Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-02-20
SCHOOL SYSTEM
PROBE PLANNED
Investigation of Work by
Legislative Committee
Is Sought
RESOLUTION PREPARED
Bill Introduced i'm the House
Provides for a Bureau Of
Physical Education

Harrisburg. Feb. 20.--The school sys-
tenn Of Pennsylvania will be investigated
by a legislative commission made up of
five members each of the House and
Senate, If the Senate adopts resolu-
lion which has been prepared on the sub
iect
The commission will hold hearings in
this city and in Philadelphia and Pitts
burgh and other cities In the state.
Sentiment among Senators and Repre-
sentatives is SO strongly in favor of
the proposed investigation that there is
not the slightest doubt OF the passage
ofsthe resolution.
Representative William T. Ramsey,
who is back of the movement for an in
vestigation, asserted 1t would be con-
Quoted along the lines pursued at the
last session. when virtually every de-
partment of the government was inves-
tigated at the instance of Governor
Sproul.
Probe Did Good
"The Sproul committee" said Mr..
Ramsey, did much good in showing the
delinquency in many branches or the
state government ana resulted in re-
medal legislation and the correction OF
many abuses which had crept into the
various departments. The commission
for an inquiry into the school manage
ment will take up the work where
the Sproul committee stopped. There is
no thought of undertaking nor is there
any idea of looking for the official scalp
of any man, but the fact of grave delin-
quency in the administration or the
schools is patent to all who have studied
the subject.
Steps will be taken TO get at the
facts and to have remedial legislation
prepared for passage at this session.
Complaints have come TO me from men,
bers of patriotic societies with which |
am connected that local conditions in
many sections of the state are not what
they should be. and also that there is
a lack of cooperation and assistance
TO the local school boards from the GEN.
trail managing body.
I'VE look for the hearty cooperation
of Governor Sproul, who has always
manifested a keen interest in the public
schools, and expect TO draft legislation
which will meet with AIS approval. The
proposed commission to consist of five
Senators and five Representatives will be
composed of men who will agree to slt
here in Harrisburg at the week-ends fol
lowing the adjournment of the Legisla'
ture and who will gather all the informa'
tion obtainable here, and later. If thai
shall be deemed necessary, will go te
! other parts of the state to get data upor
which to base their recommendations te
the General Assembly"
Physical Education Bureau
Representative John +. Bigler, of Mer
Ger County, introduced a bill in thu
House providing for the creation OF
n bureau of physical education under
the direction of the State Superintendent
of Schools. The bureau would be au
thorized to devise and direct cours
in physical education, together with in
struction as to the privileges and re
sponsibilities of citizenship as they re
late to community and national welfare.
The measure provides for the appoint
nent of a director of physical education
and appropriates $4,000 for the ex
penses of the proposed bureau for tive
- T.,I..