Evening star., 1920-05-20
uRGESADJUSTMENT
IN SCHOOLS OF j. S.
Dr.. C. H. Judd Advises Six
Year Elementary Course.
I Addresses Educators.

adjusting Schools to New CohOi-
tions" was the topic discussed at the
citizens educational conference. wheT
the delegates convened today a.
Kcith's. Gov. William l.. Harding OF
Iowa presided.
That the school system of the United
States should be changed to include
a six-year elementary school. instead
of the seven or eight year elementary
course, was the suggestion advanced
by DR.. Charles II. Judd, director of
the school of education, Chicago Uni
Versity. who spoke on the subject OF
economics in education.
This country ought to devise a new
taxing system, so as to relieve real
property of the necessity of paying
all the taxes for the support of edu-
cation. The standards of teaching and
study should be raised. so as to check
the waste which comes now from a
low grade of work.
In these reforms the federal gov
ernment ought to be persuaded to
help. because the task is too heavy for
existing agencies. particularly for To-
cal school systems.
There is no institution in the country
which has made 50 little progress in
the last century as the rural school. ac-
eording TO Thomas +. Fincsan. super
iIitendent OF public schools in Pennsyl-
yania.
should Have some Advantages.
.'The children who attenrf> the rural
schools-there are 11.000. 000 of them
should be given the same advantage as
the children who attend the city
schools. MIR. Finegan said. Il have Just
completed a tour of four states. and in
the month | was gone | did not see a
Inral school in session. The doors were
all locked.
THE country children attend school
about 40 days in the year. The city
children attend school about 200 days.
Why shouldn't the country children be
given the same amount of training as
the city youngsters"
The equipment in the country schools
is poor. he said. and the majority of
rural teachers have never had more
than an elementary education" The
speaker urged the establishment of in
stitutionS to train teachers for country
school work, and the equalization of
teachers salaries.
Gov Harding. in opening the meet
ing. said that in every school the at
tractiveness of fe--h life should be
instilled into the minds of the chill
dren in order to counteract the away
from the farm movement of today.
Urge OId-1ime Debating Society.
The speaker urged the institution
of the old-time debating societies in
the country schools.
Years ago the parents used to take
their children to the country school
TO the debating society's meeting" he
said Nowadays the youngsters go
off to the movies alone to have their
passions aroused and to see lies writ
ten into the pictures.
A policy "as bold and as definite as
that used by the government during
the war was urged TO remedy the
present educational menace" by DR..
- odi of n
Reviews.
AN Adequate Program of Public
education was discussed by DR..
Frank E spaulding. superintendent
OF schools at Cleveland. Ohio.
Last Nights Session.
Addressing the first general session
of the conference last night at Con-
tfnental Memorial Hall, Commissioner
Ciaxton urged more liberal laws by
state legislatures to meet the mem
acing shortage of teachers The sit
uation has been brought on by in
eunicient pay and the lure of high
! wages in industrial occupations Ma
Claxton said.
This conference is called at this
time" he declared, "in order to bring
these conditions to the attention of
the people who own the schools. who
support them and who use them for
education for their children and
they understand the conditions they
will. as American citizens have al
ways done. rise to the OCCASION
Abnormal need for new buildings
and equipment because of restrictions
on construction during the war was
emphasized by Mr.. C1axton, who said
there was need for not less than
100 per cent more money for the
running of schools and for buildings
and equipment than was needed four
or FIVE years ago.
About 10000 new teachers for the