Evening star., 1922-01-20

Strongly advocating the grouping
of children into three divisions as
provided in the Junior. high SCHOOL
tendent of schools of Virginia, APP
peared before the joint congressional
committee on schools yesterday.
He explained to the committee that
this was the best system, both from
the standpoint of efficiency and from
school system. and resulted in better
preparation of children for service.
He advised the committee thor
oughly to study this, plan. Questioned
by Senator King of Utah as L"
whether economies would be brought
about by this grouping which would
permit Of a reduction in the number
of teachers. DR.. Hart said that the
situation in practically all cities to-
day is such that all teachers have
diversified classes. and that putting
the system in force would not re-
suit in reducing the number of
teachers at all He said il is probable
that il would take more teachers. as
suming that thirty Five children con-
tituted a maximum for one teacher
to instruct
Fewer Huildings and Centers.
However Dr. Hart pointed out that
there would he fewer buildings, and II
would be possible to group the children
in fewer ccnterS, rather than have many
grade school buildings scattered about
The city, as under the present plan in
Washington.
He. said that he favored th. sixteen
room building as the most economical
for elementary schools. and IN cIiy ne
favored a maximum of two stories.
Oue-Stnry schools are The best. but ne
recommended them only for rural com
munitieS where the value of the iani
was not Suca a large consideration. The
sixteen-r room buildings. he said. shodii
be centcred SO that none of the Studen,s
would have any great distance 10 90.
and said they should accommodate from
iSU to $50 students.
The buildings he continued. should u.
surrounded with adequate Fairgrounds.
where there would be supervised play
hut he also added that the play should
not be too strongly supervised. as he be-
lieyed the children should have some
latitude
A building oe the size he recommend
ed should he supervised by one prin-
cipal. he said. Fairgrounds. he said.
are indispensable in the modern sys-
tenn of education. Physical education
is as much part of the education AS
studies. he pointed out. The purpose
Of public education is to develop the
BODY as well as the mind. SO that the
student can throw his whole force to
the service of the state when he leaves
school
Advises Medical Inspection.
Medical inspection, he also advocated.
pointing out that large percentage of
school children have some organic or ac-
cidental physical defect. II the condi-
ton is caught early enough. it can be
cured or a. least materially improS-
ed. h. said. To train the student to be
of highest service to the state. he said.
il seemed to him that physical well
being was Just as necessary as mental.
He said there We're coutless cases of
children going through the schools as
dullards, who, after operation, had
turned out to be normal students.
DR. Hart told the committee that the
teachers in Virginia were being trained
so that they could make minor surveys
of children. such as tests of sight. hear
ing, weight. etc. with a view TO de-
termining whether or not the child need
ed medical attention or examination.
He told the committee that audi
toriums and an adequate number of
study halls should be provided in
each building. Study halls provided