El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-08-23
PUBLIC SCHOOLS FACE PROBLEMS
IN THE Reconstruction PERIOD
Next Session Promises to Be Most Important in History
Of FL Paso; New Superintendent and High School
Principal to Begin Duties New Grammar Schools
Principal Need Changes in the Curriculum
BY R. RANDOLPH JONES.

ny ~ A@aA-AA
THE approaching session Of the z
1 Paso schools viii be one Of the
most important and interesting II
their history.
It viii be the session following the
close Of the world war; It VIII be a
year marked by the highest cost Of
labor and material; a year when an
attempt has been made 20 pay teach
ers an adequate wage; a year OF re-
trenchment in the number OF teach
ers, with a little harder work for all;
q slight shortening Of the school
day; the first year under a new su-
perintendent and new principal OF TIE
high school.
Readers Of The Herald are asked
TO consider these and a few other
topics as they bear upon the work Of
the schools.
The Curriculum.
For two years past the schools have
1elt very keenly the effect OF the
world war. The usual routine was
often interrupted that the children
might engage in activities having for
their end the winning Of the war.
Matters OF food and clothing. OF thrift.
OF first aid OF spreading Information
Tor the government encroached upon
the time heretofore given to the
study OF books. In the opinion OF
some the schools. gained IN helpful
MOTIVATION ana the nation at large
gained in the immediate ends sought
Tor. Certainly the school children
Of the last two years participated in
the titanic struggle. But II IS the
opinion o. many that the unusual dis
fractions, the unusual strain In life
lowered the standard IN academic
work The coming year viii see more
intense concentration upon the usual
school duties; the old worthless OF
ancient days. the three RS, will again
come into their own
Il must be noted here that the war
taught Us plainly the need OF voca-
uonal education. Of the practice Of
thrift. OF the pressing OF the work OF
characterization, Of physical educa-
tion-taught these facts too plainly
Tor Us to neglect them In the future
as in the past The state and national
programs in regard to these matters
WI receive cooperation here but the
dav's work Of the average school child
VIII not be seriously distracted the
coming school year
H. c. Of L. Hits the schools.
EDUCATION Is at once the most eZ-
penslVe and the most important sin
gle junction Of government Writers
tell rs that one-half Of all local and
state taxes on an average goes to
the Eunnort Of education. In Fl pzso
one-third OF the city's revenue goes
10 the schools-that is, TO current
terest.
On the other hand the board faces the
the MOUNTING cost Of every kind oFI
ments the necessity OF raising sal
aries: repairing OF old buildings and
erection OF new ones imnsrativelv
needed in certain portions Of the
city, while On the other hand they see
the constitutional limit Of a 50 cent
tax and the knotty problem OF bond
School supplies have to be pur-
chased judiciously and used with
economy The schools must and viii !
give more attention to storing and |
e s,l3- and keeping check upon [
this form OF expense.
Brought face to face in the spring |
with the need Of raising salaries. Of
repairing buildings and erecting new
ones, the board took a careful survey
teaching staff and physical condition.
The result Of months Of study resulted !
IN a salary Increase OF approximately I
20 percent for the grade teachers
shortening OF the school day. the re-
duction OF the teaching staff. extern
sive repairs to old school buildings I
and request upon the city council
for bond issue for new ones, all of
which means diligent. untiring work /
for every enDloye and pupil And the |
Free Text Books.
One OF the responsibilities Of the /
Texas teacher Of 1880 is the care
Of the free text books-which are the 4
property Of the state. She must record /
and know the serial number OF each I
OF the 200 or more books used by her I
children She has heretofore been |
concerned that books be studied well /
She must now also see that they are I
handled we'll 70 he returned at the I
years end IN good condition as pub
lie property. A tightening OF the
parents burden. Increasing TIE teach /
er's load. but all Tor the good OF the /
child through the better functioning /
Of the school
In this time Of financial stress the 1
school hoard has for its executive head /
q new man for whom by reason Of /
the very difficulties confronting him
there is a Eniendid opportunity. To /
every schnoi executive. who. with the /
helm Of his board. serures IN fh~~n /
times efficient teachers for the chill /
dren. with satisfactory buildings and /
ADEQUATE salaries for the teachers and ]
other employes-to every one there 1
should be given the ful need OF