Evening journal., 1921-09-03
ENCOURAGE
EDUCATION
New School Principal Sees
Better Results in Unit
System
MANY PUPILS
ARE DROPPING OUT

One Of the first matters OF i'm.
portance brought to the attention
OF the new superintendent OF public
schools, Prof David A. Ward. was
the small percentage OF pupils that
get into the High School who COM
plete the four-year course, and with
the intention OF meeting this prob
lem Prof. Ward. with the co-opera-
ton OF the new principal, Charles
Coke, is planning a radical depar-
ture from the conventional curri-
culum which has been IN vogue at
the school for years.
A step toward the reduction of
this dropping out OF pupils
was taken when the present
High School program OF elective
courses OF study was adopted A
study Of this problem by educators
developed the fact that discourage
ment through failure in promotion
coupled with a lack OF vital interest
in some Of the studies in the orthodox
curriculum. was in a large measure
responsible. In view Of these facts
Prof Ward has taken an advanced
step which is in line with the best
modern educational systems.
Beginning with the opening OF the
fall term. there will be an entirely
new method OF procedure in select
ing the course OF studies. known as
the elective study" OF unit system
Under the present. or elective
course" plan. the pupil Is permitted
on entering the high school "a
choose the particular course he OF
she wishes to take, whether class
ical, Latin scientific. or some other
prescribed course.
Under the elective study plan
each pupil is required to make 1t
units. each unit representing a years
work in the study selected. Five
courses are prescribed. "a English
Cd Foreign languages; (3) History
(4) Mathematics. and CD Science
Each pupil will select two major
courses. one OF which is English
the four-year course in English
being obligatory. The pupil car
then select two minor courses. IT
English he must make units, IL
the second major course. units
anu Al AAAN AM0 AAAAARA ANaAA So
units each. In the second majo
course and in the two minor course
the pupil may elect to study any on
OF the kindred subjects listed in tn
course. For instance. II the secon'
major course selected Is "Foreigl
Languages" the pupil may elect e
take Latin, or French, or Spanish
and must make units. or in othe
words devote years OF study 4
the subject selected. or II 'Foreig7
Languages" should be one OF tn
two minor courses selected. the pup
would only be required to make
units, and 80 on with the othe
courses In addition to the IL unit
the pupil must attain in the tw
major and the two minor course,
he is required to attain an additions
s units in some other elected studio.
This system has the advantage o
hexibiiity, in that the pupil is give
wide latitude In selecting the studie
in which he is most interested an
best adapted. II also admits OF
change at the proper time from
course selected TO another In case @
dLscouragement or IL for some othe
reason the pupil after a certain pc
riod feels some other study woul
be more in line with his require
ments. This, Mr.. ward explained
does not mean that a pupil ca
change in the middle OF a term, O
because Of a mere whim. II Is be
lieved that as a result there wi
be fewer failures in promo
ton and fewer who drop out {
school because they become discoul
aged and disheartened in their worl
The total enrolment in the Wi
mington public schools for the con-
ing year is expected to total abot
$4,000. Last years enrolment wa
slightly over 1880. The indication
are that there viii be an increase
about 200 in the High School La
year there were approximately 100
enrolled there. Industrial cond
tions, which have caused many fam
lies to leave this city, It is believe
will make the enrolment less tina
Il would have been under normi
conditions.
Mr.. Wards opinion was asked ye
terday concerning the use OF new
papers in the schools, along lint
adopted in some large cities, as n
basis Of a course Of study in currei
geography.
He expressed himself as very Ia
orably inclined, and intimated tn
later on such a plan might be al
piled in the Wilmington school
The course generally includes tv
35-minute periods each week for q
discussion Of suggested topics
current geography, or the geograph
cal factors involved in currei
events. Pupils are encouraged
look up data for themselves, to res
magazine articles. reports and bull
tins, etc.