Imperial Valley press., 1921-07-05
{ PHI AS|zE
AC I | Y | TY
IN SOCIAL
WAYS
Student Body Activities Are
Of Great Importance
Speaker Tells Educational
Association. Outdoor
Sports Are Valuable.

DES MONIES, July 5.-Less en-
phasis on mere books, more on the
activities that high school students
organize was urged at the National
Education association convention here
today by Burton p. Fowler, first as
sistant principal of the Central High
school at Cleveland, O. He said that
the war had developed an insistent de-
man for reorganization in the aims OF
secondary education.
"A written social record like that
kept of scholarship should be made for
every pupil throughout the school
career" Mr.. Fowler said. 81 venture
the assertion that such record kept
for four years would furnish more re-
liable information about the. the eff
cheney of Mary's school life, her
chances of success in college, in busi-
hess, or as a housewife, than would
the 926 per cent that places her Cn
the hoonr roll of the commencement
program.
Training for work, play, health,
character, and home membership must
be provided for all in the wide-awake
high school.
The school group with its diverse
activities of school citizenship serves
as an excellent training field for this
process of socialization.
"Teachers must be open minded and
sympathetic toward these collateral
activities.
"Similarly the social agencies them
selves should form part of the pu-
pills regular program 10 that the
pupil who has to work outside OF
school shall not be debarred from full
participation in the debate, the Or
cncstra or his faVorite club.
VASTLY greater opportunities taan
now exist for the expression OF the
social instincts of children should be
provided Every pupil should have
a. least one or two major social IN
terests. In a school of two thousand
pupils there is room for one hundred
clubs where ten now exist.
"School parties should be under the
control of a social director who by
means of games and dances will af-
ford partieination by all, in school
hours. The formal high school
dances are too often a cheap imitation
of the disportings of adults. Clique
decollcte, jazzam and toddle are doubt
ful educational objectives."
The love of good reading must be
born in the American people in the
school if at all, according to speakers
before the library department of the
association. The nation faces rca'
danger if this work is not done, the
librarians were told.
1--WE hear much these days in re-
4 from fliit e
crate pcenlc, but really the half-edu-
Gated person, who knows many things,
but who left school at too early an
age to have learned to think clearly
and reason well, is far more dangerous
than the illterates,' said Sherma'
Williams, chief of the school librar-
les division, Albany, n. y. "The pub
lie library should continue the educa-
ton of these half educated people.
zone is not necessarily better off
or a better citizen on account of be
ing able to read. He may be worse
for it. That depends upon the kind
of reading he does. This must no,
be left to chance.
I The American Legion intends TO sec
! American history and government
taught more fully in the schools, IL
j. RYAN Of New York, chairman Of the
Americani2ation Commission of The
American Legion, told the association
here ON the Fourth of July.
81 wish it were possible for mo tc
acquaint every teacher Of Americ:
with the fact that the American Lr.
gion has no more sincere desire thai
that of dedicating itself to the wei
fare Of the teacher. student ane
school," MIR Ryan said in his addres.
last night.
"The school is the foundation of il,
nation, If the American school raIls
America will fail"
The value Of outdoor sports ant