Evening journal., 1922-02-16

school buildings is a generally ac-
cepted fact That the cost Of re-
housing all the schools at once would
be prohibitive is evident. The neces-
sity for distributing building
program over period Of years
makes it very important that
scientific study OF fundamental
conditions relating to school conges-
ton, population and growth OF the
city be made in advance Of the
adoption Of a definite plan for the
erection OF buildings Before be-
ginning construction, the needs OF
the various sections of the city must
be known in order to determine
wisely the size, type and location OF
the first building.
II was upon these considerations
that the Board of Public Education
asked and received the assistance OF
the Delaware School Auxiliary Asso-
citation, and this association has rem
dered a most valuable service to the
city in placing at the disposal OF the
Board scientific information, which
enables IL to approach with assur-
ance the stupendous task OF provid-
ing adequate housing facilities for
the children OF Wilmington.
II was'in accord with the same
policy OF making a thorough study
OF conditions that the trips to De-
troit and other cities have been
made for the inspection of buildings
and organization plans. II is the
policy Of the Board, in planning for
the erection of buildings. to become
familiar with the latest models and
the approved types of organization
OF schools, in order to adapt the best
that other cities have to the needs
OF Wilmington.
The city OF Detroit, not only offers
an opportunity to see the latest de-
velopment In school architecture,
but it furnishes the most outstanding
example Of the type OF school organ
ization known as the work-Study-
Play plan, or the platoon school.
The first platoon school was opened
in Detroit in the fall OF 1918. In
September, 1919. the Board OF Edu-
cation adopted a resolution provid-
ing that all new buildings for the
| elementary schools to be erected
should be planned and built to ac-
commodate the platoon type of or
ganization. A number of old build
ings have been remodeled to adapt
them to this plan. With these re-
modelled buildings and the new
buildings erected since 1919 the city
now has AZ schools organized and
working on this plan The platoon
school has become very popular In
/ Detroit, and sections OF the city still
operating under the traditional or
ganization are asking for new
schools or mobilization of old build
lngs to adapt them to the plan
faster than the Board can meet the
demand. AS evidence of the genera
attitude toward the plan there, the
school officials state that while they
have a great many applications from
teachers for transfers from ira.
ditioQal schools to platoon schools
they have no applications for trans
fers from platoon TO traditiona
schools, and the universal reply o
teachers and pupils when aske,
whether they like the platoon q
we'll as the traditional school. is tha
they like IL much better and woul,
not be willing 20 return to the ol,
plan.
The distinguishing feature OF the
lplatoon school is its hundred pei
cent. use OF room by a system of al
ternating classes and relates to or.
ganization. 1t is an administrative
rather than professional difference
Under the conventional organization
every child Is provided with a seat
and all the children of the school are
seated in regular classrooms at the
same time. Any gymnasium. audi
torium or other special type OF room
must be provided in addition to the
class rooms, and when these specia'
rooms are in use the class rooms are
vacant. Under the platoon organiza.
ton all OF the space. both elias,
rooms and special rooms are in use
all the time. This Is accomplished
by dividing the entire school into two
shifts, or platoons Of an equal mum
her of classes in corresponding
grades.
For example. a school OF "a classe
under the old plan would require
building with "a class rooms and fl
addition there would have to be pro
vided an auditorium. gymnasium an,
other special rooms to take care o
the special activities outside OF regu
lar class room work. Under tn
platoon type the building would b
provided with twelve regular elias
rooms, the auditorium and gymnas
nm becoming a part OF the regula
b equipment and taking the place O
S two or three class rooms each. Will
school b, twelve classes. is distrii
is working in the twelve class room.
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