Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-02-16

BIeuD ~ <VpoetcO kyE t"o uoAt uVuI
and half. In the afternoon the Same
program aas followed. a. in the fore
noon. 30 that each child has three
hours OF regular classroom work In
the Same room under tho same teacher
every day and threc hours Of special
work. in, which is included. not only
auditorium and gymnasium work, but
such subjects ~ nature study. manual
training. domestic science. writing and
music.
A building. to accomrhodate school
Of this type. should be specially de-
signed and constructed 70 that the
classrooms are. a. far IA possible,
separated from tho special rooms. and
tho special rooms should be located as
far as possible on the same floor. as
there Is more changing OF classes
among them than among the class
rooms. The building should be espe-
cially provided with play courts and
should be so planned as TO insure the
greatest convenience in handling tho
classes.
In the organization and handling u
the platoon school It Ia found that
twenty-four TO forty eight section
schools are convenient for operation.
This means an enrolment OF about
1000 TO 1000 pupils. and there Is no
apparent disadvantage In handling a
school OF from 2,soo to a,ooo pupils.
The larger units. aside from the eco-
nomical advantage, are advantageous
from the standpoint OF organization
and administration. The argument
usually brought against the orsaniza-
ton Of schools In large units In the
matter OF distance that the children
arc required to walk. Experience
shows that In the city the maximum
distance for larger children should
not bo greater than one mile. and for
small children not morn than one
half mile. In the survey made by the
Delaware School Auxiliary Associa-
ton. these distances have been re-
Karded as standard and have been
carefully observed in suggesting To-
cations. BY building six small schools
on carefully selected sites TO accom-
modate the first three grades, these
requirements are fully met.
The platoon organization not only
Offers advantages in economy OF build
Ing and utilization OF space, but 1,
affords opportunity for sbrdader and
better balanced training FOR the pupil
The modern elementary school cur.
rtculum recognizes the following thrc,
groups OF subjects: the tool subjects
reading. writing. arithmetic, spelling
language the content subjects. ntera.
ture.- geography. history. ,civics, ma
tnre study. physiology and hygiene
and the expression subjects, music
art, dramatics, physical education an,
games. manual arts, domestic arts
school gardening. In the old organi
zation the emphasis is placed upo,
:, the first two groups OF subjects. witt
varying degrees OF attention given Z
:, the latter group. II is the latte
>, group that goes toward rounding on
the life Of the child to take an intelli
-, gent position as a citizen OF his com
munity and his country. The plaeee
A., organization provides greater opportu
/. nifty for The development Of the chill
!. along social and cultural lines by al
a, lowing ample time and attention to b
= given TO the expression subjects in tn
n ANe" ~'iSouie VI tHe udy. Inc a.
ternating Of schools twice each day an
"a the change Of classes IN the specir
or activities more frequently, furnish
l. change OF environment for the chi
e. dren. n relaxation from the long dali
e. sessions Of Unconventional organizs
e. ton, which IN conducive to interel
IN and enthusiasm in the work. TT
II children go from the special activiti,
re TO the regular class work with r,
he newed energy and the difficulty of S,
H. securing attentive work IL dlminishe
ut From the standpoint Of the teache
SIS the platoon organization offers
ms greater opportunity for specializatio
ut. The Board OF Education. in consi,
Of ering the platoon organization &
!al Wilmington are taking into sccou
Is the fundamental features OF b scho
Ire system organized TO serve adequate
Of the needs Of the community. The
,r- are first. the efficiency of the syste
in affording to the children the be
ur training for life and citizenship, al
re- second, the burden upon the people e
ur tailed by the initial cost OF bulldin
ire and the cost Of administration.
d. both these fundamentals elements, {
ial platoon school, in comparison wi
,c- the conventional organization, jus
om fies the most serious consideration.