ular school was obtained, and it is hoped will be realized even much more fully in the future.

In the evening schools a system of deposits to insure more regular attendance proved very satisfactory.

In the wider use activities the careful inspection of all requests for the use of school buildings resulted in a large economy to the Board through the grouping of uses in certain centers and the refusal of permits not justified. by the character of the meeting or the small number of people participating.

Cooperation with the Park Department in its recreation centers in school buildings was extended to include the assignment of teachers for classes in orchestra, community singing, needlework, and millinery.

As another phase of educational extension the Board cooperated with the Women's Council of Defense in permitting the use of the Central High School for commercial classes during the day for women preparing themselves to fill the places of men who were in the service of the nation.

Of prime significance in the future development of education in the city was the provision for the organization of Continuation Schools. The Forty-ninth General Assembly had in January passed a law providing for at least four hours instruction per week obligatory on all regularly employed children between the ages of fourteen and sixteen, not graduates of the eighth grade, and also for employed children between sixteen and eighteen. In order that the Board of Education might properly discharge its obligation in the administration of this new law the organization of Part-time and Continuation classes was authorized by the Board and a Supervisor was appointed to look after this work. Adequate appropriation was also made for teachers' salaries for the ensuing year. The problem of accommodations for the schools, however, gave the Board considerable concern. A proposition to purchase the

old Southern Hotel and convert it into a continuation school seemed unwise to a majority of the members and at the close of the year it seemed that the only arrangement possible would be to use some rooms in several of the downtown public schools and also authorize the holding of these classes in department stores and other commercial establishments and factories.

Progress in the high schools was marked by several important steps. On the recommendation of the Superintendent provision was made for two high school supervisors, one of commercial subjects and the other of English. While it was not possible to find suitable candidates for appointment to these positions during the year, yet it is hoped that in the future these two very important fields of high school instruction may be very much improved by the expert guidance and help which these supervisors should give

This year was the first for two new and important courses adopted during the latter part of the preceding year, one a half-year course in Community Civics, and the other a half-year course in Vocational Information. As requirements of all students it is hoped that these two subjects may prove of lasting benefit to every pupil entering the public high schools of the city.

An advanced step was taken in musical instruction during the latter part of the year in the authorization of allowing high school credit for applied music instruction given under proper supervision of the schools, by private in

structors.

The success of instruction in printing in the evening schools justified the promotion of this phase of vocational training by the organization of a two-year printing course in the day high schools.

On a proposition received from the Federal Government the organization of a Reserve Officers Training Corps in the high schools was approved by the Board, but delay in the plans of the Government resulted in the failure to organize this military training during the year.

Before the year ended it became necessary for the Board to seek a new athletic field for the accommodation of the high schools, and fortunately it was able to secure the centrally located Handlan Park.

In the grade schools an important provision was made in the adoption of new books in Geography, Language, and Physical Training. In these adoptions an important new principle was followed. Instead of supplying enough copies of each book so that each pupil might have one, a less number of copies of each text were authorized, thereby permitting the adoption of a larger number of different texts. It is hoped thereby to enrich very much the available material for instruction.

An interesting development in music in the elementary schools has been the growth of school orchestras. Near the end of the year the many schools which had organized orchestras justified the Board in creating the position of Supervisor of School Orchestras to further promote these organizations and improve the quality of their work.

In the forms of special care of children, especially in their physical environment, several important steps were taken. In November the Board approved cooperating with the St. Louis Tuberculosis Society in the establishment of a Resident Open Air School to which fifteen girls from the Taussig Open Air School were transferred. These children were the ones in greatest need of special care and the results obtained by having them in an open air environment both day and night were so satisfactory that at the end of the year the Tuberculosis Society proposed to enlarge the plant and the Board of Education approved continuing its form of cooperation with the Society in this experiment.

In the poorer and more congested districts of the city the Children's Lunch Lunch Association conducted penny luncheons, selling portions to pupils at actual cost of food without charge for the volunteer service given by the Association. The good work of this Association was also ex

necessary expansion of the school system if it is to function properly in the great city of St. Louis. The growth of new industries, the wider commercial relations, and the greater complexity of the social, economic, and political life of the city will require of its citizens in the years to

come,-

1. Better and more varied vocational preparation.

2. More knowledge of our nation outside of St. Louis and of other new world nations.

3. A more intelligent social conscience for cooperation in the economic and social relations of the city's life.

4. A firmer foundation in the principles of American life and the development of stronger personal character.

If our schools are to play their part in supplying this better educated citizenship then they must without fail make the following provisions:

First, above all things there must be efficient teaching and capable leadership. Every teacher, principal, and supervisor of the city must be paid a compensation to justify the most careful and thorough preparation for their work, and this compensation must be adequately attractive to compete with the commercial and professional fields for the best brains of the community.

Secondly, every child of the city must have that which is only justice to him, a seat in a confortable, hygienic, and pleasant school room and an adequate space for play.

Third, the activities of the schools must become more varied in character for the children of the regular school age, and further provision must be made for the after school education of youths and adults who have passed beyond the walls of the school room and yet whose training has not prepared them for the fullest participation in the broader life which this community will live in the years

to come.

The St. Louis public schools have in the past progressed sanely and thoroughly. They have been guided by true

vision of what education for life in this city should be. We must not now lose this forward look, for life in this city will not stand still. There will surely be an evolution into more complex and more highly organized social and economical life relations and only by a keen and wise insight into these future developments before they come can we properly prepare our future citizens in the children of today for their responsibilities then.

HENRY L. WOLFNER,

President.