Evening star., 1941-06-22
School Days
Are Different
In FilmdOm
Movie Tots Study
Grimly in Studio
ClaSSrOOmS
By Mary Hale,
Associated Press STAFF Writer.
HOLLYWOOD.

HULL "OOD.
The movie schools. where future
stars learn their P's and Q's in
makeup and costumes. are out this
month, too But how different these
studio classrooms are!
Movie children study the same
subjects as children Of their age
elsewhere, but the similarity ends
there.
I dropped in at the Twentieth
Century studio school just at recess.
Five children we're playing, mildly,
in the little yard.
BE CAREFUL" warned their teacher.
You know you mustn't get hurt"
She was thinking of the bruises
and scratches that might hold up a
movie. Even a black eye could cost
$4,000 in Hollywood!
They must forego the pleasures OF
rough-and-tumble play Football is
out of the question. A mild game Of
catch with softball is the greatest
excitement they dare risk.
No Discipline Problems.
Their classrooms, with only
handful of children. remind you Of
a one-room country school Be-
cause the children usually are in
different grades, there is little re-
citing. Each child studies at his
desk and is helped individually by
the teacher.
Frances Klampt, teacher on the
Twentieth Century Fox lot says she
has no discipline problems. Unlike
their contemporaries outside the
studio, these children don't shoot
paper wads, write notes or place
tacks on their teachers chair. They
hardly ever whisper.
They don't get a crush on the
teacher or bring her presents.
Too many outside interests, Miss
Klampt explains.
Children pore grimly over their
books. They have to study seri-
ouSly because their school day is
only three hours long. At the end
of each semester they must take
achievement examinations provided
by the Los Angeles Board of Educa
ton.
Group Work Difficult.
When they aren't working. chill
dren attend school from am. until
noon. If he's in a picture, a child
has three hours of school work
between scenes. A teacher must be
with him on the set Children from
to 18 may spend eight hours at
the studio, of which they are allowed
to work four
Group work, which teaches chill
dren to cooperate. is difficult 10
plan for pupils in different grades.
Miss Klampt says. Her pupils
study English composition together
and co-operated in planning
puppet show cali Baba and the 40
Thieves".
Since Shirley Temple left the lot,
Jane Withers is the only youngster
who has a private tutor. Now in
the tenth grade. Jane says she Just
loves science" and proudly displays
her notebook drawings in botany
and biology.
On the Universal lot Gloria JEAN,
13, is the oldest of five pupils. She'll
finish the eighth grade this year.
You Had More Fun.
There's little time for activities
outside of lessons, but at Christmas
and Mothers Day the studio grants
the children time for a program
and party, to which parents are in
vited.
Gloria Jean and her sister Lois
(who is her stand-in) don't study
domestic science, because there's no
equipment. Aircraft and music ap-
probation are substituted
There's no physical education.
But all the children dance. swim or
ride horseback outside of school
hours, Mrs. Hoene said.
Undoubtedly studio claSSrooms
fail to provide pupils with all ths
advantages they would have in most
schools. They don't have as much
opportunity to make friends their
own age. :
On the other hand. children get
more individual instruction than
would be possible in a larger group.
Their businesslike attitude might
make you ashamed of the carefres
way you wasted time In school.
But maybe you had more fun.