Evening star., 1937-11-07
EDUCATION WEEK
is OPENING TODAY
Churches Start Observance,
Schools Take 1t Up
Tomorrow.

Tomorrow.
In Washington and all over the
country American Education Week
opens today in the churches and to-
morrow in the schools.
School officials at the Franklin Ad-
ministration Building said yesterday
that every public school in the Dis
:, trict will plan some open house pro-
/, gram to show parents what is going
/. on In the schools in the way of activi-
4. ties.
1T is an inspiring thing to see what
; actually is done by young pupils, and
:, most parents don't realize it until
: they have actually visited the schools"
declared Dr. Chester w. Holmes, as
: sitant superintendent in charge of
junior high schools.
According to figures compiled by the
National Education Association, CO.
a sponsor of Education Week with the
. Federal Office of Education and the
American Legion, more than 100000
people visited schools all over the
country during American Education
r Week last year.
e A. E. F. Illiteracy Started Idea.
This annual turning of the national
: spotlight on the schools grew out Of
the battle fields of France during the
: World War, when the illiteracy of a
? vast number of American 'doughboys"
brought together from all over the
q United States made big impression
on men, like Theodore Roosevelt, who
were interested iE the veterans.
Following organization of the Amer
lean Legion after the war, commits
sion was formed at Minneapolis to
! promote education as basis of more
loyal and intelligent citizenship.
r The plan to set aside the week an
= nually for national observance grew
,, out of conference held here shortly
= afterward between James w. Crabtree,
E secretary of the National Education
d. Association; George D. Strayer. presi-
4 dent of the organization, and Henry j.
: Ryan of the American Legion Com
z mittee on Education.
Since 1921 the week has been OBJ
" served, always during the week in
which Armistice Day falls because of
the connection with the American
Legion.
30 Governors Aid This Year.
4. Last year, according to National
! Education Association records, more
Z than 40 Governors issued Statewide
proclamations urging observance Of
American Education Week, and more
than 80 have already done so this year
Already President Roosevelt has is
sued statement from the White
House declaring the project "a most
fitting effort on the part of educators
to increase public appreciation o. the
value of education
Our most pressing national prob
lens cannot be solved without eff
fective education" declared Mr..
Roosevelt Schools and colleges
must expand with the growing COM
plexity of modern life"
The opening salute to the week
dedicated to education is to be fired
today from many pulpits in which
ministers will announce the national
observance and its implications to the
congregations.
Moved Back One Day.
Education week formerly started
on Monday and ran through Sunday,
but has been moved back day to
get the benefit of the church and
Sunday school announcements.
Most important event in the Dis
trict public school observance is to
be the dedication of the Anacostia
Junior-Senior High School Tuesday
at pm. A regular ceremony will
be held at the school with school Of
flcials, representatives Of the District
government and members of the
Board of Education present.
General observance in the schools
will be along the lines suggested by
the N. E. A. and indorsed by Supt.
Frank Ballou for the local schools.
This contemplates the following
themes: Today, Can We Educate For
Peace?"; tomorrow, Buying Educa-
tional Service: Tuesday, Horace
Mann Centennial: Wednesday, Our
American Youth Problem; Thurs
day, The Schools and the Constitu-
ton; Friday, school Open House
Day" and Saturday, Lifelong Learn
ing"
With slight changes in arrangement
to suit the schools. this will general
ly be the program followed, accord
ing to the school officials.
Statements Requested.
Plays will be given, speakers will
address the students and exhibits are
planned for various levels in the sys-
tenn. DR.. Ballou has requested each
principal to submit at the conclusion
of the week statement of the pro-
grams carried on in the school.
Perhaps typical Of what will be
staged in the various buildings is the
program planned for Macfarland
Junior High School.
The major event will be a dinner
In the school cafeteria at 6 pm.
Wednesday with Dr. and Mrs. Ballou
and DR.. and Mrs. Holmes as guests
along with Willard E. Givens, execu-
tive secretary of the N E. A. Mrs.
Givens is president of the Parent
Teacher Association at the school.
DR.. Holmes is expected to give the
principal address of the evening deal
ing with local problems and needs of
the schools.
Others Are Asked.
Also invited ora r,ri,nipo1r ~ A.,