Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-01-02
URGES EDUCATION
OF FOREIGN.BORN
Instruct Parents as Well as
Children, Scranton School
Head Advises
NEW STUDIES PROPOSED
Sweeping Changes in School
Courses Recommended at
State Meeting

sSectoi Dispatch to Evening Public Ledger
HARRISBURG. Jan. 2.-'"The war wa.
another blessing in disguise because Il
served to lay bare the heartbeat OF
America" said 8. Z. Weber. superintend
ept Of the public schools of Scranton
and president OF the Pennsylvania State
Educational Association, addressing the
annual convention of the association
here last night. Doctor Weber was dis
GUSHING Some Aspects OF Americanism. 81
"Nineteen -twentieths of our foreign
population came from the countries en-
Gaged In the recent struggle" said
Doctor Weber. "rhey contributed one
fourth Of the fighting strength OF this
country. How remarkable their loyalty
to the land Of their adoption -
Doctor Weber declared that one-third
of the aliens in the first draft were un-
able to speak the English language.
I'm the light OF our recent experiences
caused by the handicap of language"
said the Scranton educator. shall we
not agree among ourselves as a common
country. a common state. common
community, that hereafter the language
of instruction in the common branches in
the elementary school. both private and
public. shall be the English language
the chosen medium Of expression Of the
entire country
Would AmericanIne Parents
DR.. Weber would Americanize the for
eign-born father and mother as well as
the child. He would encourage the at
tendance of the foreign-b mothers at
night schools and afternoon classes.
Sweeping changes characterized by
~.
were recommended yesterday. The ques-
tion Of the re-education of the
States disabled soldiers was taken up.
and representatives of the United States,
England and France discussed the after
the wsr programs, national, moral So
cial and educational.
Thomas C. Blaisdel!, dean of the
School CT Liberal Arts at State College,
reported for the committee that had been
appointed to map out a high school pro-
gram of study. His report contained
ten changes in the high school cur
riculum.
1t is suggested in the report that eight
new required academic studies be
adopted, and that physical education
'end a study of home-making be the
th.her required subjects. The dean de-
,lared that only 460 boys out OF 100, 900
in high school are studying economics, and
that this should be a required subject.
Personal hygiene also is not receiving
much attention. and should be given in
every high school. He said that as a
result of the failure to pay much at
tention to the study Of hygiene, the ply
sical condition Of the young men of the
country Is not of the best. Other sub
jects he suggests that should be adopted
courses are: Sociology, voca-
tional and moral guidance in the selec-
tiCn Of life work, home making and
parenthood, ethics, general science.
mainly chemistry and physics, as ap-
piled to the home rather than as applied
to science itself. civics. and four years
of physical training.
Some OF these are already being taken
in some schools, he said, but with them
all over the State, the relation
between colleges and high schools would !
be much better. He made this report |
1t the high school conference.