Evening star., 1920-03-21
SCHOOL PROBLEMS
/ TOPIC OF CITIZENS
Federation Delegates Advo-
l. cate Improvement IN
I Courses and Methods.

Numerous suggestions for improve
ment in the courses OF stuoy anu
methods of teaching in the grade anu
high schools were made by delegates
at a meeting of the Federation OIL
Citizens Associations in the oosi
room of the District BUILDING i@s'
night.
u. A. Edwards of Lincoln PARK anu
w. l. Peet of Cleveland PARK po'i'
expressed the opinion that 100 MUCH
attention is given III the nigh schoois
to prepariug the students for coiieee
courses. whereas a majority OF the
hoy,s and girls never go farther than
high school.
This is especially true. these dele
gates said. OF the foreign lahs n.s
Classes in the high schools. both
sneakers declared that while the time
devoted 10 these languages IN the
high schools would be tenehcia1 IL
the students continued them IN COZ
lege this instruction Is practicaliS
useless TO the pupil who starts out III
life after leaving hign schooi'
Urged Practical Courses.
Both Mr. Edwards and Mr. Peet
praised the course that is gwen AT
that tn, curriculum OF the other hisn
schools he made UP of more SubiectS
of practical use in everyday IKE. Mt.
Pset sugg gested that one nigh school
be designated for boys and girls VINO
contemplate going TO college,
Another novel suggestion from MT.
Edwards was that cadet companies
be formed among the boys OF the
seventh and eighth grades as wen as
in the high schools. He said 1t Is In
these years that school becomes a
dull grind to boys and that the cadet
work would tend to stimulate their
interest in school work.
These suggestions followed state
ment by William NICK Clayton that
the citizens should make known to
the special Senate committee now
investigating the local school system
any improvements they believe could
be made In the schools Mr.. Clayton
is chairman of the committee appoint
ed by tine federation to Cooperate
with the Senate committee In the
school investigation.
Should Reduce Holidays.
That the number of holidays given
the local school children should be
reduced, that all halliday classes in
the lower grades should be done
away with and that there should be
more study by pupils at home. instead
of during school hours, are among the
SUGGESTIONS WHICH nave ucVSiOpC0
since the Senate investigation started,
Mr.. Clayton said.
An echo of the fight which took
place in the federation several weeks
ago over the question of whether DR..
John Van Schaick should be confirmed
as District Commissioner was heard
at the meeting last night.
Mr.. Clayton. while reporting on the
progress of the school investigation.
incidentally expressed the opinion that
DR.. Van Schaick would not be con-
firmed as Commissioner. Mr.. Edwards
replied that he did not know the COM
mittee appointed to cooperate with
the Senate in the school inquiry had
been instructed to report on the
chances of DR.. Van Schaick to be con-
flrmed as Commissioner. Mr.. Ed
wards added that he preferred to
wait and hear the Senate speak for
itself on that question.
A resolution was received by the
federation from the Brightwood Cit
ixens' Association opposing the ac-
tion OF the board OF education in vot-
ing to remove Ernest l.. Thurston as
superintendent of schools. 1t was re-
ferred to the committee on education
Of the federation for report later. Z
The federation adopted resolutions
of regret at the deaths Of Maj. Ray
mond w. Pullman, superintendent of
police. and Emory Wilson. principal
of Central High School.