Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-01-31
PLATOON. SCHOOLS
N DETROIT ARE
WELL ORGANIZED
Every Detail for Care and Com
tort OF Boys and Girls 10
Provided For.
GREAT socIALIzIHc FACTOR


administrative details OF the platoon
or work -study-rlny plan In the public
schools In Detroit Ia essential for the
romrles~ Information Of the people
ar this city where Il In proposed TO
tnStnll this new method In at least
cnr new school which Ia To be built
within a years time for this special
curpae. rlir IL necessary not only
cha, Wilmingtonicns may he fully ad-
ri-ci a~ 20 what their children are
uvits To got In the future In the way
uf public school education but also
ga remove the impression that seem.
~ eSve gained ground that the pla-
soon system rs somekind OF a military
ech"mo or a part-time plan. Nothing
'nithcr from the actual facts.
Every Evening In it's series of ar
dcles on the platoon system In the
puhlic schools of Detroit as witnessed
There last week when officials from
h'rc made an inspection of the new
schools and the innovation I'm cduca-
uonal methods now in effect there has
already described az some length tn.
care Of books and supplies, care OF
wraps and other detail. and continues
herewith 20 give In detail lust how
0r ntst the cultural classes.
In the Detroit schools the music
room Is set aside for regular instruc-
tion In music. IL Is seated 10 accom-
m"datc pupils OF all grades and gem
orally speaking every pupil has two
81 three thirty minute periods a week
an this room. The teacher gives in
s'tuction ten thirty minute periods a
f,k-Y
ms the two rest periods the room is
occupied nv classes under the direc-
Ton OF the relief teacher. There lis
very close cooperation between the
work of the music department and
fhat OF the auditorium.
Tho technical music and prellnsinsrv
chorus work are done in the music
room and brought 10 the auditorium
for further Interpretation and polish.
The dramatic work OF the literature
room and auditorium and the chorus.
work 81 the music room are ueed as
me FOUNDATION OF operettas. canta-
tas and pagesnts. These production.
aid IN developing the dramatio and
musical possihilitiss OF the children
and help promote a good school spirit.
rhorc IL IN the Detroit new schools
been
installed studio set aside FOR special
waning IN art. The teacher Is a
trained art specialist. She teaches ten
eeriod~ daily with two half-hour rest
periods. An tvre~ of elementary school
Az work are carried on IN the studio.
PUPILS are seated in especially design
81 decks ana the room IL equipped 10
nie"t the reouircmnts OF art work. The
= h~t
and the auditorium IL very close
FOSTERS which are pade TO promote
patriotic and other kinds of propa-
Ssnda are made In the studio while
scenery and ccp,ume~ for the plavs
mo operettas In the auditorium are
nrsaxned and made in the art depart
nsn,
The literature room. another lnsti-
sn'lon IN the Detroit schools, is pro-
Ni'"d 10 emphasize The appreciation
90" ~ literature. The teacher is select
81 with reference 20 her own lit-vary
appreciation and her ability TO inter-
prtt child literature and arouse en-
thusiaSm IN %. The telling OF stories.
fhe r~cltins and reading OF poetry and
the informal Decentralization OF stories
are the prominent features Of ltera-
turc room work. With some exceptions
zach pupl IN platoon school at
tend" this room oae half hour a day.
IN the platoon school much atten-
ton II paid 20 the health OF the chill
dren and for this reason each pla-
toon school ia provided with a gym
nasium sufficiently large 10 care Tor
eighty pupils every hour OF the day.
,his makes the daily capacity OF this
room ESQ pupils. Two gymnasium,
teachers are constantly in charge. one
~ the director Of the gymnasium who
mas iull charge and In paid an annual
shlsry - 5000 in addition TO the rer-
nlar salary OF an elementary school
ssachcr; the other gymnasium teach
ct II an assistant who works under
the guidance OF the director. Every
pun has al least a thirty minute
bsriod OF physical education daily m
der the direction OF teacher
Throughout the year. whenever tho
the WEATHER permits, al least a par,
Of the physical education period Is
rpent out Of doors in the pe,roi,
schools.
Play. always the chief attraction NJ
she boy or girl attending any school
regardless of all else. is given a promi-
ncnt part In the platoon system and
In III. public schools OF Detroit :, h.
been worked down 10 almost a sc;-
encs and IL one of the features which
makes the children of that CITY az
Keen to 20 10 school and always 40
bright and cheerful and in good spIr-
i's which naturally has its effect upon
'ns'r studies and the recentivenes, of
tneir minds 20 assimilate the moro
SERIOUS phases of their education
Charles l.. Splain. deputy sunerin-
eDndent ~ the Detroit schools in nj.
yery able and complete description ~
NC platoon system as IL is i'm oners.
lion In tina, city. dealing with the
subject Of play. SAYS:
In addition 20 the reru,ar boi,
hour daily for physical work /, 10
desirable 10 schedule a daily n.,,o,;
Tor each puph for 1lay. This period
may ne IN chafse OF third physical
'r"lnins teacher, who works under the
director OF the gymnasium. BY this
ORGANISATION II In possible. for the
three physical training teachers 10
exchange work 40 that each one ha.
some Indoor and some outdoor work
daily
scheduling a daily outdoor nlav
period for each child presuppose. a
place 10 play. Theoretically IL means
that the playground will be used
every day. Practically this is ,rnpos-
sthle, although it can be used a much
larger percentage OF the time than I,
v ordinarily used In elementary
schools. In schools in which We now
schedule . play period for each child