Pasadena Chronicle, May 28, 1937

ISSUE GIVES VIEWS OF 6-4-4 PLAN |Ц Chronicle BASIC IDEAS EXPLAINED BY EDUCATORS Vol. XXVIII Pasadena, California, May 28, 1937 No. 35 New Buildings Are Adapted To 6-4-4 System Spread Is Predicted For Idea Proposed Pasadena Campus Shown By Architect's Drawing General Education Plan Reviewed By Head Of Board By Dr. John A. Sexson Superintendent of Pasadena Schools Pasadena is one of the largest school systems of the United States to give the “general col¬ lege" organization a thoroughgo¬ ing, long-time trial. The idea was proposed in Pasadena more than 20 years ago, was adopted actually in i925, and was put into full oper¬ ation in 1928. During this same period, hundreds of smaller school systems and a rapidly growing list of institutions of higher learning, ranging from small private colleges to leading state universities, have looked toward this form of organi¬ zation. Movement Gains The movement has gained so much momentum in the last five years that it is no exaggeration to say that today the plan either has the definite approval of, or is under serious consideration by, hundreds of boards of education and administrative officers of both public and private schools, at the levels of both secondary education and higher learning throughout America. The opinion of the writer, based upon his observations in Pasadena, is that the plan will be¬ come practically universal in Am¬ erica. College Limitations Obviously, America cannot hope to furnish four years of college education for everybody. General education has its definite limita¬ tions, not only those imposed by the economic burden involved, but also those limits of individual and social serviceableness which re¬ strain both the society and the in¬ dividual from the expenditure of time and money for general edu¬ cation beyond a demonstrated re¬ turn for such experiences. Consequently, universities have organized lower divisions, or so- called general colleges, and many public school systems have ex¬ tended their traditional high school to include the thirteenth and four¬ teenth years. So far we have, in both secondary schools and institu¬ tions of higher learning, a common agreement that general education ends with the completion of the sophomore college, or fourteenth, year. It is at this point that pro- Continued on Page Pom- Convocations Play Part Playing an important part in the educational program of Pasa¬ dena junior college is the monthly convocation. Under the direction of the administration, these meet¬ ings are planned for the voca¬ tional and moral education of stu¬ dents of the school. Programs for these assemblies include well-known speakers in the fields of religion, education, busi¬ ness, technology and government. The series for the entire year are planned so that an integrated out¬ line will be followed throughout the period. Such speakers as Dr. Frederick P. Woellner, Dr. Theodore G. Soares, Dr. John A. Sexson, George H. Merideth and William L. Blair have been leaders of these student groups in the past. These meetings are substituted for 40 minutes of regular class room activity each month and at¬ tendance is compulsory for stu¬ dents. STRONG ALUMNI GROUP FORMED Alumni of Pasadena have recent¬ ly formed a strong association, membership in which is offered to every graduate of the junior col¬ lege. Meeting at annual banquets, the association’s officers change yearly, although John A. Anderson, dean of records, is permanent adminis¬ trative representative to the group. HUNDREDS ADOPT Large Pasadena Success Shows Practicality Of 2- Year School Complete with landscaping and new buildings, the new Pasadena jun¬ ior college campus will look like the above when completed next month. T he large center building is the Horace Mann structure, the main edifice on the campus. At the left is seen the Louis Agassiz building, which houses the physical science department. At the right is the Jane Addams building, housing the biological science department and the home economics classes. To the right of the picture a driveway, the main Entrance, leads down past the Student Union building to a parking lot. The technology building and the men’s and women’s gyms, not shown, are located south of the buildings depicted here. Main feature of the land¬ scaping is the pool in the park between the main buildings and the inclusion of several parklike gardens throughout the campus, and improvements around the Student Union, Bookstore Is Broad Overview Should Be Saving For Student Body Students Gain Business Training In Actual Working Conditions Pasadena’s junior college book¬ store is run primarily for the pur¬ pose of affording students chance to buy more hooks and supplies as economically as possible, on the campus itself. Including the selling of books and supplies, the store, under the supervision of Maurice F. Hoerger, faculty manager and also an ac credited member of the teaching staff, serves a three-fold purpose. It enables students to obtain neces¬ sary business training and also gives them the chance to turn in used text books for a price approx¬ imately ten per cent higher than the rate given by average universi¬ ties throughout the country. Under the 6-4-4 plan the book¬ store is organized principally for the use of the thirteenth and four¬ teenth year students, as those in the eleventh and twelfth year