Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-05-05


burg will occupy for the first |
time two of the three intermediate |
or junior high schools, which were
projected as the result of the Van
Sickle survey of 1916. Ultimately a
third such school is expected to be |
provided in the central section of
the city.
The many questions that are con-
tinually being asked relative to these
schools would seem to indicate thatI
/ the public generally is not well in
formed concerning them, either as
to the magnitude of the project it
self, or as to the vital and far reach
ing importance of the schools to the
educational interests of the commun-
/, ity. For this reason it seems proper
to answer through the public press
some of the questions that arise
most frequently. Probably the most
important of these are the following:
Why was it necessary to provide
additional facilities at this time?
For many years the Central High
school has been over crowded. At
| present, and for several years past,
( double sessions have been necessary.
IhlS School, now accommodating at
tunes during the year about 1850
students, was constructed to accom-
modate only 500 to $50 students
For the past two years it has been
necessary to send all grammar
/ school graduates to the Technical
High School. This has resulted in
the crowding of that school also to
at least fifty per cent above it's
normal capacity.
What are intermediate or junior
high schools? They are schools in
tended hnI1cn n1,t f, 10,
OF the seventh, eight and ninth
grades. These grades include the
last two years of the present eight
grade elementary system and the
flrst grade or year of the present
tour-year high school system. The
new system is known throughout
the country as the 6-3-3 plan of
school organization, as distinguished
from the former S-4 plan. The first
six grades by the new plan will be
known as the elementary grades and
the last six as the high school grades.
the latter being divided into three
years in the intermediate or. Junior
high school and three years in the
senior high school.
What are the advantages of this
classification? There are many ad-
Vantages, some of which are discuss
ed below. Pupils in such schools
nave the advantages that come from
departmental instruction, early diff
lferentiation of courses of study, in
creased variety of opportunity as to
subjects taught, and the stimulus
and inspiration that come through
association with many teachers and
pupils of ones own age.
What is meant by departmental
instruction and what arc its advan-
taScS? Departmental instruction
means teaching in some definite de-
partment of work, such AS the de-
partment of history, the department
of English, etc. BY this plan the
teacher, instead of teaching many
subjects, confines herself to her spec
ialty. Departmental teaching means
better teaching, because the teacher
| can become an expert in teaching
of one subject, whereas in the teach
| ing of many subjects she is apt to
| be real expert in none. 1t means
| better equipment for the reason that
the few rooms in which any subject
| is taught can be fully equipped at
less money than 1t now takes to
equip many rooms Inadequately. 1t
means improved physical conditions
through opportunities afforded for
| physical education. 1T means in the
1 JtIliOl oilbpls t 5ldubStl u tiiSllfOIl
from elementary to high school
methods.
Where are our new junior high
schools located? One-the Camp
! Curtin schools located in the up
| per end of the city, at the corner of
Sixth and Woodbine streets. The
other-the Edison school IS located
at the corner of Nineteenth and
Chestnut streets.
Will all pupils of the seventh,
eighth and ninth grades be enrolled
i'll the junior high schools next year?
! No. AS already indicated, third
school is contemplated for the CEN
trail part of the city. Until this is
completed, some pupils of the grades
mentioned cannot be accommodated.
! Next year it is planned to accommo-
date in these schools all ninth grade
pupils, but the seventh and eighth
grade pupils in the central section of
the city will continue as at present.
What will these schools have cost
when completed? The Camp Curtin
school is not entirely new. The old
part was erected in 1904 at a cost of
about $4,000. This is being re-
modelled and an addition erected at
a cost, including equipment, approXi-
mating $250,000, making a total cost
of about 100000. The Edison school
when finished will have cost, includ-
ing equipment, about S450,000. There
| is therefore a building outlay in the
schools of more than $S00,000.
HOY large arc the schools? Per-
haps this question will be more ef-
fectively answered by saying that
each school occupies about ohe-half
of the ordinary city block. Each
building has large auditorium. two
gymnasiums. dressing rooms, shops,
lunch rooms. domestic science suites.
| sewing rooms, commercial rooms,
! drawing rooms, study hall facilities
in fact all special accommodations
and facilities required by the most
advanced educational procedure.
! Aside from this each school con-
tains twenty or more regular aca-
demic classrooms. The Camp Cur
tin school contains total of 76
rooms, large and small; the Edison,
80 rooms.
What academic subjects will be
taught? English (includng gram
mar composition, literature and
spelline), arithmetic, algebra. Amer
lean history. civics, ancient history,
geography, hygiene, general science,
Latin and French.
conducted? Work in mechanical
drawing, freehand drawing and in
dustrial arts, woodworking, metal
work, electric work, printing, sewing
and cooking.