The Washington times., 1923-03-26
TRAIN 6
IN TRADES
URGED
Would Consolidate All High
Schools on Huge Farm in
Some Suburb.

BY GEORGE FRANKLIN.
With the evolution in public
school systems eentering general
attention, Washington's oppor-
tunity to establish the ideal Amer
lean system, fixing standards and
methods to be copied by educa-
tional systems throughout the
country, 10 Of vital importance
not only as affecting local inter-
ests but national welfare in the
broadest possible way, according
70 Secretary Of Labor James John
Davis.
Sees Changes Essentla.
Extensive changes In the local
system, involving the co-ordinating
or grades. the shortening Of courses,
the unifying OF lower and upper
school divisions In the interest OF
economy in time and expense, with
the development Of practical rather
than academic courses, are declared
by him to be essential in the at.
taipment OF such an end.
Washington's public schools
should constttute the standard Of
America" said Secretary Davis to-
A14AS OA4S3A43GS 41 TIC 8ySLGBl
are pending or contemplated. They
should be carefully studied to de.
termine that they viii make for
the ideal public school system de-
manded by modern conditions"
The America Of. today In not
that Of the time OF jefferson, or
any of the early great Americans
who lent their influence to further.
ing education. Today the American
high school course Is more than
the equivalent Of that of the best
colleges of their time. We have
developed our public schools along
academic lines 30 successfully that
no one viii question our ability to
teal lines Of education.
The crying demand Of America
today is for skilled mechanics. This
is due to the enormous increase in
population since early times. It Is
also due to advanced methods In
use in ali trades. Indusfrially we
have advanced as rapidly an in
population. The result is conditions
Of today are hardly comparable
with those existing when the
foundations were laid upon which
our public. school systems have
been reared. This IL true the coun-
try over. but that only emphasizes |
the advisability Of developing e.
center OF education where the IDEAL
public school system Is In opera
ton. and no more appropriate loca-
ton can be named than Washing
development of such q system"
School Consolidation.
Among the changes suggested to
effect this, Secretary Davis adyo-
Gates the consolidating OF high
schools through the taking over
Of a large tract OF land in the
suburbs-2, 500 acres or more-the
erection Of the necessary buildings,
and the working out Of courses
combining at least so per cent prac-
teal or trade education.
Trade training should start in the
grade schools, says the secretary,
the latter becoming as far as pos
eible industrial training units.
Relatively speaking, but a small
percentage of the public school
pupils are mentally qualified to
cover scientific and professional
courses. For those who succeed in
graduating from high school and
who are found competent to enter
the professional and scientific
courses, the established universities
are available. But the residue of
graduates are forced to enter Iife's
activities little qualified to meet
modern Industrial or commercial de-
maands. That is why trade train
ing should be recognized more ex-
tensively and made a far greater
element in high school courses
than it Is at present. No boy or
girl should be given a diploma by
the highest public educational unit
unless they have been qualified,
by its prescribed courses, to become
self-supporting in a fairly liberal
way"
School grades should be 30 con-
solidsted and unified that gradua-
ton from the upper school should
be possible at the age OF sixteen,
insists Secretary Davis.
II believe the grade and High