Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-02-08

failure Of ipcomc. to keen pace with the
needs. Increased efficiency means in
creased expenditures. Good schools can
not be cheap schools.
Unfortunately, the state Legisls.
ture has dcfnitel y restricted the Board
or Education to an eight mill tar and
has, heretofore, made comparatively
ANAL appropriations from the state
treasury to supplement local effort. IL
Is kreatlyto be hoped that the present
Legislature will raise the upper limit
o taxation and make very much
larger school appropriation itself.
High Schools
The past ten years constitute a
period Of remarkable development in
secondary education In 1910 only two
OF the four high schools for boys offered
more than one course OF study, and in
only one Of these did the work cover
high schools for girls, both located in
the center of the city. Many schools
had annexes, some Of which were located
in outlying sections. The Trades
School for Boys gave three. year
courses. he Central High has taken
over the work of the Central Manual
and the Trades School. With one ex.
ception, every high school IL now OF
the comprehensive type, offering vnri-
ETY. OF courses of study, and every
| course covers four years.
| The expansion OF the existing
echools and the erection Of six additional
high schools in outlying sections con
shtute the greatest growth in high
school opportunities in the history of
the school system. And this progress
has been paralleled by advances in
courses OF study, methods of promotion
and qualifications of teachers. In
courses of study. needless differences
between schools have been eliminated
and at the same time sufficient aexibility
has been introduced to enable the work
to BE- closely adapted to the needs Of the
individual students.
Further changes in courses Of study
will probably be needed shortly, but
these changes will be for the most part
merely in time allotment and will mot
alter the fundamental character of The
courses. In view OF the present condi
tons as TO the promotion Of pupils In
our high schools, II is rather startlin!
TO fnd that not q single school was or
the basis Of promotion by subject ter
years ago. The gain Ia this respect ha'
been noteworthy.
Especially gratifying has been th'
advance In the qualifications Of the
teaching force. The lack Of defnitc
standards and the failure 10 offer spe
cifc financial advantage 10 teachers O.
broad training, permitted enormous var
iations IN the qualifications OF teachers
appointed to high schools decade ago
j Many teachers bad broad training anc
valuable experience. The attainment
of others were below the accepted stand
ards in progressive school systems. A
the present time the completion OF
, college course or its equivalent is pre-
: liminary requirement for admission {
teachers examinations for nearly ever
type Of high school work.
While high hool facilities have ex
panded greatly, we are again facing
serious condition in the matter Of aC
commodRtions. The Central High SchoC
occupies three buildings, one Of whic
should be abandoned at the earliest pos
sible date because Of it's distance fro,
the main building and because Of II
unsatisfactory physical condition. tt
Germantown High has two annexes. or
~ being several miles from the main build
u ing.
'e Each OF the West Philadclphi
High Schools has an annex and wi
NJ shortly have 70 be put on part tin
~ unless relief is provided. But for q
re checking of immigration by the war Il
a. two South Philadelphia High SchoO
II. would now be unable 70 uCCommuAa
Is their students. Numbers are aga
Is increasing rapidly in these schools III
ly immediate steps should be taken
he meet the situation.
' One Vote May Decide
tr. One vote may decide the super
Of tandcnts election '.is afternoon. I
p: chances seem evenly divided between
ed decision for DR. Broome and snoth
;ps deadlock
ue While the main issue is apparent
ar, whether m educator from Philadelpt
IDS or ono from outside the city shall be s
in lected, the real fight this afternoon "
Ais probubly occur on the question
mt whether there shall be fnal action
6y this meeting.
lid Several members of the board
DO. that postponemcnt would be the
;ed move, several more are unyielding fo
in Phiiadelphian and the largest mum
aye favor immediate action. In fact, Il
have announced their determination
by fight for result today, II the meet
10 lasts for hours.
ars Contrary to report, DR.. Thomas
I'd. Finegan, state superintendent Ot Pul
ped instruction, will send no official mess
ave 20 the board asking for a postpnneU.
cen until after the national convention
ira school superi ntendents in Atlantic {
of the latter part Of this month.
.h me No Move BY FInegan
,et- DR.. Finegan said today that he
,kes no message for the members Of
nils board other than that which he
age already given 20 the members lie
md he had given them such information
nool he had regarding qualifications Of e
no. Gators considered for the post
cont Information handed ont by the p
,ca'. bureau Of the State Health Dopartn
lows at Harrisburg, OF which Dr., Edv
10 Martin. u member OF the board, Is s
.tLe tne Commissioner, had stated that DR.. +
rnt ,|S gan strongly advised a postponemcr
oTge ,ge Charles II. Edmund+ member
oiso the board, who vas absent from
w. meeting last month, said too
't ~ "the delay has been far too long
jf1S y Is absolutely necessary that We I
- TO q final agreement at this meet
sbift and I shnll do everything in my pc
'"moi to prevent a further postponeme
,iIitr Mr.. Fdmunds is for Or, Broome
No. ao Joseph W. Ca,hHrine also was Of
opinion, and be added: Those n
, &, bers who would not cast ballot
tLs time and who have had an extra n
have In which to finG candidate Of
and own for the PTsition have no fu
icaiIr excuse for delay. The longer we
earl the worse the situation will become
mary -Four educators are now before
The board for consideration. although
I the other may be nominated at will by
-eater member.
grade ut the last meeting, but nc has ret