Evening star., 1925-09-23
EDUCATORS TO MAP
COURSE AS MODEL
Dr.. BalIou to Take Prominent
Part in Discussion at
New York University.

In a quiet, secluded niche in New
York University small group of
prominent educators will
meet Friday and Saturday to pool
their ideas for the construction of a
suitable curriculum for the boys and
girls of the American public schools.
The results Of this conference will
form the basis for a new course Of
study for the District public schools.
With the sanction of the Board of
Education, Supt. of Schools Frank W.
Ballou is going to New York to at
tend this meeting, which is regarded
as Of utmost Importance in educa-
tionai circles. AS a matter of fact,
DR.. Ballou Is scheduled to take a
prominent part In the deliberations.
as he is chairman OF the groups COM
mittee which has devoted considerable
study to the question Of revising the
course In elementary science and ma
ture study.
Represents 800 Systems.
The group of educators who will
gather in New York constitute the
commission on curriculum of the de.
partment Of superintendent of the
National Education Association, of
which Supt. Ballou is president. 1t
represents moro than 800 cooper
ating school systems Of the Nation.
The Washington School Board al
ready has Endorsed DIR. Ballou's plan
to revise the curriculum in the ele-
mentary schools. and steps have been
taken to start with the course in ele-
mentary science and nature study, the
one with which the superintendent is
most familiar. The ideas submitted
by the other subject specialists will be
brought back to Washington by DIR.
Ballou and the most suitable used as
a foundation for the revised courses of
study in other subjects
Reflection Of Society.
The work Of curriculum revision, the
most far-reaching and forward looking
step ever taken by a large group of
public school systems, involves both
the preservation of that which Is best
from the contributions of the past and
the selection and organization of the
most important values OF the present
DAY In one sense, educators regard
the public school curriculum as a re-
Election OF the life and progress Of so.
c1ety. It's revision, therefore, they con-
SSAA1 Siodi0 oSCdI DIS O1GSI1 as pTORreSS
occurs. A static school they argue is
not possible in dynamic civilization.
1t is pointed out that the present
developments, for example, in science.
art, industry, ETC., are sufficient to give
new life and color to the curriculum
from the kindergarten through the
high school.
The division Of research of the
N. E. A. has made a comprehensive
survey Of current curriculum practice.
which involved a nationwide search
for material and a vast amount of
labor In organization. The subse.
quent intensive study of time allot-
ments OF school subjects, included in
the general analysis of present ele.
mentary school curriculum practice,
it was reported, showed clearly the
need for evaluation of the present
curriculum content and careful deter
mination of objectives as a basis for
the selection of material to be taught
in our public schools.
Members of Commission.
The commission on curriculum of
the n: E. A. is headed by Edwin C.
Broome, superintendent of the Phila-
delphia public schools. Serving with
him are DR.. Ballou. John l.. Alger,
~ ooAoShS VI LILO IhUOuc 1SldnQ COllcRe
of Education; Mrs. Susan M. Dorsey
superintendent of schools of Los
Angeles: John M. Foote, rural school
supervisor Of the State Department of
Education Of Louisiana; Charles H.
Judd, director Of the school of educa-
ton of the University Of Chicago:
Harold O. Rugg Of the Lincoln
School Of Columbia University's
teachers college; Zenos e. Scott.
Of schools of Spring.
field, Mass; Frank E. Spaulding, dean
of the school Of education of Yale
University; Paul c. Stetson, super
intendent Of schools of Dayton, Ohio;
A. L. Threlkeld. deputy superintendent
of schools of Denver Col; H. B.
Wilson, superintendent of schools of
Berkeley. Calf, and John w. Withers,
dean Of the school of education of
New York University. Three mem
bers of the N. e. A. headquarters
staff In Washington-S. D. Shankland.
executive secretary of the department
of superintendent; John X. Norton,
director of the department of research,
and Miss Margaret NJ Alltucker,
assistant director-also will attend the
New York meeting and outline the re-
suits Of their research work in
curriculum revision.