Evening star., 1935-09-08

re-enter their class rooms this month.
They and all citizens interested In the
national welfare will join with edu-
Gators In studying those changes
which demand readjustments in our
schools.
The social, economic, and political
significance of population changes Is
not well understood. These changes
have certain implications, however,
for education. These implications
must be analyzed and weighed. Such
facts as the declining birthrate, the
geographical distribution Of the popu-
lation. the tendency to move about
which our sociologists call social
mobility" racial prejudices and racial
fusion. are matters of great impor-
tance in the organization and admin
istration Of schools.
New School Type Visioned.
The declining birthrate permits en-
phasis upon the integration and en-
richment of the educational program.
Since 1900 a principal problem Of
school systems has been one Of housing
a rapidly expanding school enrolment.
From now on more attention can be
given to courses of study and methods
of teaching. This is particularly true
of the elementary schools. High schools
and schools for adults are still expand
ing. Likely new type of school build
ing, suited to the needs Of adults and
older young people is problem for the
future.
The movement Of population from
the center to the fringe of metropoli-
tan areas Is forcing the extension of
school facilities into the suburbs
Movement from rural areas to cities
has greatly changed the status Of the
little red school house. More than
5000 farm schools enrolled less than
five pupils each according to the latest
Nationwide study of enrolment. Con-
solidation of these too small units Is
being rapidly effected.
Increased knowledge Of the laws of
health and the prevention and cure Of
disease obligate the school to provide
every child with the information and
the protection he needs as the basis of
vigorous health demanded for efficient
service in this fast-moving age. There
are millions Of schools which devote
very little attention to the health prob
lens of those enrolled. The future
will see great increase in the number
of medical and dental clinics. Sys-
tematic physical and mental tests
throughout childhood will correct
many deviations from the normal, and
hundreds Of thousands of children who
would otherwise have had to endure a
life Of pain and suffering will thank
the school for starting them on the
road to healthy living. Periodic
examinations of pupils will help
teachers deal intelilgently with indi-
vidual differences. An understanding
Of these differences in pupils is essen
tial to successful program of educa-
tional and vocational guidance.
Health Standards Stressed.
School house planning will continue
to profit by advances made in the field
Of architecture. ventilation, heating.
lighting and sanitation. Buildings
will have to meet health standards in
drinking fountains, play space, toilet
facilities, as well as. safety provisions
against fire, tornado. and earthquake.
Courses in safety and accident preyen-
tion must be expanded.
Parents have shown particular in
terest in the school health program in
recent years. The efforts Of parent
teacher groups in the Summer
to eliminate certain
before a child enters school
is highly commendable.
The role Of the family in society
has always been undergoing change.
Such change has been very rapid in
recent years. The home handicrafts.
such as spinning, weaving, making Of
clothes, and much Of the canning Of
foods, have largely disappeared from
the home. Religious functions have
been transferred to the church, much
of the formal education of the young
to the school, and defense to the
police.
There are important responsibilities
in the rearing and education of chill
dren which the home should reas-
sumo where it has relinquished or
neglected them. Through adult edu-
cation it may be possible to return to
the home some Of these such as the
Of character, the promo
ton OF social contacts, and education
in worthy use of leisure, which 1t is