Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1942-09-10
FORTIFY CHILD
AGAINST WAR
Educators Urged to Aid Chill
dren to Withstand the
Shock of War
FIT FOR SERVICE

Supervisors and supervising prin-
cipals of state elementary schools,
meeting in annual pre-school con-
ference in Legislative Hall, Dover,
were urged to turn attention to
problems of fortifying children to
Withstand the shock of war. The
suggestion was contained in let
ter from DR.. j. e. w. Wallace, di-
rector of the division of special ed
ucation and mental hygiene, to DR..
Harry B. King, assistant state SUI
perintendent of public instruction
in charge of elementary schools,
which was read to the conferees.
DR.. Wallace was unable to appear
due to two meetings in New York
City. DR.. Wallace said tine
thoughts of all of us should at this
general staff meeting-the first af-
ter the nation went to war-be CEN
tered on the problems of fortifying
our children to Withstand the
shocks of a world conflict that
threatens to destroy our democratic
concepts and mode of life."
Internationally Fit
DR.. Wallace recommends making
children mentally, physically and
educationally fit to render every
service that the country may de-
mand in the years ahead and of
making all our human resources,
whether normal or handicapped,
available for every production line
of total war. The increase of
juvenile delinquency because of war
was cited by the educator as one
of the ((present and pending prob
lems." This increase, he observed,
is due in part to the absence of
parental control because of war
employment of parents, :dleness
and lack of supervised Fairgrounds.
Another great problem, DR.. Wal
lace said, is that of maintaining
child morale in the home and in the
school-the prevention of hysteria
and anxiety and the development
of the ability to take it,
Discuss Juvenile Morale
He suggested the conference dis
cuss the specific problems of juve-
nile morale in Delaware incident to
the psychological and physical
stress of war. DR.. Wallace also
raised the question of possible
utilization of handicapped youth
beyond school age and handicapped
adults in war industries or in civil
ian industries to release war work
ers. He advocated that the con-
ference learn the number of unem-
ployed handicapped in Delaware
He indicated state school coordi-
mating council or committee to
study such problems in cooperation
with other public and private
schools would be of value.
Reduce Vacations
DR.. Wallace believes that in har-
mony with the wartime program
schools could open earlier in the
fall to enable seniors to begin col
lege study in June. This, he said
could be accomplished by the re-
'duction of the Easter vacation tc
two days, as is done in the state
board districts. DR.. King announc-
ed that the organization of the
elementary schools under the con-
troll of the State Board of Educa'
ton will be the same as last year
There will be five rural supervisors
and ten supervising principals
Other conferences will be held dur
ing the year to discuss major prob
lens relating to the program OF
supervision as well as detailed
problems relating to their immedI
late fields of endeavor. Also, there
will be individual conferences in the
offices of supervisors and super.
vising principals to discuss in more
detail vital problems relating to the
work.
Advised of Ruling
DR.. King warned that the rule
against enrolling of children unless
they are six years of age by Jan
uary 1, must be upheld. George
w. Ayers, state director of health
and physical education, offered the
health and physical education rule.
for elementary schoolsl. On the
conference program are: DR.. H. v
Holloway, state superintendent o.
public instruction; Glenn Glider
sleeve, state director of music; Mr.
Ayars, G. Taggart Evans, execu
tive secretary, Delaware Anti-Tu
berculosis Society; Mrs. B. w
Hammond, state librarian; Mis-.
Edith Mitchell, state director o.
art education; Miss Eta ]. Wilson
executive secretary, Delaware Cit
liens Association; Dr. r. L.Herbst
state directoro f research; DR.. J. e
w. Wallin, director of special edu
cation and hygiene.