Evening journal., 1922-09-11
l4,OOOPUPILS
START school
New Term Begins With
Record Enrolment in
Wilmington
PLATOON SYSTEM
IN EFFECT OCT. /


opened today for the fall and win
ter term. with an approximate en-
rollment OF $4,000 pupils This is
one OF the largest enrollments that
the city schools ever have had At
the office OF Or. David A. Ward.
superintendent OF schools. this
morning. no definite reports had
been received as to the number OF
pupils enrolled today in the differ
ent schools in the city. These re-
ports, however. will be made to his
Office by tomorrow. and a complete
enrolment OF the schools and
whether all pupils can be seated
will be known by Wednesday.
The outlook for the coming school
year looks bright to superintendents.
principals and members OF the teach
ing staffs. The teaching staff Of the
entire city Is complete with the ex-
cepton OF one or two vacancies
which will be filled In a few days.
Il was not known this morning
how many children had entered the
b grade in the primary schools to-
day. but II Is expected the number
viii be larger than that OF other
years. The p. grade Is composed
OF boys and girls who are entering
the school for the first time. The en-
rollment in this grade will not be
finished until after September %.
This is due 10 the fact that the chill
dren OF six years or whose sixth
birthday anniversary occurs between
now and November have the op-
pOrtunity TO enter the public schools
any time during the first two weeks
OF the term.
Announcement was made today al
DR.. Wards Office that all children
whJ did not enter school today and
who are going to enter within the
next two weeks must be vaccinated
before coming to school Each child
Is asked to bring with him 20 the
school he enters his vaccination
paper from his physician. This
compulsory vaccination OF children
was also urged last week by Dr. c.
NJ. Handy. president OF the Board
of Health.
Perhaps one OF the biggest prob
lens that the school officials had 10
handle today was the enrolling OF
the former pupils of School No. 5.
These students today went TO School
No. 20, Tenth and Spruce streets,
and from that center were d,stribu-
ted 10 ther various grades and
schools. Pupils Of the kindergarten
AMI primary grades Of School No.
IS. CHoward SCHOOL, were enrolled
at School no. s. This school since
the close OF last term has been
turned into "A school for Negro
children so that congestion OF prirl-
AIRY grades would be relieved at
School No. Is.
The platoon system VIII be es-
tabished in schools - and 2. but
this will not be on a working basis
before October I. II Is expected the
es:a blishment OF this system will re-
lieve the situation OF the children
who are obliged 10 study on part
time.
The schools today were on sched-
ule time with two sessions. and will
continue on that schedule. Many e..
the teachers had previous 10 todsy
visited their principals, and had ,
out plans for the opening /
Of the schools.
At the High School this morning !
the enrolment was approximately /
200 pupils. The freshmen c.ass ap- I
numbers over 500. This I
year the enrolment Of the school is /
larger than ever before. but Princi-
pal Coke is del'gh ed with the out
look for the coming term. Today /
the school closed at 1 O'Clock. butt
will be on regular schedule time to- /
morrow. closing at the usual time, /
2:3O o'clock. The pupils at the /
school today received their books, /
and lessons were assigned. The .
members Of the school teaching staff /
we're at the school last week and (
outlined their programs for the .
coming term.
Many OF the parochial schools in
his city opened today for the fall
md winter term. St. Paul's school. I
II Fourth and Van Buren streets.
vill not open until next Monday.
This school has undergone extensive
-epairs. and the building has been
enlarged to sake care Of the increas-
ID enro lment. The teaching staff has
llso been increased.
The Ursuline Academy, at Della
ware avenue and Harrison street,
,pens for the year. on Wednesday.
friends School, Fourth and West
treets. will open September IS, and
rower Hill School will open on
No1noedav