The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-10-31
PUPILS WILL NOT
 BE REQUIRED ID MAKE UP TIME Dr. Phillips Issues State ment to Principals and
 Teachers
LAYS DOWN BASIC
 PRINCIPLES FOR TERM
Desire of City Superintendent Is to Avoid All Possible Confusion as a Result of the
 Time Lost

1 The pupils of Birmingham's school, will not be required to put in extra time
 in order to make up the loss of month work caused by the influenza epidemic pr. J. H. Phillips yesterday issued a
 statement to principals and teachers re- garding the reopening of the city's schools, scheduled for next Monday. In this he lays down certain basic principles for the remainder of the school year in order that there may be as little con- i fusion as possible as a result of the time lost His statement reads as follows: To Principals and Teachers. Birming-
 ham Public schools
 Tt is gratifying to us all to be fn- formed by the city health authorities that the serious epidemic which has pre- vailed among us has practically disap- peared, and that the public schools of the city will be permitted to resume their work on Monday, November ( ! Principals and teachers, therefore, are requested to report at their respective schools on that date. Each principal should visit his school building In ad- vance of that date, and see that the building is properly prepared for the re- opening of the school
 "A special conference of principals and supervisors will be held at the offices of the board of education. corner Park avenue and Twenty-first street, at s!3u o'clock Saturday. November 2 This con ference is called for the consideration of important problems relating to the work of the schools.
 The suspension of the public schools for one month, in common with all other public assemblies, on account of the epidemic that has so generally pre- vailed throughout the country, must be regarded by&lll concerned as an unfor- tunate necessity. No class of people regret this more than our teachers, and no class of people will more cheerfully work to repair the loss to the children of the city, so far as that may be pos sible
 The loss of an entire month in the | of the children of Birmingham | 8 matter of no small consequence. | t necessarily impairs the spirit of the chools and is q serious interruption of | he plans outlined for the years work. | F our effort to overcome the difficulty I' f the situation no drastic or unusual | methods will be recommended. For the resent, al least, the hours of the daily | ession will remain unchanged. Saturday \ must not be made a school day. No ex- II raordinary burdens should be imposed f pon tho ciSildren on account Of a proyi- ential Interruption of the work. It would 10 misfortune indeed If our pupils ere made to feel that they must suf. ar an overburdened school session as a enalty for the loss of time for which hey are not responsible. Yet, by earn St intensive work. and with the hearty cooperation of pupils. parents and teach rs much can be done to make up this 'ss of time. and. with this end in view,
 offer the following preliminary sug- sstlons:
 q. Pupils should be impressed from the art. with the extraordinary need of , lnctual and regular attendance, and arents are earnestly requested to CO., oerate In sustaining the efforts of the | achers and to see that their children g iall not be absent for trivial reasons. 1, '2 Teachers will be asked to do more tenslve work, to discriminate between @ essential ard the nonessential, and Il
 exercise renewed vigilance in order I at the demoralization of the recess F ay be overcome as rapidly as possible i'd that the time of the class shall be lily utilized. s g. Teachers may make longer daily as- h gnments in certain topics, omit many n the tests and general reviews usually h yen, and place more emphasis upon the sential principles. Many lines of cul- l. ral work ordinarily commendable, may
 sacrificed in the interest of the es. oI ntial topics of the course n, 4. School entertainments and class di. rsions not essential to the work D ould be for the present eliminated, or c' least restricted, Parents are likewise luested to prevent the dissipation of M air childrens energies, physical and :. ntal, upon outside amusements and en- ' tainments during school days.
 D. Emphasis should be placed upon the of me work of the pupils of the higher ,des. This work should be carefully signed and credit should be always en for faithful preparation. Careful as me work will be of great help in mak- up lost time.
 6 The usual patriotic activities of the SD lools will be continued and encour- tu d. Respectfully, or
 "J. H. PHILLIPS, re
 Superintendent of Schools" or
 tn