Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-02-04
OuercrOIOdissg Hit
in PhiLa. Schools

CostsnseA frvm Psse One
ton Of this phase Of the system that
will quite equal the startling revela-
tions made BY the Finesan experts.
And nothing has escaped the probe
In this inquisition. l
There il not merely verbal Idescrip.
tion. suggestive and condemnatory.
but there are photographs that Illus
trate the worst and the best.
And there are more than photo.
graphs. Ground plan surveys. and
blue prints by architectural experts and
technicisns are shown splenty.
1t has taken this disinterested sur.
vey. a. nothing else could. to reveal
the indefensible conditions that environ
the. at least. physical side Of the edu.
cation Of thousands Of Philadelphia
children.
SCHOOLS Are Overrowded
Schools overcrowded to the point Of
endanserins life. conditions not only
hygienically monstrous in the present
age. but absolutely conducive to i'm
morality are handled fearlessly by the
men making the report.
In some instances the worst condi.
tions that may prevail in remote coun.
try districts are duplicated in the heart
of Philadelphia.
Questions Of curriculum. manual
training and education along special
lines with resard to the future use
fulness Of the pupil, are treated in
extenso.
What is aimed at. however. is H..
Elimination and helpfulnees rather than
revolution.
The survey contemplates the future.
Its experts submit plans of wide Wis
ion. and their suggestions cover the
OF the schools for thirty, forty years
TO come.
Slams Banded Freely
Trend of population. creation Of in
dustrial conditions as affecting the
school attendance in the far future. is
considered definitely and conclusivcly.
Incidentally. that rrversion TO the
vrrnacular SLAM" which It not M
elegant as it is expressive, may in a
roundabout way be applicable to a
more immediate action Of the Super.
intendent Of Public instruction.
He has been slammed pretty hard
recently. particularly with regard to the
new and improved school system and its
alleged exhorbitant cost.
With tightly closed lips he has
maintained silence under 1t all-that
is. up to the present. He has been too
busy to make reply.
SCI I restraint will end. There isn't
going to be any uncorking of the vials
of wrath. There is going to be.
though. a direct and forciblc reply to
all bis critics. large and small.
Favors Work. Not Words
There are TO be no vituperativc OK
plctives or verbosity OF descriptive Ian
suage.
II will be straight conversat ion
garnished with official figures from the
records
I am reliably Informed tina, DR..
Finegan will not hesitate to call Il spade
u spade. nor four flush Il four flush
not saying TINT the doctor Is an
expert with cards.
All this will be developed in the
presence OF 100 or 800 individuals from
all parts Of the State. school directors
of the Commonwealth in their annual
meeting. 1t is to be held here in Har-
risburg next week in the big auditorium
Of the Technical High School.
The school directors Of the State are
more Interested than anybody else per :.
haps. and II will be to them that the
superintendent will tell what he has
to tell.
Here is just hint:
The cost Of running the public schools
Of the State under it's modern and up
tO.date system is just one tenth Of |
per cent more than it was nine years
ago
One mil more than under the old
sluggish pre- war regime with its anti. .
quated and inefficient methods.
Think that over