Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-10-24
MRS. EMMA V. THOMAS-TINDAL
On the Development of the Junior High
School

TIlE main purpose Of the Junior High
L School, as it has been developed by the
Philadelphia educational system. Is To- say"
educational loss. according to Mrs. Emma
V. Thomas T!ndall. principal OF the Holmes
Junior High School at Iifty-tifth ana
Chestnut streets.
"The heaviest loss from the educational
point of vcw," said Mrs. Thomas Tindal::
'orcurs between the elementary grades and
the high school. After the completion "t
tn" elementary course, there were many
pupils every year VIII" did not want 10 go
on with their education, and the Junior High
School was planned t" retain thes" puplls
and thus save the loss which othrrWi."
would be inevitable. In other words, 1t
bridges the gap between the elementary
school and the regular high school. now
known as the Senior High School.
Age Of Pupils Important
"The Junior High School is peculiarly
needed because Of the age Of the pupils,
the majority of those in tn" Junior schools
being at that critical period when child
hood is on the verge Of manhood and woman
hood.
."rhe great work Of tho Junior High
School is to study this period of life; to
note its characteristics and TO transmit"
what would be- waste energy into power.
The restless activity should be transformed
into p,lrposcfu effort the irrcSponsihl"
gayety into happiness in work and joyous
attainment. In order L" do this the Junior
High School must max" uS" Of every sane
pedngogi"al agency which Will help the
pupil and make him feel that school is
worth while.
These schools must have departmental
teaching. promotion by subject. differentiated
courses Of study and Vocational training.
hut the main idea is the attainment of the
American ideal Of equal opportunity to all.
Unless the Junior llien School realizes the
right Of the pupil to his own individual de-
vrlnpmrnt and offers opportunity for that
dcvrlopment it has little excuse for existence.
What Equal Opportunities, Mean
but equal opportunities in this sense In
clude more than mere srh"In>ti" and vo"a-
tinnol opportunities for individual tastes
md ATTITUDES must be given play This is
a difficult task in n school Of 1000 pupils,
eorh with his own individual tastes and
abilities. but it Is the work which the
Junior High School must perform il It Is
70 be- worth while. To do this the Holmes
Iunior High school, the first in the city,
has inaugurat"d the club system, Offering
oid for scholastic weaknesses through res
torotory, prevention and drill cmbs
"To do this, an extra hour has been
added to the school day. and this time IA
devoted 10 ministering to tn" individual
neod,. tastes and aptitudes Of tho members
nf the clubs. The regulation school work
;s nil done before the club work Is taken up
These tastes and aptitnd"s find op-
nortunity for expression in n series of
clubs which might be roug ghIy grouped as
cmiturol nvocatonal ifor the worthy use of
leisure time). vocational, social, civic, rec
reational and ethical.
Teachers Assist Greatly
each teacher contributes of his or her
hobby for the benefit of tn" school. The
ntmnsphere Of the club life is that Of good
fellowship and spirit purely democratic.
the pupils choose their own clubs The
teachers act merely as the club sponsors,
hnt no pupil is admitted to the club which
no or she wishes to join until the pupil has
nassed certain tests by the principal.
.These tests show first that the pupil
bos definite aims in worthwhile activities
cIeorly defined. and second, that the club
work fills either n personal need Of the
nunil or n local community need. Its worl,
must reach beyond the four walls Of the
classroom, and influence the daily life Of the
pupil, Alta ,,,oortont GROSS ssctior -, re,
there is especial need for educational guild
ance, and one of these club periods is a
nersonal guidance period, held sacred to
heart. to heart talks between pupil and
teacher. This j. the highest work Of the