Evening star., 1925-04-11
SCHOOL PRACTICES
HELD OUT OF DATE
BalIou Would Revise Curricu-
lum to Meet Present Edu-
cationaI Theories.
Special Dispatch to The star.

BOSTON. April 1.-THE need OF a
revision in the public school curricu-
lum was stressed by DR.. Frank w Bal
lou, superintendent of schools Of
Washington. at a meeting at the
Boston Chamber of Commerce today
of the Massachusetts Schoolmasters'
Club.
Educational practice is. perhaps.
DR.. Ballou pointed out, a generation
behind educational theories. We
should lose no time" he said. lin
the application of our theories to the
modification of our educational prac-
ttce. Tasks that are difficult of ac-
complishment should be attack ed
with dispatch and vigor."
Must Meet ChiIdren's Needs.
The problem of curriculum reor-
ganization, DR.. BaIlou explained, con-
Germs itself with the subject matter
and its reorganization, the child and
citizenship in a democratic system for
which the public is 70 be educated.
The curriculum should be made up
of that subject matter which will pro-
mote in the most economical way" he
declared. "a systematic education and
training of the type OF child to be
taught 1t is more important that it
should be selected in view OF the child s
needs than it is that it should be a logi-
cal development OF the subject matter
itself. 1t is OF no lesser importa nee
that the course Of study is chronological
~ or logically arranged than it Is that
IT should be adapted 20 the developing
interests and capacities OF children.
Democratic society. for which the
public schools are now training the
future citizens OF the Republic. is more
complex today than ever before. Life
Is more diversified, distractions are more
numerous and inviting
me Schools must not only provide
the children with a knowledge OF the
traditions and ideals of our republic.
but must train them TO think straight
and inculcate in them proper ideals
or honor, honesty, respect for law
ana duly constituted authority and a
Willingness to perform some part of
the worlds work which needs TO be
done"
Tells of Trip.
DR.. Ballou also referred to the re-
cent tour of inspection of schools in
Baltimore, Philadelphia, Rochester.
Buffalo and New York by Washing
tons committee of school planners
In order that the plans for school
buildings which have been developed
In the last few years in Washington
might be revised in accordance with
the most up-to-date construction to
be found in other cities" he said, "a
committee consisting of the chairman
or the committee on buildings and
grounds of the Board of Education,
the municipal architect and the super
intendent of schools visited schools
in five cities.
In Baltimore we found that all
clasrooms in new buildings were
equipped with movable furniture In
Philadeiphia- on the contrary. Supt.
EDWIN G Broome stated that he be
leVed In movable furniture and the
increased educational opportunities
which such equipment provided. but
that he had not been able to sell the
idea to his teachers and officers 1t
mas become one of the most important
functions OF those OF us who occupy
positions OF leadership In the field of
education to assume our full re-
spoEsibility for interpreting pro-
xressivs educational theories and
policies not only to those associated
with us In the school systems but to
the public which we serve. Educa-
tional progress depends on the sys-
tematic adoption Of improved educa-
tional policies and procedures"