The Bakersfield Californian from Bakersfield, California • Page 26

Kern School Facilities Lag Behind Needs BIRTHS IN KERN COUNTY SINCE 1934 9000i 2 SOOw 300ft 2000F 1 0 1 TEMPORARY many other deportments of county government, the luperintendent of schools and his staff were forced out of the Courthouse by the earthquake of Aug. 22. Photo above shows one of the buildings at the former county fairgrounds utilized by the county schools administration staff. I9M 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 v43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 YEARS IIRTHS is chart which shows increases in the- number of births in Kern since 1934. It should be noted thot the high schools of the county arc now drawing on students born during the yeors 1935-1938, when there were 9,027 births in the county.

During the four-year period 1948-1951 there were 27,009 births in Kern County. The increasing number of births foretells increased enrollment in the schools. New School Unit in North-of-River For Earthquake Areas, Low Schoolhouses Are the Trend Objectiyes of Kern School System Writing Course Told by Educator The best practice for bejrinning penmanship ts to use the large arm movement, according to the' riculom guide of the Kern connt; The child ncnallr begins this activity at the bUckboard. Besides vesting at the board, other activities nhich nse the large-uiDscle are began b.r the child. When the child begins writing at bii desli, it is on large paper.

Gradually, the fingers and wrists are used and co-ordinated with the arm. Letter forms made'bj the child xrad- luiilT grow smaller. -Writing is a very complicated process as are most of the langnge aits skills. It involves the formation of motor skills having Involved coordination. A child progresses tbitfngfa three stages in the mastery ot writing.

First, the ciild gets his vlsnal form series as the first step since tie can recognize and even name fignres, pictures, etc, before lie draws or aces them draws. the child acqnires mnscle- aense controL That diUd in drawing or' writing moves bis hand, thos setting sensations from the band It- edf according to its locality at the moment. diild enters the anto- matic state where the initial im-j together with hiter uucon- adjustments furnish the con- teoL The child aees other people's as: well. as Us own; this gives him a more or less exact additional series of eye sens ac to his ability to Fee in such sets of movements a regular visual form. There Is "readiness" to write Just as there Is "reading readiness." "Writing readiness" deiitrds upon the presence of muscular aud nervous One test devised to determine a child's readiness to write involves reproducing at least three copies of five or the seven given figures with fair steadiness and correct proportions.

If the child is able to make such reproductions, he is considered ready to learn to write. Smaller Dictating Machine Perfected WEST ORANGE. XJ. new portable dictating machine designed to make life easier for businessmen and their secretaries has been perfected after two years of research. The new dictating and transcribing machine, made by Thomas A.

Edison, Inc is said to be the smallest and lightest all-purpose machine of its type. The 11 -ponnd mf chine is shaped like a book and Is only inches thick. The machine, named tlie VP Edison Voicemaker, Is aud the manufacturer says it can be carried around in a briefcase or onder an am without any strain all. Educators Say Schools Help Unify America To our schools may appropriately be applied the motto of the'United Stales. "Out of Many, One," school officials assert.

Our sdiols are, indeed, the unifying force in. the creation of the American QtUen, they say. From the many countries of the world have come our citizens. Each has brought a different religious, political, cultural and economic background. On the streets and In the shops, every language in men'speak may be heard.

All the of mankind are represented in the American Citizen, officials lidy. Within such a society, there are no age-old patterns or century-sea soned folkways which bind our citi' sens to a common purpose. are more divisive than integrating factors at work in American life. It fell to our RChoobi, the instro ment of a society of free men, to provide the unfying force in the creation of the American Citizen. Onr schools succeeded In making the people of this nation one, school men say, Onr sdiobls have bibnght together all the children of aU the people, of of onr commnnitiv regardless of the cconoific sodal status of their families, and without discrimination because of the cnltnral background.

Within our schooLo. onr children have learned devotion to the flag, respect for the law, admiration for our great national heroes, and a knowledge-of the nation's struggles for independence and freedom, they Kern School Curriculum Aimed at Meeting Needs Modern Design of Greeley School Withstood Worst Shocks Another Example of Earthquake-Resistant Construction READING youngsters are preparing for the time when they can takt the big adventure locked between the covers of books. Tiiff ore getting ready to learn to read. Reading is a complex ability that involves the co-ordination of many individual skills. Here, the children are learning to associate symbols with meanings which is the process one goes through in reading.

TEACHER SHOULD KNOW DEGREES OF MATURITY Beading is one of the langiugel California Is one of the states arts, and the readiness to read Vwch believes in early entry to comes with growth in the various aspects of the child's personality, according to local educators. It possible to provide a strong pre- reading program in Kern County. Research has shown that the "aver ChUdren develop at child of sir and one-half years rates and the various abUities in Is ready to read and will succeed. the small child may develop at different times. At any grade level, it is the tincher's responsibUity to determine eadi child's degree of maturity and to adjust Instructicn and materials to it.

These facts, are quickly recogr nized by: the professional educator. The beginning reading program, termed reading readiness, is a well- rounded one and includes various types of experiences preparatory to book reading. Readiness for the little child to.read depends upon sufficient growth In language facility. backgirotind of experience. hut are not always seen by the aver-; ability to hear in order to make age lay person.

It Is easy to see the physical difference of children's erowth in height, weight, teeth, finger dexterity, and muscular coordination, but the mental and emo- tlonal differences are not always as easily Keen. anflio discriminations, good sight so that with sufficient maturity visual acuity is possible, sufficient emotional maturity t6 atUnst to group Uving. mental maturity needed to associate meaning with symbols, and.adequate physical development SCHdOL MEN HAIL WORK IN FA'RM CUSS The exceUent showing made by Junior Farmers at the last Kem county fair is an indication of the work being done in agriculture on the elementary school level, educators assert. Agrioiltnre Is used as a part of classroom work in science, reading arithmetic and social studlea. 3fi chUiireii of mentaty school age carry on agri- cnltnre projects'at home and at school in connection with these activities.

