The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-01-17

of the violin department of Washburn
college.
Afternoon Sessions Held.
Afternoon sessions were held by
seven different groups of persons at
tending the convention. At the meet
ing of city superintendent for cities
of the first and second class, NJ. E.
Pearson, superintendent of the Kan
sas City. Kan, schools. discussed
methods of making up work lost DUR
ing the influenza epidemic 1.-The
most efficient way we have found in
our city, he said, sis not to try to
make up all of the time. but to strive
to make up the essential work. We
have gained a few of the days back
that we lost, but we expect to stress
, the necessity of choosing the essential
from the essential. This requires
careful examination of text books for
lessons ahead, by the teachers. and it
means discriminating judgment on the
part of the teachers He explained
that ALI school courses carried a great
deal of material that could be dis
pensed with in such an emergency as
| the epidemic presents.
Preventabl Diseases Deadly.
Superintendent Kent spoke at the
same session on a program of health
education. He asserted that IS per
cent of the two million school chill
dren each year were afflicted with
preventable diseases, and that five
ventable diseases every year than the
number of American soldiers killed
| during the last year of the war. He
| advocates a system of physical educa-
/ ton of a recreative sort to correct de-
| fects that can be so cured. He be-
| lieves active measures should be taken
| to prevent the spread of contagious
| diseases through the schools. and that
sites for schools and the school build
ings should be kept in a sanitary con-
1
make it possible for all buildings to
be SO kept. Sex education will have
| to be taught in the schools, it seems,
since parents neglect it at home. Pro-
vision should be made also for school
| physicians to make examina lions of
| students, hold clinics, and that special
lists should look after the teeth, eye,
ear, nose and throat trouble of the
| students"
Plan for Amcricanization.
America nization was discussed by
Dean F. J. Kelly, of the Kansas uni
versity school of education. He said
| that three per cent of the population
were distinctly foreign in birth, Ian
| guage and feeling. He advocates a
| plan for America nizing them by teach
| ing them English and American sys-
tenn of government: He believes it
can be accomplished thru the
agencies of the public schools, the
churches, the public libraries and va
rious other existing organiza tons. He
| states that, inasnuch as it is a state
problem, the state should help with 1t
in such communities as have a heavy
| foreign population due to those indus
tries that call the foreign laborer.
! The K. U. faculty. alumni and for
| Ter students had luncheon together
| at Pelletier's after the morning meet
ing
Group meetings were held during
the afternoon by the college men,
the city superintendent, the board of
education men, county superintend-
enta, high school principals, grade
school principals and supervisors for
special subjects.
r. r. Cook. principal of the To-
peka high school. made a short ad-
dress at one of the group meetings
| on less waste in the school program.
He dwelt on the amount of unnecessa-
! ~ work that had grown into the
school courses and the advisa bility of
cutting down on non-essentials.
Speakers announced for the second
general session this evening are:
Chancellor Frank Strong, of the State
| University; President Thomas w.
Butcher. of the State Normal school.
Emporia; Principal W. a. Bailey, of
| Kansas CITY, Kansas, high school;
President S. A Tough. of Baker Uni
versity. superintendent S. P Row
land, of Hutchinson.