Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-01-01
|CHANGES IN HIGH
SCHOOL WORK ARE
! SAID NECESSARY
Curriculum Should Be Bet
tered by Additions and
Omissions


both by omission and addition" DR.
Thomas C. Blaisdell. dean of the
Liberal Arts School, of Pennsylva-
MIA State College, declared at a meet
ing of the high school departm emf
of the sixty-ninth annual session OF
the Pennsylvania State Educational
Association this morning, in present
ing his report of the committee on
High School Program of Study"
Courses in personal hygiene and
sanitation, woefully neglected in the
present curriculum. are among the
additions most urgently needed to
the courses, Dean Blaisdell told. OF
the approximately 100000 high
school pupils in the state. but q
small 1000 are pursuing courses In
biology and $500 in zoology in which
a little instruction along these lines
is possible although not probable. he
told, in quoting figures to illustrate
the ignorance of the students con-
ycerning these matters.
The making of an efficient and
happy home, one of the most I'M
portant functions of human life
would receive treatment in a curri-
culum as outlined by Dean Blais-
dell. This would come in the third
or fourth year of his course. 1t
will shock some of you to think OF
reouIring high schols boys and girls
to pursue such q course" but added
that education has been defined as
guiding tho pupil from what he Is
to what he should be.
To-day men and women aike
come to marriage without knowledge
of its biology, its responsipiiities' OF
it's duties. They are utterly untrain-
our unframed teachers would De
dificult 1t would necessarily De
largely a reading course with class
discussions. Occasional lectures ana
studies by boys apart from girls
would be necessary.
f Haphazard Work
Some time saould be given by the
boys. Dean Blaisdell believes, TO "a
study of physical. mental and moral
characteristics needed in larse
number OF the common profession
and vacations. Scarcely fresh-
man enters college," he affirms'
.who has any guidance Whatever
toward his life work. He stumpies
ITO course and attempts to pre-
nare for life with the chance tna'
he is missing it far greater than he
is hitting It. 10Th +o
"Besides teaching the pupil to
cboose n life work wisely, the ms
school should require him every oay
TO perform some helpful serves
he affirms. Credit should De given,
he declares, for the performance "
out-of-school duties. 70
The startling fact that ohiy %
752 high school students aTe sa,
ing civics is told by Dean pia taI,r
The plea has been maue' the
80 r. % unnecessary to teach the
s,,hiect there because it has peer
tanght In the grammar schools, pu'
he hel,eyes that the material Is pc
..ond the comprehension or the SUI
S,t and should be taught In ths
,.tah school. Only 460 high schooi
st,7dants are studying economies, Vi,
.,,h;cb science rests a great huiiioe.
~ our educational prepleihs; -
a,rse of at least q years STUDY " "
thia subject should be presehIeu ~
The nupils that they may pc peo,en eu
fitted to enter upon hte' ior it', me-
neteu " never get an opportunity
cot IN college where they may
,rs.e the subject, he aff1rms.
tribute to Teachers
cnooIinq of "Our Duty In tne
1oaent Crisis" DIR. S. Parks Cao-
-, nastor of the Central Congresa-
.ionoI Church, of Brooklyh' paiu
,,,arked duty to the pubic senoo
+aochers of the United states / u,
domental principles in prlhsi ine ap
the children of to-day to De the -
ond women of future geher"'to;,
,y.re outlined by the speaker ~
brooks. recruiting secretary
National Y. NJ. Z. A, VIII veal
quarters in New YORK CllS, ~ ,,oi-
ed for many additional men " ,ti,,e
eu 20 act as overseas executive
.o.a rios He commenced the reg
s.tno+ion of volunteers at the rehh-
Ho.ria hotel at 8 o'clock TINS MORN
ing. -. of the evening
,rorram promptly at 9.3o cioHh'
tbe educators started TO go 10 sns
EXacutiye Mansion where GoVerhoi
"a Mrs Martin G. Brumpauen en-
sartoined for them. In the receiVihs :
,;,,a In addition to the Governor anu anu
III. wife. were DR.. Samuel r. 70
os,dent of the association, ana MS
P,eo The greater number Oh the VI
naiais of the organization were pre-
.ant in addition to large nuIhoei
of the other visiting educators. "a
phvsical training should De re-
orired of every high school s'uuon,
no matter how large or now s,nai
the school, Dean Blaisdeii eh,p
icailv declares. Fifteen minutes
setting-up exercises every oas ~,
avarv student Is thousahu
hetter than a football team ina.
defeat every other team In the s,a.e,
pvas the startling Assumption oA De"i
Blaisden. :, .,.. addi.
Summarizing, he said that auui,
tional courses should be in.roou.eC
in general science as appheo ~ 'n'
home. in applied ethics In socioIos
and in vocational guidance prinelht
the total number OF aoo,.,o
courses needed to eight, IN aooi'ioi
TO physical training and nome WORK
"If given a year each' these "oui'
occupy one-half of the school ~pFo'
gram. and they deserve It,
cit would be better" ne continues
"to substitute these requirements iol
all the at present required sciehoY
for required history other than AIher
ican and modern European ms'ots
and for at least one year OF require.
foreign languages and mathematics
Aid For Soldiers
snealsinp before the department o.
city and borough superintenoehts
Motor w. H. Henderson, of the United
states Army, outlined some Oh tne ar
ranoetnents that are being made Iol
tha re-education of disabled soldiers
He told how they will be permitted t.
s.Isct some desirable vocation and b'
s,vsn training so that he may be
come elf-supporting. rather than
burden on the neighborhood. An