More than SCO children, boys and girls, participate annually'in animal and, garden projects cm- der scbool'supervIsioB In Ken By JESSE D. STOCKTON Snperintendeot Kem County Schools From its very beginning, Kem county has been responsive to the needs of its children and youth. When Alfred Harrell formed the first high school, its curriculum was geared to college preparatory subjects. Even then, Kem County citizens an ever broader curriculum. Within a few sliort years, debating societies and athletic teams were formed to provide some additional student activities and experiences, and each year has seen additions to the curriculum of the schools of Kern County.

Each addition met a need in the lives of our children and youth. The school's curriculum has never lieen static. It is still being developed to serve our children and society. This year, 1932-1053. the teachers of Kem County are in the task of revising the course of study to better serve the children.

What the schools used to do Un 't enough in today 's world. The world has not still and neither has society 's demands on scliools. The kind of people we would like our children to be is not a conf.oversial question for most of us. There is fairly general agreement on the character we admire in children, youth, and adults. Honesty, square dealing, respect for the right.s of others, a disposition to carry one 's share of responsihility in a democratic society aud to find wholesome form of are qualities which the respect and allegiance of everyone.

WeU Deflned Objectives It would take more than the pages of an entire book to explain in detail the Ecliool's accomplishments for this calendar year. I say this in all humility and modesty. Such succes.s is due to the combined efforts of many working as an educational unit in the interest of the pliable young minds that come to us eagerty in quest for the knowledge that will send them out into the world equipped to care for themselves economically or to move on Into higher institutions of learning. 1. Character education, of course.

Is the paramount aim in education. A schooling which imparts knflnl- edge or develops skill or cultivates tastes or intellectual aptitudes, fails of its supreme object if it leaves its beneficiaries no better morally. 2. Mastery of the fundamentals, the 3 R's, is fundamental to American citizenship. If we are to have effective citizens In a democracy, we need citizens who can speak clearly, write legibly, spell correctly, figure accurately, and read with nnderstanding.

Education Not Static 8. It has been said tmthf ully that edncation cannot remain static. It either "goes ahead" or "goes back." That Is our attitude relative tn rur- riculum development and building. No course of study in Kem County Is ever finaL We may say that it Is as final as we know how to make it final at the time of adop- Hon by the Board of Education. However, each succeeding year, changes are made for improvement in the light of teaching experiences during the school term.

4. The upswing in the birth rate during and after the war years, coupled with an influx of population from other areas of the country, increased considerably the enrollment in the elementary schools, particnlariy in the kindergarten and primary grades. Much of this Increased enrollment was absorbed in existing school space, but In certain areas of the eonnty, additional classrooms other building facilities were needed. To meet this need, building con stmctlon work is well imderway in districts throughout the county. 6.

Kera County has not been without its disasters. The recent earthquake destroyed mnch of the physical plants in certain areas of the cotinty. Cor citizens viere faced with great problems bat they, rallied to the support of edncation and overcame these handicaps without too treat a loss of educational op- portonity to the youth of the area. Tribute to Steff The first task' of any pnblit Institution is to maintaiu and make more secnre tne American way of Toward tliat end aU sttideat activities are pointed. The schools of Kern County are developing in its children and youth an tinder- stnnding of the American heritage and of the responsibilities of citizenship.

7. major factor of participation in intelligent citizenship is the ability to earn an adequate living. Our schools are devoting their efforts toward developing this competence. S. Tlie experiences of our nation throughout its development make imperative the development of each student for Individual acco'mplish- ment.

The curriculum is pointed toward self-reliant men and women who can aowpt rights wisely and resimnsitiilities actively in maintaining and makins secure the American way of life. Telling the public about Its schools would not be a completed ji)I) without paying tribute to the district administrators, teachers, clerical staffs, the custodians, tlie gardeners, the cafeteria staffs, tlie doctors anil nurses, and all these who devote their time in making eil- ucational opi)urtunities possible for our cliiUlren. It takes the combined effort of everyone to fnraish pleasant and healthful surroundings for onr youngsters while they are preparing to take their places in our community. Students Must Pass Examination on Constitution "Why do you think the Declaration of Independence is important in the growth of tli- American form of "Are the amendment possibilities of the United States Constitution simple enough to allow necessary changes and complex enough to prevent sudden change in our form of govenmieut? Give reasons for your answer." ten powers denied the offices in the PresI- dent's cabinet in the order of the Succession Ijiw." These are few samples of the examination un the American form of gcivernment that nit students jiass before graduation from the elementary sihi(ol, officials say. The examination is commonly referred to as the Test." Could you pa.ss the test! The School law re-quires all students have instruction pass nn examination on the American form of govemment before graduation from the elementary school.

TTiis work must Include a study of the Declaration of Independence, the purpose, meaning and importance of the Constitution, including the Bill of Rights. "Our schools are doing an efficient job in teaching a sound, clear conception of onr philasophy of gov- eroment that has guided, and preserved America," school offi- clabi say. "The schboLs are training our children to assume their responsibilities in guarding democracy in the years to come. "The fathers of this republic recognized that a democracy is dependent solely upon the intelligence and citizenship of the ciectorate. Edncation is the instrument used by a democratir society to mold and fashion the qualities of its citizenship." Latest Date Bait: Scented Earrings ATLANTA (WS with built -in scents are the latest gimmick on the market to help a gal snare a fellow with a minimum effort.

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