San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-08-19
YEAR ROUND
SCHOOL PLAN
SUCCESSFUL
Close of 11-week Summer
Term Assures Feas-
ibility.
PUPILS ARE BENEFITED
Students Suffer Little In
convenience From
Heat.
PUPILS ARE BENEFITED

With the closing of nine public
school last Friday at the end of an
eieven-weeK summer term in which
the all-year plan was cautiously test
ed by school officials. the experiment
has been pronounced success by
Marshall Johnston, director of sum
mer school work.
No undue inconvenience from the
heat was suffered by either the chill
dren or the teachers; Mr.. Johnston
reports. The summer schools had the
beneficial effect of keeping hundreds
of children off the streets and away
from the society of those who would
exert an evil influence, Mr.. Johnston
believes.
A detailed report of the promotions
among the 1900 children who took adj
vantage of the summer school work
has not yet been compiled by the
teaching staff. This report will not
be made until Monday or Tuesday.
Not Many Promotions.
Relatively there were not as many
promotions in the summer schools as
there are during the regular term,
Mr.. Johnston has estimated. This is
due to the fact that the summer term
is an innovation and the pupils and
teachers had insufficient time to be-
come perfectly adjusted to new con-
ditions. Requirements for promotion
in the summer schools were as strict
as those during the regular terms.
Mr.. Johnston said.
Although the summer term lasted
lint alava, x,-aa1-c In
courses that commonly consume a
regular half-year's work were COM
pleted.
At least 80 per cent of the total
enrolment were children of Mexican
parentage. Three schools were al.
most entirely Mexican. One of the
chief arguments advanced in favor
of the all-year plan is that children
who must quit school at an early
age in order to assist in supporting
their families, might obtain the maxi
mum of education during the limited
time they are able to attend school.
Summer school work was conduct
cd at the two high schools, and at
the Robert Il. Green. Robert Il. Lee.
Navarro. breckenridge Memorial,
Beacon Hill, Sam Houston and the
breckenridge school for negroes. In
the two high schools, the sixth and
seventh grades were taught as well
as high school work. There were
about 700 pupils enrolled in the sixth
and seventh grades. and about an
equal number in high school courses.
The first to the fifth grades. inclu-l
slye, were taught in the elementary
schools. The teaching staff. exclusive
of the director and clerical assistance.
comprised lib teachers.
With the reported success of the
summer school experiment behind
them. it is believed that the school
board will carry on this work on a
larger scale than before next summer.
More emphasis. it is believed, will be
laid upon the encouragement of pupils
to take up the summer school work.
Plan Was Opposed.
When the original all-year school
plan was first presented TO the board,
strong opposition was voiced in many
quarters. arguments against the plan
being largely based upon cons'dera-
ton of the welfare of the children
during the hot summer months. CUES
tlonalres were sent out to pupils and
teachers. and the burden of the an
swers was in opposition to the plan.
Following many and prolonged dis
cusslons, a modified plan was tenta-
lively outlined by the board. The
board members agreed TO have
summer term, largely in the nature
of an experiment. conducted for the
first time under the direction of the
public school system. Heretofore,
summer school work has been CON
Quoted in the public schools by in
dividuals acting for themselves.
Another experiment was made dur
ing the summer school term, that of
trying out the supervised study plan.
a report has not yet been made of
this experiment. Under the SUPER
vised study plan, the pupil is not
expected to study at home. OF the
65-minute period in each course. 81
minutes is devoted to the lesson as
signed the preceding day, and the
remaining 80 minutes is devoted to
the study. under the direction of
teacher. of the lesson assignment for