are furnished with textbooks by the State of California. PRINCIPAL’S GROUP FORMS POLICY Administration members and chairmen of the departments of the Pasadena junior college com¬ pose what is known as the Prin¬ cipal’s Council. Meeting bi-week¬ ly, the function of the group is to consider and take action regard¬ ing curriculum afid classroom problems and to form the educa¬ tional policies of the college. Preparation For Colleges Given By 6-4-4 Plan For students who plan on a further university or college ed- cation, the 6-4-4 system is of as much value as for those who plan to stop at the fourteenth grade. The junior certificate, presented to those who have ful¬ filled basic requirements for ft, assures those to whom it is awarded of entrance, with ad¬ vanced standing, to standard four-year universities. A wide, general education is offered to this type of student, who takes work in foreign lan¬ guage, mathematics, natural sci¬ ence, social science and philoso¬ phy. Aside from these require¬ ments, the student is also re¬ sponsible for the lower division requirements of the specific in¬ stitution for which he is prepar¬ ing. Will Add To Structure Given Before Specialization Lower Division Curriculum In Humanities, Social, Physical Sciences, Family Only Requirement By Miss Ida E. Hawes, Dean of Guidance Underlying the educational offerings at Pasadena junior college is the basic principle that intensive study in any subject matter field should be preceded by a broad overview of that area. The core '♦curriculum includes therefore sur¬ vey courses in the divisions of the humanities, the physical and life sciences and the social studies, sup¬ plemented by one year’s work in each of these three fields. Beyond these requirements, physical educa¬ tion and one semester of Orienta- tian, each student is free to select his own course to meet the needs of his own life plan. Courses Explained In the humanities survey, litera¬ ture, music, art, history and the culture of foreign lands are woven together into a year course which will widen the cultural outlook of each student and enrich his life, af¬ fording him finer enjoyment for his leisure hours. Upon this course, also, the student may build his later work in literature or compo¬ sition, music or art, history or language, and find himself equipped with understandings and apprecia¬ tions of vital importance to these later studies. Chemistry, physics, geology, as¬ tronomy, mathematics, and technol¬ ogy all have such practical, tan¬ gible bearings on the everyday life that no young person can afford to leave school without some knowledge of each; yet few have Continued on Page Four Student Union Building Is Campus Center At present a one-story building of modern archi-tecure, housing the school bank, the student body offices and the soda fountain, the Student Union building will be within the next four or five years, a two-story edifice covering an area about half the size of a foot¬ ball field and housing everything from the student body offices to a dance floor. The building, constructed two years ago, was designed with an eye to convenience in building an addition in later years. Present plans show that this addition, ad¬ ding over four times the floor space, will yet harmonize with the architecture of the building as it now stands. Primarily to serve as a center for student life, the proposed plans for the building include space for publications offices, committee rooms, club rooms, so¬ cial halls and a banquet room which will have a stage for en¬ tertainment and which may be converted into a dance floor. The soda fountain will remain in the building for the convenience of students who eat lunch on the campus, and the banquet room will also be used as a cafeteria during the noon hour. Plans for landscaping around the building include a patio with outdoor tables and chairs, and a park with benches and picnic tables set in a grove of shade trees. VOCATIONAL DAY’ CREATES INTEREST One day each year is set aside by the administration of the junior college for “Vocational Day.” At this time leaders in all fields of business and the professions in Southern California are called to lead various student groups in dis¬ cussion of vocational requirements and possibilities. Students are voluntarily classi¬ fied as to subject interest and are assigned to non-compulsory meet¬ ings. 'Pals’ Orient New Pupils At the beginning of each semes¬ ter, freshmen and entering juniors are assigned to older students who help them during the Freshman week activities. These older stu¬ dent “pals” are carefully selected by the social affairs committee which is composed of faculty mem¬ bers and students, and they are prepared for their duties through forum meetings and detailed let¬ ters of instruction. Through edi¬ torials and talks by student leaders, a serious attempt is made to im¬ press them with the importance of their responsibilities. The Freshman week program be¬ gins on the Sunday before regis¬ tration day with a guided tour of the campus, a Vesper service and a reception. During registration day, entertainment and games are provided for new and old students, and, in the evening, a dance which is usually attended by 1500 to 2000 students, is sponsored by the as¬ sociated students. Guidance Is Continuous In System Counseling Machinery Has Cumulative Organization By