Evening star., 1931-11-26
ALL-YEAR SCHOOLS
DIVIDES EXPERTS
Dr.. Charles Mayo'S Attack on
Long Vacations Meets Sym
pathy and Opposition.

| Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK, November 26.-New
York educators are divided in their
opinion on the declaration by DR.
| Charles H Mayo the Rochester, MINI,
surgeon, that schools should be oper-
| ated throughout the year to enable
bright pupils to advance as fast as
their mentality warrants.
DR.. Mayo remarked he had seen an
entire class held up because six men
tally sub-normal children required
most of the teachers time.
I'VE need to revamp some Of our
ideas on education" he said. I'VE let
our public schools stand idle approx
1mately four months out of the year.
They should be operated the year round
with part of the pupils and teachers
taking vacations at separate times"
DR.. w. H. Fitzpatrick, professor of the
philosophy of education at Teachers
College, Columbia University, was pre-
else in his objections to DR.. Mayo's Sug-
gestions.
Doubts Delay Results.
81 think the doctor should stick to
his own business" Dr. Fitzpatrick OBJ
served. Il would not attempt to dag
nose surgical case. 1t would be best
not to rotate, as the doctor suggests,
under the present circumstances, though
we might determine it feasible later. I
do not believe children are being held
back to any great extent in this coun-
try, under any circumstances, except
In isolated districts"
Prof. David D. Snedden, an authority
on educational sociology, on the other
hand, expressed himself as being in en-
tire sympathy with the general idea"
OF DR.. Mayo, subject to certain impor-
tant notifications.
Certainly all our young people, from
10 to 18 years of age at least" he said,
should attend school from 48 to so
weeks per year. The present practice Of
allowing from IL to IA vacation weeks
Is entirely uneconomical and educa-
t1onally absurd. So go even further
than DR.. Mayo, who comedies that
pupils should have long, but rotated,
vacations.
Urges DiverSificati0n.
But there is this important proviso.
Not all of so or 40 or 80 weeks should
pc spent on the same program of work.
That is as deadly as having the same
routine Of dishes every day in the
year."
Prof. Snedden believed all seashore
and mountain camps are essentially
! schools, and should be provided during
part OF the vacation, "a time of much
learning, but in most cases of trivial if
not vicious learning, because of un-
favorable environment"
The present vacation system" con-
! cluded DR.. Snedden, sis simply a sur
V1Val from the days when most Ameri-
cans were farmers and needed even
| their small children to help them dur
ne
"Of course, all teachers should have
as long vacations as have workers in
! other professions, but the IL to IA weeks
OF vacation season now given to our
public school teachers is absurd"
Favor DIR. Mayo's Idea.
More distinctly on DR.. Mayo's side
was DR.. N. l.. Engelhardt, professor of
education administration at Columbia
Teachers College.
THE idea sounds fine" said Prof
Engelhardt, "if an educational program
is put into effect which includes real
| outdoor life. Our children should all be
sound, and plan for their betterment
should be welcomed by all who want to
give them better chance"
THE unfortunate situation de-
scrfbed by DR.. Mayo has worked be-
fore, and it may possibly be in exist
ence In some places now, said j. F..
Williams, professor of physical educa-
ton at the Teachers College, "but in
my opinion, the schools In almost
every part Of the country now have
their pupils so classified that there is
no drawback for the normal boy or
girl
1T certainly would be a mistake to
change the routine system unless some
thing better Is developed. If matters
were handled as in Germany, with trips
in the woods, outdoor sports and other
adventures, eliminating the class room,
I should approve the scheme. But in
thinking of sending pupils and teachers
on vacations in September or in other
normal recreation months, Dr. Mayo
has ignored the social and family life
of this country. The plan would break
up vacation programs and cause gen.
eral disturbance"
(CopyriRht, 1917