The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-08-17
COOK EXPLAINS IT
Principal of High School Gives
12-M0nth School Plan.
Divide Year Into -Four Quarters
for the Students.
PUPILS COULD MAKE CHOICE
Attend As or 36 Weeks During
the Year, Is System.
Waste for Buildings To Be Idle
Three Months of Year.
PUPILS COULD MAKE CHOICE

Principal R. R. Cook Of the Topeka
high school, who was quoted in the
Monday evening State Journal as be-
ing in favor of the ten months school
term. and even of a twelve months
school term, fears that he NAV have
been misunderstood on the subject. He
does not retract his statement of Mon
day. but today, charging on his views,
he said:
81 have never expressed myself as
being strongly in favor of a ten
months school, althO am OPEN
minded on the subject and am willing
to give it a fair trial since the board
has desired it
Principal Cook Te-enforees his state
ment in favor of a twelve months
school plan, however.
There are many arguments in favor
Of a longer school year." he said, land
I have said on several occasions that
I favored a twelve-menth school year.
That does not mean that 1 favor
twelve months of school for everyone
Where such a plan has been tried. the
twelve months, Of forty eight weeks
have been divided into four quarters
of twelve weeks each. leaving four
weeks of each year for vacations Pu-
pills who do ont care te go to school
the entire twelve En5nt}is may attend
any three out of the foi:@ quarters and
still have the equivalent of the present
school year ~ thirty SIX week.. \
large number Of students. 7 am certain,
would be glad to take advantage OF
the summer quarter.
12s High school Summer Students.
Fer example" he continued, We
had 125 high school pupils who paid
tuition to attend summer school this
summer and make up back work or
additional credits. Doubtless there
would have been several hundred If
there had been free tuition. Many
parents wanted to send their children
to summer school, but could not be-
cause only those who had failed in
subjects were admitted.
"The health of some pupils is mueh
better in summer than in winter.
Cook said Many whose attendance in
sickness, would be glad of the oppor-
tunity to catch up by summer work
when thier health is best.
''Furthermore," he emphasized.
ssnany tea cheers would be glad to have
vear-round employment instead of be-
ing compelled to go outside and seek
work during the summer. But, under
no circumstances do 7 recommend
twelve months school for all Even a
nine months year is tax on the
strength of some pupils, while others
find it necessary to earn money part
of the wear in order to continue school
the other part of the year. I do think
it should be possible for those VINO
can and who desire to spend thelf
entire time in school work and thus
in three years accomplish what it now
takes four years to do l strongly
favor the twelve months plan
1T has always seemed great ex-
trayasance to me to have expensive
buildings and equipment standing idle
for almost a third of the year. Even
the expense of screening windows ana
furnishing electric fans for summer
work would be much less than the
cost of heat and light during the same
number of winter months. At the
same time many children would find
it more comfortable in the large airy
school buildings than in their SINAI.
crowded homes or on the hpt streets.