Florence L. Brubaker and Dr. Glen L. Lembke Counselors, Pasadena J. C. Intelligent self-direction is the keynote of guidance at the junior college. From the day of entrance to the day of graduation, the stu¬ dent is considered a responsible citizen of the college community, and, as such, is provided opportu¬ nities to avail himself of group and individual guidance services. Since every unit in the Pasadena school systems recognizes its re¬ sponsibility in developing children who will be responsible, self-ap- praising, self -directive individuals, the guidance services at the junior college are building upon the train¬ ing previously provided. Every item of information that might be pertinent to the counselor is sent to the junior college at the time of the individual’s entrance. As the student approaches junior high school graduation, his atten¬ tion is called to the junior college offerings and advantages, to pre¬ pare him to take his place in the college community more quickly and easily. Junior college counse¬ lors visit the junior high schools Continued on Page Four Week’s News Occupation of new junior col¬ lege buildings, designed to fit 6-4-4 scheme, scheduled for early summer. Page 1. • • • Superintendent of City Schools John A. Sexson tells view of sys¬ tem from point of general educa¬ tional value. Page 1. • • • New survey courses for lower division students explained by Dean of Guidance in article stres¬ sing importance to students. Page 1. • • • Basic philosophies of 6-4-4 plan of education told by Dr. John W. Harbeson in article on Pasadena system. Page 2. • • • Pat Paddock, president of asso¬ ciated student body, gives leader’s view of student government. Page 2. • • • Explanation of vocational ter¬ minal courses made by educator. Page 4. • • • Position of the junior high school and its relation to the en¬ tire 6-4-4 plan shown by Wallace A. Newlin. Page 4. Occupation To Start In July Special Features Of New Structure To Aid In Local Plan TENTS DOOMED Intensive Outline Of Study To Accompany Housing Move Complete occupancy of new Pas¬ adena junior college buildings will start in the early summer, setting an end to “Tent City,” three year residence of class rooms, when the main structure of the three build¬ ing group is finished in July, ac¬ cording to J. P. O’Mara, adminis¬ trator in charge of campus housing. Having adopted the plans of the new building to fit the general plan of the 6-4-4 system of education, features will be especially pointed toward more adequately and coni pletelv carrying out present out¬ lines for more intensive survey and terminal courses of study. Beside large class and study rooms, there will be several fea¬ tures designed for students inter¬ ested in particular fields of work, and adapted to give a maximum of teaching and working efficiency. Work Rooms Large, sky-lighted rooms at the top of the main building have been designed to supplement as working rooms for students in the art de¬ partment. Along with regular class room activity, special projects in all types of art work will be car¬ ried on here, under the direction of both faculty and student leaders. In dramatics, activities will be carried on in a little theatre which has been constructed in the base¬ ment of the building. With a seat¬ ing capacity of approximately 100, this miniature playhouse will be completely equipped with full stage and lighting facilities. The main auditorium, also, will be used for dramatic presentations, as well as assemblies, convocations, special programs and cultural ac¬ tivities that will be planned to in¬ volve the entire city of Pasadena. Aids Night School Another aspect of the 6-4-4 sys¬ tem that will be influenced by the entire re-occupation will be the night school and adult education department. With present plans Continued on Page Four Assemblies Of Year Planned Assemblies at the junior col¬ lege follow a definite program each year and are aimed at pro¬ viding the student body with en¬ tertainment, information from businessmen and prominent edu¬ cators and inspirational addresses from clergymen, displays of hob¬ bies sponsored by various campus clubs, and notices from the ad¬ ministration to the student body. Assemblies, running on a sched¬ ule planned out a year ahead of time, are under the direct super¬ vision of a secretary of activities who, with his committee, works under the supervision of the ad¬ ministrative staff. About two assemblies per month aim at providing entertain¬ ment, one per month is spon¬ sored by the organizations com¬ mittee and features some phase of club activity, and one per month presents a speaker who gives an inspirational or infor¬ mative address. STUDENTS ADVISED BY COUNSELORS Working under the direction of Miss Ida E. Hawes, dean of guid¬ ance, a staff of six counselors aids students in selecting proper courses and activities for training in se¬ lected vocational fields. At the end of each semester, stu¬ dents, in consultation with these counselors, select their courses of study and plan their work for the coming term. Advice as to what to take and a general guidance com¬ poses about half of the counselor’s duties. In addition to program planning, the six are assigned to classes in orientation, which are designed to give freshmen and other entering students a clear idea of the school, their own personalities and the community