Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-07-06
MRS. LUCY WILSON
CITES SCHOOL AIMS
Principal Tells Educators What
South Philadelphia High Is
Doing for Girls
WORLD CONGRESS PLANNED

Boston. July G.--1deals. which guide
the faculty Of the South Philadelphia
High School for Girls in building superb
womanhood were outlined in an ad-
dress by Mrs. Lucy l.. w. Wilson.
principal of that school. at n meeting
here this afternoon OF the Department
Of Secondary Education Of the National
Education Association.
Plans for world conference on edu-
cation to be held in 1923 are we'll under
way. Augustus &. Thomas. State Su-
perlntcndcnt of schools Of Augusta.
Me-, said today In presenting to the
association the report of the Committee
on Foreign Relations Of that body.
The report Of the legislative com
mission urged the establishment of a
Federal department of education and
said: "a large percentage Of teachers
in American public schools have neither
the education nor the professional
training necessary for. efficient service.
Courses in newspaper reading in TN"
schools of the country were advocated
in an address by q. :. Rice. supervisor
of school libraries in Madison. Wis.
Pupil, his paper said. now spend
considerable time on such subjects rs
algebra. (which they viii never use
after they leave school, but it is more
important that time should be given to
newspaper reading SO that pupils may
gain Il knowledge of how to read parrr''.
separating what Is real new" AMI what
is of real value from what is not. ="
Equal Chance for All Girls
Mrs. Wilson said:
The pole star of our faculty in the
South Philadelphia High School for
Girls has been this principle: To give
nf ,bill,,n nrl-
less of nationality. in accordance only
with her individual abilities. the "p-
portunity to function as II high minded.
open minded, practical school citizen,
truly democratic in spirit. equally at
ease with her supporters and her infc
rlors. intent on getting and on giving
the best of which she Is capable.
First. We have tried to know the
children rrd to help them to know
themselves. To this end (aD As much
nN possible. the home room teacher
keeps her girls through the four years.
In n" home room the teacher. helps
them practir" thrift and to bank their
'aving>: I" give. systematically, and
intcIligrntly TO understand and prHc-
tic" good manners and good morals. (h)
As much rs possible. each teacher comes
in contact with the girls. not only in
INV II''I' l'pIi ana III Iil' 'lHSS room.
but a!yo in some form of definite extra-
curricular activity. Every girl in the
school has the opportunity to take part,
within school time. in n social club,
&c, We use all tn" time Of one teacher
and half of the time of another in
visiting the homes of the children.
Stimulate TO Greater Ebert
Second. We have tried TO give the
children every opportunity to express
themselves. To this end: (a) In the
cIassrooms we have not only actually
sOcialiZed tho recitatiOns without str,lti-
flying machinery. but we are making n
sane use of dramatiHation. problems and
projects. and ibt whenever 1t has been
worth while we have effectively social
iZcd public functions as assemblies and
commcncemcntS. 1t is not unusual for
the girls themselves to ask for omen
forums on various subjects. ranging
from knickcrbockcrs to gubernatorial
candidates.
"GirlS now participate effectively in
tn" government of the school. II has
taken us six years to arrive at this Just
mean of democratic rule. but we
have actually begun to arrive.
1--WE have tried to give each child as
much intellectual pabulum as she can
digest and assimilatr. We have tried
to stimulate our children to greater cf-
fort. First, by frequent public COM
mondntionS, usually Of groups, rather
than individual; second. by publicly
awarding the school letter for superior
scholarship, as well as athletic prowcss
third. by public initiation of those who,
by reason Of scholarship. character.
service and leadership. had become
members of our Torch Chapter Of the
National Honor Society,"