Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-02-04

Changes In the Philadelphia public
school system that will bring back som,
OF the old IDEAS Of imparting the fundn
mentals of educat on. and at the Same
time tniroduc ng new measures to bring
about increased efficiency at less cost
and the introduction OF system OF mill
tnry, ambulance and hospital training In
place OF physical training, are urged by
Edwin Wolf, n his first report as prcsI
dent of the Board of Education.
Chief among the old ideas whose re.
vival he recommends are the persistent
teaching OF rudimentary branches in the
first four grades. Too much time, the
report says. IL now given TO manual, vo.
cational and domestic science work and
not enough TO the elementary educa.
tional studies. Along this line is n plea
for more home work"
"rime rhould be devoted to inCuloatinp
into the minds OF the parents the neces
sity for home training and proper home
enyironmentA.' lie report reads. The
SCI OILS can never do this work as vel
as .',c home. and the pv' 'ic purse SHOULD
not be made to meet the derelictions Of
the home
An experiment that has turned out
very satisfactorily, he says, Is depart
mental work under the new progressive
system as conducted at the Edward 4.
Steel School, which should be adopted
In all elementary schools. This system
is believed to avoid the objectional fea-
lures of the Gary plan and combine
efficiency and economy. II is also high.
ly popular with both teachers anC
pupils.
COMBINE TWO HIGH SCHOOLS
The report also recommends that tht
West and South Philadeiv hia Higl
Schools, which now have Sc arate or
ganizations for boy and girl pupils, be
each put under one management.
The School of Pedagogy should bc
abolished. or rather, II should be alb
sorbed by the Normal School, the report
continues. Without any trouble the
Normal School could take over this
work, and the entire cost of the Schoo,
'of Pedagogy saved. Mr.. Welt points,
that maintains a separate school OF
Pedagogy for boys,
A complete system OF military. ambu.
lance and hospital training for both
sexes Is urged in place of the present
system of military training. ~ few
years ago we were not a military
nation: today we are" Mr.. Wolf says In
recommending this new move.
WANT HIGH SCHOOL SUPERVISION
other sections Of the report follow:
Tradition has had much to do with
the conditions OF the high schools and
readjustment OF these departments
or the schools activities is absolutely
necessary. no bring system cut of
this confused situation and continue
II on broad and modern lines ! would
recommend supervision and the crea-
ton OF the position OF supervisor of the
high schools It should he the duty
OF this ofNcer TO coordinate. unity
one department ard Il should further
he his duty to supervise and direct
all the activities. educational and ad-
nninistrative. of all the schools in this
department
In high schools where all work Is
departmental. the plan OF promotion
by subject has now come into virtually
states. This plan credits a pupil
with each subject In which he has
don't satisfactory work regardless OF
whether he has succeeded or failed
In other subjects. To show the lack of
Of regulation, I will state that in
Philadelphia six high schools promote
by subject and ivc promote by class
And further. In the South Philadelphia
High School under one roof the boys
are promoted by class and the girls
are promoted By subject, Do not these
conditions call for a remedy?
The hoard has one committee on
elementary schools, which takes care
Of 10000 pupils and 1000 teachers.
For high schools II has three COM
mittees for $4,000 pupils and 700 teach
era
would advocate changes In the
department OF superintendence. This
department should consist of super
intendent of schools, supervisor of
high schools, three associate super
iDes~Seo'r and one examiner.
The elimination of many forms and
reports would lessen the statistical
and clerical work OF this department
tn such an extent that the organiza-
tion az above outlined could easily
handle the work OF the department,
and much smaller number of
clerical assistants would be required
In the schools
A matter which Is causing grave
concern. and for which we have not
yet found solution. Is the impossi
bility OF administering proper disci-
pline. BY reason OF the leniency and
consideration shown juvenile offenders.
pupils guilty OF petty offenses return
10 their CLASSES the envy OF their fel-
low pupils.