Evening star., 1925-02-09
0RATORY CONTEST
INTEREST IS KEEN
Professor of History in High
Schools Loud in Praise
of Event.

tremendous interest mas Deen
aroused in Washington in announce
ment of the second national oratori-
cal contest on the American Constitu-
tion. the finale of which will be held
In the National Capital May 8. In
every private and public school in the
District from which students are
eligible to enter the contest prepar-
ations are being made and 1t is be-
lieved that the number of contestants
here will exceed all expectations.
Attracted by the extremely large
prizes which are offered locally and
for the final national contest, and
spurred on by school officials and
teachers OF Washington,sw who fun
well realize the great value of funda-
mental knowledge of the very found
alton stones OF the nations veal
pupils have evinced marked keen
ness for the coming competition
Stimulate Students.
Prof George j. Jones. head of the
schools OF the District of Columbia
found that the 1924 national oratori-
cal contest surpassed all of the
agencies that have come under his
observation in stimulating the inter-
est OF pupils in the Constitution of
the United States. AS a consequence,
Prof. Jones has heartily fndorsed this
years contest. In the following letter
to The Star, Mr.. Jones says:
I'm most high schools throughout
the country American history is a re-
qutred subject in either the third or
fourth year. 1t has been the custom
for American history classes. after
completing the study of the constitu-
tional convention of 1887, to devote
some time to the study of the Con-
stitution itself. Thus. every high
school graduate has made a study of
the Constitution. However, In some
may have been Indifferent. due to the
fact that the teachers depended
largely for their material on the Con-
stitution itself, as printed In fine
print at the close of the text and on
the few pages in the American history
text given to a discussion of the Con-
stitution.
Interest Increased.
During all my years of teaching
I have ever known school exercise
to create an interest such as the
oratorical contest of last year created
in the study of the Constitution.
Teachers have asked for more time
from regular history teaching for
the study of the Constitution. These
requests have come from American
history teachers in the Junior high
schools as we'll as from teachers in
the senior high schools. Students
completing the American history
course in the third year of the senior
high schools are more eager than
in former years to elect the course
in advanced civics which is optional
for seniors.
"The oratorical contest of last year
has created a demand not only in
Washington but throughout the coun-
try for supplementary material on
the Constitution to be in the pos
session Of all students in American
history. This means that the Amer
ican history text will be laid aside.
after the study Of the constitutional
convention. for a period varying
from four to eight weeks, during
which time students will study sup
Elementary text on the Constitution.
Definite arrangements for this kind
of work already have been made in
Washington and in many other
places. This will mean more care
full and thorough teaching of the
SOnStltutiOH ioI eFS'y hi6
student and this means a better
preparation for citizenship. 1 am
very glad to know that another ora
torial contest on the Constitution Is
to be held this year"
For the District of Columbia The
Evening Star offers eight prizes OF
500 each and a grand prize of $500
for the District Of Columbia champion.
In addition, The Evening Stars repre-
sentative Is to go straight through
TO the national finals Of May 8. In
asmuch as there are to be only seven
finalists, and the $1,000 in national
prize money Is to be divided into
seven awards. this arrangement as
sures the champion of the District
of Columbia a national award of
1900, $1,000, $500. $3.50. $40o, $3.50 or
$500, according to his or her rating
in the final competition of 1925.