Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-04-09
ADVOCATES RADICAL.
CHANGE IN SCHOOLS
Lewis Tells Educators Upper
Glasses Should Fit Students
for Life, Not College
RAPS ANTloUATED COURSES

Radical revision Of courses in high
schools Of Pennsylvania to render then,
beneficial to the 30 ncr cent Of the
pupils who never reach college. rather
than the 10 pcr cent who do was ad
vocated this afternoon by William n.
Lewis. dcnutv state superintendent OF
public instruction.
Mr.. Lewis spoke at today's session
of the seventh annual sChoolmen's week
in Houston Hall at the University OF
Pennsylvania.
He made Il plain that present courses
In Pennsylvania high schools are based
on antiQuated theories and that the time
has come to break in on n system long
looked upon with mistaken awe.
eve will have to break with old edu
cational ideas" he said. "evcn thougl,
such n break may be regarded as sin
against the Holy Ghost
He directed his criticism particularly
against high schools Of the second and
third class.
"A tremendous increase in pupils
noticcably since the war. had made the
multifarious educational problems
acute" he said lie intimatcd that
high school nupls should be regarded
as coming citizens. rather than prospcc
tive college students.
Revising Courses
A general committee is now at work
at Harrisburg. under the sunervision OF
the Department Of Public Instruction
revising present high school courses. and
attempting to formulate sane. usrfu
course for high schools.
This committee contemplates q four
year course in English for all high
schools. hn said. History. taught as d
social science. should be continued foul
wears. the committee believes Civil gov
ernment should include thorough study
of municipal government the first year
economics and local industries the sec
ond year. and American social problem.
during the third and fourth years.
One year Of mathematics in high
school is enough, the general commit
tee believes. and there should be n two.
years course in science.
Mr.. Lewis said the general commit
tee at Harrisburg was also contemplat
ing the inclusion Of agriculture and the
business Of establishing and managing
homes as important studies.
History Study Important
\. Duncan. professor of educationa
research and practice at the University
of Pennsylvania, emphasized the neet
| of better study of general history ir
high schools. He said development o.
students power of analysis was sadl!
neglected.
Equality of education and democ
racy in the schools is very beautifu
phrase that rolls trippingly from tn,
| tongue, but unfortunate il it ism
! true Arthur J. Jones, professor o
secondary education at the Cniversit.
! of Pennsylvania, declared at the morn
ing session.
'As u matter of fact" he said, "w
do not have educational opportunitie
for everybody. We krow every boy an,
! girl does not receive equal educationa
opportunity.
And they've got to have an equa
opportunity. We must have schools l.
provide for the needs of the variou
children. and we must see that they ge
to the schools.
THE time is coming when we'll hav
greater amount of compulsory educa
ton. A great many persons seem I
think that you offer equal opportunitie
to the child when you opeE the schools
Until we get for them the thing
they actually need for the battle Of lift
we are not providing equal opportunitie
| for all.
"And we must make it possible fo
all children to attend schools. Th
schools must be made accessible, even
We have to invoke state aid to furnis
transportation.
The first. second and third hig
schools do not meet the needs of th
majority of community. II is eve
doubtful if they meet the needs Of tn
fraction of pupils who are enabled
continue in college.
"Class 3 high schools are wholly in
adequate. and were put up because the
were cheap. instead of useful. Hig
schools of the second class are lit
better.
There must be longer school veal
and complete reorganization Of II
whole school system. Six grades I
elementary schooling is enough, an
high school should have six grades
Four of these should be Junior grades
Beyond the high school there should
junior college with two year
course. But it would be unwise to re
organize the high schools without I'll
elementary reorganization. The reor
ganizaton must be complete.
Professor G.. c. L. Reimer. stat
high. school inspector. asserted the coun
try boy is not receiving a square dei
ducntiOnnllV