Evening star., 1933-11-11
SCHOOLS FOR ADULT
POPULATION HELD
VITAL IN AMERICA
Dr.. Zook Points to Need in
Address Defeating New
Roosevelt High.
USUAL AGENCIES FAIL
TO MEET NEED, HE SAYS
Educator Declares Criticism of
Modern System Is Based
Upon Misconceptions.

Upon Misconceptions.
II the democracy of the Nation is to
survive. institutions providing the same
sound education for adults which public
, school systems seek to provide for
youths must be established. DR.. George
F. zook. United States Commissioner of
Education. declared in his address at
the dedication Of the Theodore Roose-
velt High School last night
When we are graduated from
school," DR.. Zook said. Eve find our
selves faced with the commercial enter
priseS of newspapers, radio and movies,
1t is from these that We get our adult
education and it is. these agencies
which form public opinion. These
agencies, no matter how excellent they
may be. seek to educate in ways which
bring them the most customers. There
fore 1t is hard to believe that the news
papers, the radio and the movies can
develop the kind of sound public
opinion which the democracy of our
Nation must have to survive. We must
establish the same kind of educational
opportunities for adults that we have
established for the young people
Discussing further the need for adult
education, DR.. zook recalled that it
once was held that when q person at
tanned the age Of d, he had reached
the stage in life in which he could
learn nothing more Then. he said. it
finally was demonstrated at Columbia
University that an adult could continue
TO learn.
Responsibility on Adults.
That demonstration and the accep-
tance of that principle" DR.. Zook point
ed out, placed the same responsibility
to learn on us adults as the demand
for education already had placed upon
boys and girls"
In his address, DR. zook advanced
his ideas of the functions of education.
These he listed as: /. The teaching of
a. vocation on the conviction that no
boy or girl should be permitted to leave
school who has not learned at least one
way Of earning a living. 2. The pro-
vision of cultural education so that
students may know something of the
world about them. g. The teaching of
the duties of citizenship and the de-
velopment Of real public opinion, and f.
The training of character.
fC6IeTTlIlS 10 the pubic CTlIlClSIn Oh
present-day education. DR.. Zook ad-
mitted that public education systems
never have been quite equal to the
responsibilities placed upon them by
current life. 1t was only recently, he
said, that history, science and eco
nomics we're introduced in public school
education.
so when you hear people condemn
what they call the fads' Of modern
education" Dr.. Zook said, remember
that the fads of 100 years ago are the
history. the economics and the sciences
which we teach today
In his conclusion. Dr. Zook cited the
closed thousands of school houses of
the United States, the result of eco
nomic stress. He urged persons who
enjoy such splendid facilities AS the
new Roosevelt High School offers to
exert every effort to get legislators and
other officials to discriminate between
luXuries and necessities and admit that
education is the first line of defense"
fol the Nation.
Presented by DIR. BalIou.
Dr. zook was presented to the
audience in the auditorium of Roose-
superintendent of schools. who him
self had been introduced by Dr. Hay
den Johnson, president of the District
of Columbia Board of Education ana
chancellor of National University. In
his own brief talk, DR.. Ballou paid
tribute to the late Albert L. Harris,
municipal architect of the District.
who designed the Roosevelt High
School The superintendent called Mr.
Harris a genius" and said that his
school buildings enjoyed the unique
distinction of being both beautiful and
practical
DR.. johnson opened the program by
reviewing the list of persons and Or
ganizations which had some hand IN
the final production of the Roosevelt
building. He cited the school officials,
the school board, the District Govern
ment authorities, the Bureau of the
Budget, committees of both houses of
Congress, Congress itself and finally
the President of the United States
Then, DR.. Johnson continued, came The
active parts played by the builders,
the filters and the host of agencies
concerned with the final presentation
of the school to the school children
of Washington. DR.. johnson then
introduced Allan Davis, principal of
the school. whom he pointed out Is
the dean of high school principals in
| Washington.
Reviewing the history of the old
Business High School, which was the
predecessor of the present magnificent
Roosevelt School. Mr.. Davis character
lied the naturalization of the new
building as the coming out of the
darkness into the light" for the old
school. Speaking of the excellent sp-
pointmentS of the new building, Mr..
Davis expressed fervent tribute to Mr.
Harris. Indicating the new building
Mr. Davis said
IF We seek his monument look
about you,"
Attachments of Past.
Still referring to the beauty OF the
structure, Mr.. Davis denied that lie
and his staff had ANY delusions of
granduer."
I'VE know that tall towers and
white pillars and beautiful lawns do
not make an educational institution. "
he said And so it is that we rededi-
cate ourselves to attainments of our
past"
Harold Baker. director Of constrnc-
ton in the District government, also
spoke. He expressed regrets OF the
Commissioners. whom he represented,
in not being present. Mr.. Baker then
called the audiences attention to the
structural advantages of the new school.
citing particularly its effective VENT
lation system, its efficient heating
plant, its inobtrusiVe pneumatic clean
ing system. its scientific lighting and
the acoustic qualities of its audi
torium. He also paid tribute to Nh
Harris, pointing out that the Theodore
Roosevelt High School Building was
his last big Job