The Wilmington morning star., 1945-12-22
beginning to brighten,

During the year a study on the
entire teacher educational situa-
ton has been completed by a COM
mittee representing the public
schools, the senior colleges and
the State Department of Public In
struction. This study, which mas
been with the classroom teacher,
has had for it's primary purpose
the improvement Of the quality of
instruction. The colleges, at their
annual conference in November,
1915, approved the study in its
final form. 1t remains now for the
State Board of Education and the
colleges jointly TO initiate meas
ures that will implement the re-
Communications made in this study
to the end that better teaching
will result.
The State Board of Educ
this year adopted new textbooks in
mathematics, grades 3 to IL; in
reading, grades into 8; and in
home economics in the high
schools. During the year also a
new course of study in language
arts was completed by commit
tee composed of teachers and
members Of the state department.
The Departments publication
setting forth the twelve-year pro-
gram of instruction has RECEIVED
nationwide attention. School ad-
ministrators from other states, es-
pecially South Carolina and Louis
lana where similar programs have
been initiated, have requested
copies of the North Carolina twelve
year plan. We are now in the last
year of the transition period in
going from a 11-year system to a
program where every boy and
girl in the state will have the
privilege of an eight-year elemen-
tary school and a four-year stand
ard high school-a twelve-year
program of instruction open alike
to all without the payment of tut
ton.
One of our first concerns in the
postwar improvement program has
been the returned veteran. Many
of these former service men and
women want to continue their edu-
cation. In order to meet the needs
in this area a committee has been
set up to inspect and accredit edu
cational institutions and approve
trade and other business establish
ents for on-the-job training.
Other plans now being made to
improve the public school oppor-
tunities in a postwar world in
clude:
1. An emphasis upon thorough
ness in the fundamentals of ele.
mentary education. A state COM
mittee has already had one meet
ing at which plans were made to
study the elementary schools with
the view Of increasing the effec-
tiveness of elementary education
now provided.
2. Plans are also being made to
readjust the vocational education
al program to the postwar needs
and demands. During the war
the trade and industrial program
was devoted largely to the train
ing of workers in war industries.
This is now being shifted to the
training of boys and girls for peace
time trades. The food production
war training program is also in
process Of liquidation and is being
succeeded by the training Of agri-
cultural workers and food produc-
ton for our every day normal
needs. The homemaking phase of
this program is being brought up.
to-date preparation of new bull
letin in home economics in the
high schools and by the establish
ment of clubs for the youth who
are enrolled in homemaking
classes. The distributive educa-
ton phase of this program has also
taken on new emphasis with pro-
grams now being given in a num-
Der Of the states largest high
schools. The occupational in