San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-03-11
WILL CHANGE
COURSES To
SUIT PUPILS
Committee Surveys City
and Sees Needs of
Children.
DROP OLD SYSTEM
Says Mexican Children
Should Be Taught More
English.

In order that the course OF study in
the junior high schools Of San An
tonic might be adapted to fill the par
ticular needs of this city, an extended
survey has been made of the popula-
ton and industries of San Antonio by
committee appointed by DIR. ]. l..
Henderson, professor of secondary edu-
cation of the University of Texas, who
tonts to prepare the way for the in
auguration of the junior Aigh school
system in San Antonio next fall. An
outline of the completed report will be
given by f. S. Eakely. head of the
committee. at the junior high school
training class at the regular session
at the Main Avenue High School audi
forum, Monday aftteynoon.
In order that the Mexican population
might be more readily assimilated, the
committee will recommend the COM
plete reorganization of the first five
grades in the elementary schools sit
uated in the centers of foreign popula-
ton in San Antonio. The committee
will recommend that in the schools
made up of pupils of foreign extrac-
ton. more attention should be given
to the English language. Other sug-
gestions embodied in the report are
that compulsory education be rigidly
enforced: that 1.-THE curriculum in the
junior high schools be based on the
key industries of San Antonio; that
mechanical and clerical courses be
stressed; that welfare courses be es-
tablished in all grades: that the indus
trial courses should take care of the
apprenticeship stage; and that each
school should make a survey on and
report of its own peculiar needs.
Schools Differ in Needs.
The committee, headed by Mr.. FAKE
~, consists OF L. W. Fox, supervisor
of industrial training; ]. o. Loftin.
principal of the Navarro school: Miss
Marguerite Stryker, Sam Houston
School. and Miss Bessie Webbing, Sam
Houston School.
In addition to personal investiga-
made sy the committee. material for
the voluminous report is based upon
the government census for 1920. a
survey made by the Southwestern Bell
Telephone Company. and material OBJ
tanned from ]. X. Riley of the indus
tril department Of the chamber of com
merce, from the Open Shop Associa-
ton, from the survey made by Gregg
and Company, industrial engineers,
from the Retail Merchants Associa.
ton, the San Antonio Manufacturers
Association, and from the survey
made in San Antonio in 1915 by DR..
]. +. Bobbitt OF Chicago, a noted au-
thority on school curriculums.
The first part of the report deals
with the distribution of population so
that an intelligent differentiation of
the courses of study in the junior high
schools might be made. 1t is obvious,
Mr.. Bakely explained, that the course
of study for junior high school in
one neighborhood might not be suitable
for another.
How City Grows.
In studying the industrial popula-
ton the committee was hampered by
the fact that there is no organization
in San Antonio where the total num-
Der of persons employed in any certain
occupation was available.
Due to the geography and climate,
San Antonio has developed normally
and no boom" has characterized its
growth, according TO the report. San
Antonio has kept pace with the devel-
opment of Southwest Texas.
An interesting fact brought to light
by the report is the rapid increase in
the Mexican population of the city. In
1910, there were approximately 5000
Mexicans in San Antonio. In 1870,
there were 2S,00O Mexicans. While
the total population Of San Antonio
increased rs per cent during the ten
year period, the Mexican population
increased by 800 per cent. The negro
the total. The center of the popula-
ton now has tendency to move to-
ward the northern, northwestern and
southwestern part of the city, accord
ing to the report.
Another interesting fact brought out
by the committee is that the most
thickly populated wards have proper
tiohately the least number Of children
in the public schools.
II Should Teach Selling.
The second part of the report deals
with the industrial conditions in San
Antonio. Thu purpose of this census
was to determine what courses should
be put in the junior high school curri-
culums. In 1920, there were S6O,OOO,-
900 OF products turned out by San
Antonio industries. Iron and steel
products led with a value of $4,000
900; flour was second with a value
of S5,250,000; printing products, ST.
100000: oil products, $500, 900; CT
CARS; S3,740,0OO; chilli products, ST.
100000.
Out of every 1000 of the population
of San Antonio, only two are in the
professions, namely, law and medl-
cine; 50 are employed as statesmen,
and 81 enter the teaching professions.
In San Antonio there are $40 ex-
clusively clerical businesses, 20 law
yers and 292 doctors.
ut is obvious that the curriculums
of the junior high school should not
specialize in pre-medical studies" Nj.
Eakely said. From the foregoing fig
ures one can see that the junior high
schools should offer a good course OF
study in salesmanship that the strict
" clerical courses, as differentiated
from the commercial courses, should
be given; and that the mechanical
courses should be stressed.
"One of the great problems OF our
public ehool system is to asslmllate
the foreign born population. 1t has
been our observation that many Next
can children quit school at an early |
osa hecause thew have not learned the !