Rock Island Argus., 1920-03-02

oeinfsA6Gnas oe schools, prin-
l1rn1D and otAae educatoes to the
nbof Il 7yooo IA conclave q
os13nad. Ohie. during the past
V1Gk cnne out nlm In their stand
r. ~ Vital school problems Of the
~, occosding 70 Superintendent ol
Dc3o6ls T. c. Fisher, who has Just
6sturnad from attendance 4 the
unkional EducafionAl association
oCavention. Americanixation, teach
~ salaries, military training and
the national shortage Of teachers
eame in for Z great share Of the At
fontion OF the school men.
Tho conference was attended BY
1oaY tfi-city men, Superintendent
Fisher, Arnold Lau, principal Of the
11gh school. and Superintenent L.
" Mahoney Of Moline. Superfn-
tondont Frank L. Smart of Daven-
Sorf also attended.
Educate Adults.
The main topic Of the entire SEES
sion, according to Mr.. Fisher, was
that Of Americanization, and its
keynote was the adoption Of pro-
gram 70 provide educational 0ppor-
tunities for adults, particularly for
illiterate foreigners, 1t public ex-
pense. The school age As prescrib-
"a IN the state laws is from 6 to
~, and thereafter people pay for
their education, It was pointed out
The tremendous good that would
result from an expenditure Of pub
lic funds to give opportunities for
vocational training, lessons in Eng
lish and in Americanization, and
work along other lines to adults,
free OF charge, was q vital topic
Of the convention.
In this connection the conven-
tion endorsed the Smith -Towner
bill, which proposes q federal Sec
retary OF education, q department OF
education represented in the presi-
dents cabinet, and federal aid to
the amount Of 100000, 900 to be
appropriated for the removal OF il
literacy, Americanization, physical
education and the preparation OF
teachers, the funds to be admin
istered by the state.
Minimum Salary $500.
A resolution fixing the minimum
for teachers salaries at $1,000 q
year was adopted by the convention.
This minimum 10 for teachers in the
rural districts. The minimum for
city teachers was placed at $500.
The question of teachers sal
aries and of the shortage of teach
ers was brought up for discussion
time after time. and, according to
Mr.. Fisher, continually reverted to
the matter Of revenue. The prob
lem could not be solved, it was gen.
orally agreed, until school revenue
was Increased. Teachers were paid
all that school funds allowed.
There are now $4,000 schools with
no teachers, hundreds OF thousands
OF children with no schools to at
tend, and $4,000 schools in the
United States are In operation with
unqualified teachers, as q result of
these two problems, 1t was brought
out.
Endorse Military Training.
Military training as part OF a
physical education program was
strongly endorsed by the conven-
fion, following an address by
Thomas D. Wood, New York, chair
man Of the committee on health
problems in education, in which hi
said:
"The business Of keeping the
ERchool children of the country II
sood physical repair is, as now con
1ducted, q disgrace to the nation
With 100000 Of the school chill
dren physically defective, defect
which are detrimental to thei
health and education, it is necessar,
that immediate action be taken.
'I'he principle Of universal mill
tary training must, In . mannel
consonant with the spirit ant
methods Of democracy, be interpret
ed and applied in universal, com
pulsory health and physical care
and training of all the children o
the nation"
Thrift, and the teaching Of econ.
omy through the public schools
school gardens, and other vita
topics came in for q part Of the
program discussions. The so divis.
ions Of the National Educational as.
sociation each held separate ses.
sions, and dealt individually with
all phases Of school matters.
Calvin L. Kendall, state commits.
sioner OF education Of New Jersey
was elected president of the asso-
citation. Cleveland. as a central To-
cation, put In bid for becoming
( permanent headquarters for the as
sociation convention, but the dele
gates did not sanction its adoption
Washington, D. c.. was chosen as
the meeting place Of the next con-
vention, il 1t can arrange for &C.
commodations.
Ksrler Rug Co. for anything You
have to dispose of.