Abilene weekly reflector., 1921-08-04
PART TIME SCHOOLS PAY
NAiss Woolvertoa Tells OF Their
A Success

superintendent, who recently return
ed from the meeting Of the National
Educational Association In Des-
Moines and also visit in Lansing,
Mich, has much to tell regarding the
school systems In those states. She
was much impressed by the success
OF TIM Part time schools In Michi-
gan. she gave an Interesting ac-
count Of the way In which they are
conducted:
.The Industrial education Of Mich
tgaa Is quite similar to that Of any
other Industrial state with the excep-
tion Of the part ime scheOl which Is
practically a recent feature In = state
schsol System and which operates
very successfully In Michigan.
.NThe part time schools are design
ed to further the industrial efficiency
and preparation, to better wage earu-
ers who have completed the elemen-
tary school but who have not at
tanned the age Of seventeen years
ana unfortuDately have not had the
advantage OF a htgh school course.
.Dyery school district having q popu-
latton OF 5000 or more must estab-
fish part time school which must
give 10 each pupil at least eight
hours OF instruction. Fifty per cent
Of the time must be devoted to in
struction in commerce or industry
ana the other fifty per cent equally
divided between those subjects
which for convenience we call lfb-
eral and cultural. However II the
pupfl receives definite instruction In
his work as In telegraphy or grocery
This instruction Is accepted In his
work given I'm The school The state
precsribes the course, which includes
citizenship, health, hygiene, arith-
metic, English, drawing, home eco
Monies, manual training, Industrial
ond commercial subjects.
Attendance Us compulsory, except
in the event of physical unfitness,
four year high scohOl course, or mar
rage. The part time school is not
4 night school, although there are a
few districts in which instruction Is
given at night but generally the
hours are from a. m. to 3 "a. m. Che
fore the work day begins and from
8 a. m. to p. m.
"A common result Of the school Is
a return of the pupil to the full time
school but this is not the object OF
the work. Unlike many OF the states
Michigan has enjoyed the hearty CO.
operation Of industry. The employ
ers and the schools accommodate
these hurs to each other so that the
pupil has ample time for instruc-
tion and preparation.
"Michigan imposes no requirements
for it's part time schools, but wheh-
ever a district chooses to meet %he
standards the state has fixed as rea-
sonable they are reimbursed 80 per
cent of their expenditures from the
funds of the state, and lncidehtals
and in meeting the states STANDARDS
they qualify for reimbursement from
the Smith Hughes funds so they are
gfienerously aided and encouraged In
In undertaking reasonable standards
of excellence.
"Michigan ranks third In the ad-
ministration of its part time schools.
In the Union Utah leads.
Part time schools are not adapt
able TO Kansas except in limited
way in our first class cities and pos-
sibly in a few Of the larger OF Inc
second class. Tie industries are so
divided. 1t is question II any
other instruction than the liberal ana
cultural would have sufficient enroll
ment to be practicable. However,
almost any Of our high school dis-
tricts having an average population
could apply the part time system oy
n mid winter course of six weeks III
agriculture, animal hnsbandry, farm
carpentry and home economies.
These schools should maintain the
Smith Hughes standards and conse-
aueptiy be reimbursed from the
Smith Hughes funds. Iowa mah-
tains such schools to the advantage
and satisfaction Of the young people
in the rural communities who are
unable to enroll for a high school
course:
.It seems as If 1t is almost an OBJ
lfgatiOn which Kansas. also an agri-
cultural common wealth, owes to
the young people from her farms
who for reasons not their own, will