Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-03-30
.0,O00,0O0 T0PUI
SCHOOLS IN SHAPE
Dr.. Finegan Gives Summary OF
Survey and Hits Admins
trative Heads
ELECTIVE BOARD URGED

Of Public Instruction, IN
Ills summary Of the school survey, was
that Of kindergartens. He said:
ALTHOUGH public kindergartens have
been connected with the Philadelphia
school system for many years, there mas
been an evident failure to recognize tneY
value Of the instruction provided IN TINS
type Of school. This statement u sus.
tained by the fact that the number OF
the city was less than one. third OF the
number Of children enrolled In the nrst
grade. Not all OF the children In Phila-
delphia are receiving fair treatment, nor
are they all accorded equal opportunities
when one. third Of them are given KIN
privileges and two thirds OF |
them are denied such privileges.
OF elementary schools he said: The |
elementary schools have q diverse or
sanization which does not contribute to
the equalization OF educational oppor-
tunity for all pupils. The 1903 element.
ary school units Of the city represent
fifteen different types OF orsanization,
ranging from a single kinderearten 70
reaSigation. Over half Of the schools
have the kindergarten to eighth grade
organization, which represents, there
fore, the dominant plan.
Takes Up High Schools
1.-THE supervision Of instruction IN
the high schools shows lack OF en-,
cheney. While some principals ana
heads Of departments are securing
highly satisfactory results, others are
making little or no effort to unity the
aims Of instruction, to correct poor
teaching, or to insure progressive i'm
S~ khn Int
teachers.
"The survey points out that these
defects can be corrected only through
a closer CO. ordination of the secondary
schools with the entire school system.
The responsibility Of defining the sec
ondary school system rests upon the
Board of Education.
DR.. Finegan declared much COM
mendable work Is being done in indus
trial education, but, continuing, ne
said:
"However. when It was found that
because of lack of facilities only slight.
! ly over 80 per cent Of the pupils OF
the fifth and sixth school years were
receiving industrial arts instruction.
that a very limited variety Of instruc-
seventh and eighth years, that virtu.
ally no trade instruction Of recognized
standard was being conducted for boys,
and that the girls trade school was
conducted only under great handicap,
1t seemed evident that the available ia
cilities for industrial education do not
meet the needs Of the industrial life
Of the city.
Urges Quick Action
IF the city is to discharge its obliga.
ton to the boys and girls who are to
60 into industrial life, it should enter
at once upon a we'll conceived program
for the development Of trade and indus
trial schools and classes which meets
the standards generally accepted
throughout the country"
"Since eight out Of every ten girls
in Philadelphia will take up the voca-
tion Of homemaking at some time in
their lives, no educational program is
complete that does not make adequate
provision for the instruction Of these
girls along lines which shall ft them
for their responsibilities in life.
''There Is an outstanding vital weak
ness in the teaching force, which needs
ing force of $3.50. but 500, or less than
10 per cent, report any experience out
side Of Philadelphia. In comparing
the years of service in Philadelphia
with those outside of Philadelphia, it
Is found that but 8 per cent of the
total years of service given by Phila-
dclphia's teachers to the business of
| teaching has been outside of the city
Of Philadelphia. Although it Is obvious
that large city maintaining a teacher
training institution would supply ma
jority of its own rank and fle of the
teaching force, 95 per cent is alto
0okhor toN hiOh oud iu oxeIonoo IS .>.,
Gus inbreedins.
Urges Yearly Infusion
"There should be a specific rule
Of the Board of Education to the effect
that each year, Of the new entrants into
the teaching service, q specific number
for instance. not less than 25 per cent
shall be obtained from outside the Phil.
adelphia system. This Is the practice
prevailing in the cities Of the country
which are maintaining the most pro.
gressive school systems.
''Therc should be an institution IN
Philadelphia which should train, taking
into consideration the special needs of
the entire system, from 60 10 70 nor
cent of the teaching and supervisory
I'm order that the program Of ,tud,es
may be made a growing thing and keen
pace with changing conditions definite
provision should be made for a periodic
revision of the courses of study unGer
the leadership OF the superintendent NJ
schools and through the immediate
agency Of the city supervisors Of the
several subjects"
Taking up school buildings, DR.. Fin.
legan said: "It cannot be too emphati.
.cally stated that the general Condition
of Philadelphia school plant is de.
plorable.
Nearly 10000 elementary pupils arc
on part time attendance because of
lack Of Sufficient classrooms, and the
high school pupils are handicapped by
the heavy overcrowding Of their classes.
"There Is q real hazard to the chill.
dren Of Philadelphia in the fact that
"a per cent Of the school buildings arc
not fireproof and are not equipped with
modern fire. protection apparatus.
Menace to Morals
'"The citizens Of Philadelphia would
-be shocked to learn Of the insanitarv
and unwholesome toilet facilities thai
are provided for the children in a ma.
jority Of the public school houses. II is
10 exaggeration to say that many of the
conditions not only threaten the health
Of the children, but are q menace IN
their morals as we'll.
more than 80 per cent Of these
buildings provide less than the standa I'd
blsy area now recognized as necessary
to the healthy and happy school life Of
children.
"A building program is definitely
suggested, extending over a period Of
twenty years and providing for tho i'm.