Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-05-19
OPEN CONFERENCE
AS TO EDUCATION

Nearly 500 delegates to the national
citizens conference on education,
called by P. p. C1axton. United States
commissioner Of education. to discuss
the educational problems confronting
the country, met today in sectional
meetings at the Hotel Washington.
Commissioner Claxton made the
opening address at the meeting Of the
section devoted to the study OF prep
aration Of teachers. After explaining
the purpose Of the conference. he said
that whatever success may attend the
gathering II will come In largee
measure from the fact that 1t Is q
gathering not only OF educators Out
Of citizens.
THE great American public Is going
to decide, and decide quickly. whether
it wants universal education or not,
Commissioner Claxton said. The
citizens Of the United States have the
problem in their hands Latest ng-
ures obtainable by the federal bureau
of education show that the actual
number of children in this country
who were withont schooling last year
Is between 100000 and 100000. APP
proximately 80 per cent of the citizens
Of the United States have never grad
uated from high schools. 10 per cent
Of the people left school at fourteen
years Of age and 40 per cent did not
complete the eighth grade"
Gives Views ef Teachers.
Following Commissioner Claxton's
address, DIR. Arthur H. Wilde of the
University Of Boston gave brief talk.
He said he recently sent a question
naire to about 500 representative
school teachers OF eastern Massachu-
sets. to obtain their views on the
reason for discoatent among the
teachers.
The replies to the questions, ac-
|cording to DIR. Wilde. were highly
interesting" One teacher was dis
couraged because she had to take the
temperature in her schoolroom; an
of compiling daily. weekly. monthly
and yearly reports to the powers
that be-" Nearly all were dissatisfied
with their present salary. Many
urged young high school student
friends not to enter the teaching pro-
fession.
1.-The principals Of high schools are
urging the students in their institu-
tons not to go to normal school to
be teachers, but to take college
course" said DR.. Wilde.
seek Higher Eaucatse..
Figures showing that attendance in
the institutions OF higher education
has increased % per cent since 1915
were read by DR.. George s. Zook Of
the bureau Of educa ton at the meet
ing of the section devoted to the
study Of the higher education prob
lem. DIR. Samuel p. Capen. director Of
the American Council on Education,
headquarters Of which are in Wash
ington. presided. DR.. looks figures
showed that in 1915 $50 leading coll
feges Of the country had an enroll
ment of 1883. while the present en-
rollment is cited as 1Ss,Ss4.
The problem Of the city schools was
considered at another section meet
ing. over which DR.. I. l. Cammack
superintendent Of schools at Kansas
Many SCHOOLS Lack Teachers.
DR.. Cammaek. in opening the meet
20. 600 schools in this country without
teachers. Next year. he said. there
will be a shortage Of 100000 teachers,
DR.. Henry F.. Koch Of the Cincin-
matt Schoolmasters Club said the club
had sent questionnaires to prominent
determine the proportion Of man to
woman teachers In the schools. The
QUESTIONABLE committee discovered
that the question was not one of
proportion. but of supply. he said
In all the replies to the question
naire. Inadequate salaries were blam-
ed for the shortage Of teachers. There
was only one educator getting $4,000
a year.
paid teachers IL the situation is not
relieved" the speaker said. The best
Of the teachers win leave. The boards
of education realize clearly that
teachers ought to be paid adequately.
but their problem Is to get the money
to do It,"
sees Thyee EssentfsIs.
DR.. John p. CARRIER. superintendent
tof Philadelphia public schools. said
that while teachers salaries form the
following three things should be kept
in mind:
First. know the needs clearly In
your own minds.
Second. have the courage to stand
firmly for what you need
Third. get your message across to
the public
Dr. CARRIER said the average citizen
does not know his public schools but
| that once he gets ON the inside" OF
willing to help in the task of solving
| them.
state superintendents of education
met. with NJ. +. Shawkey. superintsnd-
enI OF Tree SCHOOLS, ChArfeSton. w.
Va. in the chair. H. o. Davis of the
Ladies Home Journal stan presided
at q meeting of the press section.
| Tonight the drst general conference
will be held at Continental Memorial
Hall. and the subject. The Shortage
OF Teachers and the supply" win Be-
| discussed Commissioner Ciaxton viii
preside. Addresses will be made by
Col Leonard p. Ayres. director Of the
departments Of educations and statis-
tics of the Russell Sage Foundation.
New York. and pr. David Fsmley.