Evening journal., 1922-02-16
The School Building Program
By DAVID A. WARD
Superintendent of Public Schools in Wilmington


ing the special work in gymnasium
auditorium, science, library and any
other special work provided for. AT
the end Of an hour and half the en-
tire school changes work, platoon b
going into the class rooms and pla-
toon A going to the special rooms,
where the same programs are re-
peated for the next hour and halt.
In the afternoon the same program
is followed. as in the forenoon, so
each child has three hours OF regu-
lar class room work in the same
room under the same teacher every
day and three hours of special work,
IN which is included not only audi
torium and gymnasium work, but
such subjects as nature study, man
ual training. domestic science, writ
ing and music.
A building to accommodate a
school of this type, should be spe-
cially designed and constructed so
that the class rooms are, as far as
possible, separated from the special
rooms and the 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 especially provided with play
courts and should be so planned as
20 insure the greatest convenience
in handling the classes.
In the organization and handling
OF the platoon school it is found that
"a to As section schools are conven-
lent for operation. This means an
enrolment of about 1909 to 1000
pupils. and .therejis no apparent dis
advantage in handling a school of
from $500 to 5000 pupils. The larger
units. aside from the economical adj
vantage, are advantageous from the
standpoint OF organization and ad-
ministration. The argument usually
brought against the organization of
schools in large units is the matter
OF distance that the children are re-
ouired to walk Experiekfe shows
that in the city the maximum dis
tance For larger children should not
be greater than one mile and for
small children not more than one
the Delaware School Auxiliary As
sociation, these distances have been
regarded 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
building and utilization of space, but
it affords opportunity for broader
and better balanced training for the
pupil. The modern elementary
school curriculum recognizes the fol-
lowing three groups of subjects The
tool subjects. reading, writing, arith-
metic, spelling, language, the con-
tent subjects, literature, geog
Apply history, civics. nature study,
physiology and hygiene; and the ex-
preston subjects. music, art, dra-
matics. physical education and
games manual arts. domestic arts
and school gardening. In the old
organization the emphasis is placed
upon the first two groups of sub
iects, with varying degrees of at
tention given TO the latter group 1t
Is the latter group that goes toward
rounding out the life of the child to
take an intelligent and useful posi-
tiOn as a citizen 81 his community
and his country. The platoon or
ganization provides greater oppor-
tunity for the development of the
child along social and cultural lines
by, allowing ample time and atten-
tion to be given to the expression
subjects in the regular schedule Of
the day. The alternating of schools
twice each day and the change OF
classes in the special activities more
frequently, furnish change of en-
vironment for the children, a relax
alton from the long daily sessions Of
the conventional organization. which
is conducive to interest and enthusi-
asm in the work. The children go
from the special activities to the reg
ular class work with renewed energy
and the difficulty of securing atten-
tive work is diminished From
the standpoint Of the teacher, the
platoon organization offers greater
opportunity for specialization.
The Board 81 Education. in con.
sidering the platoon organization fol-
Wilmington, are taking into account
the fundamental features OF schoo
system organized to serve adequatel,
the needs OF the community. Thes,
: are first, the efficiency OF the system
in affording to the children the bes
training for life and citizenship. ant
second. the burden upon the peopl,
% entailed by the initial cost Of build
ings and the cost Of administration
In both these fundamental elements
the platoon school, in comparison
b. with the conventional organization
iustifies the most serious consider
81 affon