Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-02-27
'U.S WANTS STUDENTS
10 STAY IN COLLEGE.
Educator at Shore Declares
Government Against Whole
sale Enlistments Now
WILL NEED MEN LATER
Elimination Of School Vacations Sem
sational Wartime Measure
Urged as Necessity
By M,LIss
ATI.ANrIc, CRY Iteh. g7

lions desires to see the schools Of the
nation operating at full strength dur,
ing the war. DIR. Philander ClaXton,
United States Commissioner of Educa-
ton speaking before the educational
publishers today. declared the Govern
ment sentiment to be absolutely opposed
to the wholesale enlistment of college
students.
This is going TO be a loug war he
said. personally | believe 1t will last
until tsei We shall have need for the
young men trained in colleges. The full
sentiment Of the Administration is that
the educational processes should not be
hindered. No student should leave coll
lege now and none should leave for war
service, but every man should remain
until definitely called. Even ir II is
necessary TO exercise restraint, the stu
dent should stay When tile Govern-
ment wants him. Il will call him
At a meeting of the Department Of Su-
perintendence, DIR. IL. b. Teitrick. deputy
State superintendent of public instruc-
ton at Harrisburg, fayed tue county
system of school administration and
lauded the township method which Is
directly answerable to the state.
THE county units" he declared. do
more and do less and keep out of
prison than any other part of the edu-
cational system"
Dr. George II. Strayer OF Columbia
University. made plea for greater
publicity to keep the people acquainted
with local schools
Kindergarten problems were consid-
cred by many of the women delegates
today. DR.. Mary &. G.. Bradford, presi-
dent Of the National Education Asso-
ciation. told the kindergarteners that
the sending OF children To the kinder
gartens at the age OF four years should
be made mandatory by State law.
Miss Anna Williams. supervisor Of
Philadelphias kindergartens. explained
the difficulty of launching the kinder
garten idea in Pennsylvania In 1911
and the work of the University of Penn
sylvania in spreading the propaganda
among the ''Pennsylyania Dutch"
DENIES OFFER OF MONEY
Emphatic denial of the reported sc-
count that IN a. statement issued by
him, the United States Government had
offered S22l .000, 900 to be used for
teachers salaries throughout the coun-
try. contingent upon the states con-
tributing double that amount, was made
by the United States Commissioner OF
Education. J.. T. Claxton today.
II have no money to offer" Doctor
Claxton said. What I did say was that
should like TO see that amount appro-
priated. and I believe that II the senti-
ment for it Is carefully worked W
throughout the country. Congress could
he made to see the necessity for appro-
priating it,
According to DR. william y. Lewis
principal of the William Penn High
School of Philadelphia the action OF the
Administration In submitting a prac
teal. workable wartime school program
for the consideration of the educators |.
one OF the most significant events in the
history OF education.
The most sensational features of thu
Governments outlined policies are
First. a -eight-week school witt
the elimination of the lazy summer
months vacation.
Second. School on Saturday.
Third. A provision TO train adul
women. who thought they had aban
doned school forever, in Offices and cleri
cal work.
The Administrations outline furthe
stresses these points: That childrei
under fourteen years of age should b
kept in school; that city boys unde
sixteen years Of age are generally no
useful on farms; that woman's work OF
the farm Is primarily to help with tn
houseworlS that the army and navy d.
not want boys under eighteen years o
age; that the need in the civil servic
for clerical workers is dire. but young
sters under eighteen are not wanted
that no labor emergency exists whicl
justifies relaxing the labor laws in thei
relation to young people.
LEWIS INDoRsES PROGRAM
In considering the program from tn
standpoint of Philadelphias needs
Doctor Lewis. who is president of tn
High School Principals Association. an,
big figure at the convention. declares
that he heartily indorsed II.
"Unquestionably we should go to tn
forty-eight week use of our schoo
plants" he said: ''mauy Philadelphian
have urged this for the last few years
Some of us have been trying to get /
edged In some way,
I'VE had 1t for "a time in saesmanshi
work. We have the ability and tn
equipment and the patriotic spirit In ou
schools. Why should we not use ther
TO train persons OF whatever age to NEE
the nations needs.
II could even wish that the Govern
ment program had gone further in urg
ing upon young women the high -patrio
ism Of preparing 10 teach, In Philadel
phia we are facing a serious shortage o
teachers Those who get war" job
now viii wish they had stayed for thor
ough training when the readjustmen
after the war throws them out Of thei
temporary places"
Doctor Lewis declared himself un
hesitatingly In favor OF school on Sat
urday.
I'VE need TO use every bit or tim
we can put our hands on." he said
president Wilson has been urgn
these changes in the school system 70
some time now, and | feel that there
no question that his thoughts furnis
the background for this Administratio
program.
Far from considering the prograr
radical. DR.. L. y. Hines. vice presiden
of the National Education Association
declared that 1t did not go far enough
II regret that more stress was nc
put upon teachers salaries" he SAX
'the schools can't carry out the pre-
gram outlined by the Cabinet unles
The supply OF teachers Is greatly II
creased: word 10 that effect from Wash
ington IN the name Of war needs woul
greatly help"
APPEAL FROM DRAFT RULIN