The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-02-12
HIGHSAW HOLDS
VISION MILLION
DOLLAR SCHOOL
Praise of Vocational Work
Here in Recent Survey and
Project for S2,500,000
Appropriation Raises Hopes

Commendation of the work Of Crock
cit vocational high school as contained
~ the last portion OF the survey OF
the Memphis public school system by
the government, combined with the
proposal Of Hardwig Peras, president
OF the city board OF education, to push
before the next legislature a measure
70 authorize a $500, 600 bond issue for
the Memphis public school system has
qmckehed the vision of those whose
dream II Las been for a million dollar
vocational high school for Memphis.
The splendid work of Prof J. L.
Highsaw at the institution, housed in
adequately as it is, received in the
survey the highest CONNIE IdatiOn from
the leading authority on vocational
training in America. DR.. William I
bawden, assistant United States com
missioner Of education as to curriculum
and thoroughness ana efficiency in the
work
Criticism largely occasioned by the
lacN OF facilities at hand was voiced. by
cniy one expert employed in the sur
Ney-Dr. George A. Twiss, professor of
education in Iowa State university and
supervisor OF secondary schools in
Iowa. whose Investigations covered
part of the science department
recommendations in the survey can
be carried out only by the expenditure
OF more funds, which the board of edu-
~
provide, according to Prof. Highsaw.
Survey Not Critical.
Prof J. L. Hlghsaw said Thursday
that he had read the entire survey with
reference to the work of the Crockett
Vocational high school, and that the
survey had many good things to say
about this institution, and that he
WISHES the people of Memphis to un-
derstand that very little of the survey
aVnf .gNl H. Isg-l,r. i Al.
the. document was ably written and was
a thorough study OF vocational work in
Memphis.
The survey paid a compliment to the
board of education by saying that
Memphis has made an excellent start
en- a plan for vocational education in
the recognized Crockett Vocational
high school, and that those in charge
are trying to develop a vocational school
OF high grade, but lack of adequate fl
nancial support, and the influence of the
traditional school curriculum and ideals
las combined to prevent the full realiza-
ton of this thing Mr. Highsaw said
that the only severe criticism made was
that of DR.. T'wiss, of the Ohio State
university, who said that the whole
lied" While DIR. Twiss criticized the
kind Of science work which be found,
the also criticized the poor equipment
of the Vocational high school, In the
opinion of Prof. Highsaw, he hit the
nail on the head when he said: Very
little can be done to improve the con-
dition of the science or any academic
work of the Vocational high school UNI
til either new school plant is erected
or the crowded condition is relieved, and
the building is considerably remodeled,"
DR. TW1ss severely criticized the phySi-
cal condition Of the Vocational high
school building. He said that the
building was dark, dingy, unwholesome
and mostly poorly lighted and venti-
lated"
New Plant Needed.
. Prof. Highsaw says that the recon-
mendations of the survey with reference
TO the Crockett Vocational high school
g can not be carried out until a new plant,
planned for vocational work, i built.
This can not be done for less than a
half million. For example, to build the
laboratories in order to carry out Dr.
Twiss' recommendations with reference
TO science instructions, would cost not
that Memphis will awake to the reces-
sity Of a great vocational trade school
and will speedily provide the funds for
this splendid work. Mr., Highsaw said
yesterday that the board of education
had already done many things in ac-
cordance with the recommendations of
the survey. That among these were:
1.-The entire course in science has
been reorganized in detail according to
the recommendation of DR.. Twiss, but
effective teaching. as DR.. Twiss would
like to sec it, can not be done until
new labora tories are provided.
New shops have been erected
which for temporary purposes are salts
factory.
3--'fhe entire basement has been con-
GREETED, which relieves it's unsightly con-
dtion,
A new instructor has been provd-
ed to assist in the work of home eco
Monies, which was criticized in the sur
vey as being too much or one instruc-
tor to handle.
5--The lunchroom has been splendidly
improved since the survey was made
and today it is one of the best student
lunchrooms to be found anywhere
6-New vocational courses have been