint a
bility OF cutting down expenses and In
creasing efficiency through the means
suggested by Mr.. Wolf. The committee
consists OF william Rowen. Simon Gratz,
Dinner Beebcr, Thomas Shallcross.
John Wanamaker and Franklin Smed-
| ley. chairmen of the standing commit
tees. investigation OF the school system
BY this committee has encountered de-
lay because of the inaction of the COM
mittee in considering recommendations
| for improvements embodied In the an
nual report of the president of the
\ board. upon which such action hinges.
| The committee has not yet organized to
act on the report
Meanwhile an investigation by out
side dislnterested parties suggested by
| Doctor CARRIER, superintendent OF schools
He says:
| am glad that the board has de-
| cided to make survey OF the pubic
school system of the city for the pur-
| pose of securing the highest possible
| degree of efficiency. ! believe such a
survey should be made by thoroughly
competent persons outside our own
school system rather than by any
group within the system Such an
investigation, TO inspire public CONT
dencc. must be by disinterestcd per-
sons
How well Its ScnOoI system Is DelnB
administered IL apt to be perennial
question in a community, and. when
doubt arises, the wise course would
seem to be TO institute the kind OF
procedure best calculated to arrive
NJ and make public the facts as a new
basis for the interest and confidence
of the public In its schools. As this
question has been raised through sew
eral important requests recently sub
| mitted TO the board and Is also sug-
gested in the annual report of the
president OF the board, I therefore
sincerely hope that the board will see
It's way clear through the committee
in whose hands It has placed the mat
ter, to secure an educational survey
| of the public schools OF onr city to
| be made by persons who are Compe-
tent through dlsinterestedness, train
| ing and experience to arrive at the
| facts. Whatever weaknesses may
exist would thus be more likely 10 he
discovered and remedied whatever
there is of strength would thus be
more likely to receive public recog-
milton and approval.
A distinction, however. is drawn b!
an official of the board between "consid