Evening star., 1924-09-24
DISTRICTS SCHOOL PROBLEM
Inadequate Facilities for Education of Youth Re-
proach to the National Capital.
BY yAMES E. CHINN.

3. A corps Of teachers especially
trained for these special activities
which would become 4 part OF the
daily program Of every pupil.
\ \ *
AS auditoriums are essential to
every platoon school, DR.. Ballou does
introduced into the Washington
schools on an extensive scale be-
cause OF tho lack OF assembly halls.
Figures compiled by the superin-
tendent show that only seven ele-
mentary buildings have auditoriums
that are usable. They are the Z. v.
Brown. Park View, Henry D. Cooke,
Bryan, Thomson, Cleveland and Mott
The Powell School also has an audi
torium but IL fs to be converted into
junior high school next February.
Fairgrounds and gymnasiuns also
are necessary in platoon schools and
DR.. Ballou points out that none OF
the elementary schools has an in
door play space, while the play
grounds are not generally adequate
for platoon use.
:: X i:
Back in November, 1921, soon after
DR.. Ballou came to Washington, he
gave consideration to tho introduc-
tion OF the platoon system In the
schools. At that time he asked
Robert l. IIaycock, then supervising &
principal of the third division, in
which the Park View was located,
and now assistant superintendent, to
report on tho work at Park View.
Mr.. Haycock's conclusions were then
~. The platoon system cannot be
introduced satisfactorily in the Dis
r;> <,r v~1, ,y,i t,,, iva
largest elementary buildings into
platoon schools. Many large build
ings of an expensive type must be
constructed at higher cost per
pupil than those now being con-
structed. The cost of instruction
that is the cost OF teacherS-nust
necessarily increase also under such
policy.
"2. A six-hour day is necessary if
tho best program of work-study-
play is to be carried out With a
five-hour day the directed play
cannot be introduced.
''3. There is considerable doubt in
tho minds OF many leading educa-
tors as to tho adviSa bility of fitting
the smaller children into a program
that will draw them away from the
'mothering' influence OF ono teacher.
~. To avoid retardation of pupils
moro coaching teachers are necessary
in platoon schools than in schools Of
the ordinary type. because one
teacher cannot give the necessary in
dividual help to 10 or 50 pupils.
"5. Tho city that adopts the pla-
toon system on an extensive scale
must consider plans for the train
ing of teachers especially for the
work. This is now being done in
Detroit.
"s. The Park View platoon school
organized as an emergency measure
because of the congested school pop
ulation in that neishoorhood, has
been operated on high plane of
efficiency by the principal and an
able corps OF teachers who have
adapted themselves admirably to the
platoon plan. Tho work done under
this new organization has not been
failure. On tho other hand the
new system has been operated sue
cessfully to the satisfaction of the
parents and the school authorities.
but there have been many handieaps
to overcome and hume erouS problems
that must remain unsolved because
OF the lack of facilities in that type
Of building
DR.. Ballou said that he is in hearty
accord with Mr.. Haycock's conclu-
sions, and some of them ne would
state even more forcefully