Evening star., 1933-09-17

est. In the case of these marginal
schools, already operating on the low
est possible budgets. there was no way
to economize other than to cut out
entirely part of the school year, and
that is what has been done.
Consolidation solved the problems OF
some rural schools. But even the eX-
who were thus sent to more distant
school was too much fer certain dis
tricts. One school bus driver wrote to
the county superintendent:
L have no money. none for any
thing. Am glad to furnish the truck if
you can furnish the gas. Also the
chauffeur's license is due, and I haven't
a cent. There is no chance of getting
gas for the school bus on credit, as
there is SO much due for last years
gas
City Problem Easier.
In the cities it has been easier to find
ways of economizing other than by clos
ing the schools entirely. But here again
the curtailment has been too drastic,
and many fine city school systems which
have been intelligently and devotedly
developed into agencies OF real cultural
and social leadership are losing much
that has made them distinguished CEN
ters of usefulness. Economy in their
cases has taken the form of elimina-
ton of the so-called special subjects
and services which a few years ago
were admitted to be important steps
forward in our educational programs
but which are now branded as luXurieS,
the "frills" of education
Under this heading have been placed
home economics. manual training. mu-
sic. art, commercial work. physical cul-
ture and vocational classes. The inclu
sion of these subjects in the curricula
was accomplished in many towns only
after years of effort, and now they are
being eliminated largely on the ground
OF their neWneSS.
Althoughsit would seem entirely logi-
cal to remove such a subject as home
facing the problem of keeping them
selves well fed. clothed and housed in
spite of reduced incomes, home eco
nCmicS classes have been dropped from
a number of schools Where they have
remained they are doing important re-
lief work in connection with their regu-
lar instruction. A home economics
specialist of the Federal Office of Edu-
cation has said that the work of home
economists during the World War in
helping to modify the food habits of
100, 100000 people SO that America S
food supply might be stretched over
two continents was a simple task il
comparison with the present one Of
feeding and clothing thousands Of
school children and helping their un-
employed parents.
Last Winter the homemaking de-
partments of New York City schools
served hot lunches to $1,000 needy pu-
pills daily. employing members of pow
ertystricken families to help prepare
them. Up to January l S3,0C0000 had
been contributed to that service by
members of the educational system Of
the city. The home economics depart
ment Of Cleveland's schools is coop
Grating with the Associated Charities in
sending into INDECENT homes new, re-
paired and remodeled clothing. shoes
and overshoes for people of all ages,
and teaching darning. dyeing, patching
and upkeep of clothing
Teacher Helps to Sew.
In a Mexican district in Houston.
Tex, the home economics teacher spends
four afternoons a week helping 60
mothers sew for their families. Farm
ers near Trenton. N j., permitted
school boys to help pick fruits and
vegetables last Fall. Housewives do
mated jars and junior high school girls
canned the produce for distribution
among the unemployed. One school
alone was able to give away 367 quarts
peach jam, 9 of grape jam, % of apple
butter and 81 of string beans. These
programs are typical Of scores Of
cities
Vocational subjects, such as auto
mechanics, typeWrlting, bookkeeping.
agriculture. printing, drafting and watch
repairing are being cut from the pro-
grams of secondary schools. Night
schools which offered these studies to
boys and girls with work permits and
to unemployed adults have had to go,
although there has been more demand
fol them this year than ever before.
Another type of class that is under
the pruning knife is that for retarded
children, that pitiful group of boys and
girls who through no fault of their own
are unable to do the school work OF
normal children. When they are forced
through the public schools in company
with normal youngsters. by whom they
are branded as dumb" they come out
misfits. chronic failures, victims of mis-
understanding and frequently depend
ent or delinquent. But if they are given
specialized training and an opportu-
nifty to develop along lines where their
limited capabilities lie, they may become
useful and even distinguished citizens.
Such training is expensive, but it Is
not as expensive as allowing those in
dividuals to become burdens to society.
to say nothing of the suffering that
specialized training saves retarded chill
dren.
Health Vital Factor.
A serious and even dangerous re-
trenchment comes under the head Of
health. While physical well-being is
proclaimed theoretically as of first i'm
portance, the elimination of services
which aim to protect children from
infection and malnutrition indicates