Conference Contributions The following points briefly summarize the contribution of the conference to the furtherance of the Prosser Resolution: The youth under consideration are representative of the total population of secondary-school age. However, the following characteristics occur with greater frequency than they do in the college-going and vocational training groups: 1. They suffer from adverse environmental influences, and from attitudes of parents to nonenforcement of compulsory education laws. The result on the pupil is a situation which tends to the formation of bad habits and delinquent behavior. 2. Their interests can be more nearly stimulated through nonverbal learning activities. sympathetic understanding of the problems confronting these youth. 5. They include a considerable percentage of youth in school who are retarded; those who have never attended high school; those who have dropped out of high school; and those who are not sufficiently benefiting from collegegoing and vocational curricula. Suggestions Offered Adequate curriculum adjustment will involve methodology, facilities, equipinvolve methodology, facilities, equip ment, teaching personnel, and administrative procedures. The details must be worked out by local schools and whatever curriculum plan is developed should be subject to continuous appraisal and revision. In terms of action. that a school might take to meet the objectives of the resolution, the following suggestions were offered: That a school examine its program in terms of the resolution and point out the 3. They see little value in the present needs not served. curriculum offerings. 4. They are handicapped by the lack of adequate guidance. Too frequently counselors and teachers do not have a PROTECTING SCHOOLS FROM FIRE HILE MODERN trends in school construction indicate that many school officials and architects are placing increasing emphasis on fire-safe construction and adequate protection of occupants, the alarming fire record and resultant loss of life in educational institutions reveal that too many sub-standard school buildings still exist," writes Francis R. Scherer, Chairman of the National Fire Prevention Association Committee on Safety to Life in a recent report entitled "Safeguarding the School from Fire." Other excerpts from Chairman Scherer's statement include: Fire Resistive Materials Not Enough "Fire resistive construction is desirable for all school buildings, but the use of building materials that will not burn does not protect against the burning of combustible contents. The one-story school so arranged as to afford direct access to the outside from any part of the building, is the safest design, and That the aid of all persons and groups concerned with the problem presented by the resolution be solicited in efforts to bring about needed revisions. when this form of design is used there is little restriction as to the type of construction. In any case the design should be such as to minimize the spread of fire from its point of origin. No highly combustible wallboard or other quick-burning interior finish should be used. Most important is the protection of stair shafts so that fire in a basement or lower floor will not spread to upper stories. The spread of smoke and fire gases may be just as disastrous as actual fire. "There should be at least two safe means of escape from any area, so that in case fire starts in or near one exit, it will be possible to escape by an alternate route. Exits should be remote from each other; two stairways leading to a common street floor area may both be blocked by a single fire. Outside fire escapes at best are of limited value and should be recognized only to correct exit deficiencies in old buildings. Boiler rooms, waste paper rooms, laboratories, manual training and domestic science rooms, carpenter and paint shops and similar rooms having more than the ordinary fire hazard should be so ar ranged as to minimize the dange fires spreading to other areas. "The danger inherent in many tilating and air conditioning system apt to be overlooked. A syster signed to circulate air througho building may, unless safeguarded means of rapid spread of fire and "Some form of fire alarm g essential so that in case of fire & pants will be informed immediate "Automatic sprinkler protectTM recommended for all school building combustible construction and als protect hazardous areas in building fire-resistive construction. Fire tinguishers in any case should be vided, selecting types suitable for type of fire likely to occur at location. "Schools should set examples of safety, especially good housekeeping endow today's youth with a conce of fire safety measures. If students careful building upkeep and ader. fire protection and fire prevention ures at school, they absorb some of: lesson of fire safety and will carr with them into their homes and j US GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES Orders for the publications listed on this page should be addressed as follows: Requests for cost publications should be sent to the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington 25, D. C., enclosing remittance (check or money order) at the time of ordering. Free publications should be ordered directly from the agency issuing them. New U. S. Office of Education Education in Costa Rica By John H. Furbay. Washington, U. S. Government Printing Office, 1946. 32 p., illus. (Bulletin 1946, No. 4) 15 rents. One of a series of basic studies on educaion in a number of Central and South Ameri'an countries. Prepared under the sponsorship of the Interdepartmental Committee on Scientific and Cultural Cooperation, to pronote understanding of educational conditions In the American countries and to encourage cooperation in the field of inter-American ›ducation. Public Relations for Rural and Washington, U. S. Government Printng Office, 1946. 50 p., illus. (Bulletin 1946, No. 17) 15 cents. Contents: Foreword, John W. Studebaker. By Way of Introduction, Arthur H. Rice. So You Are the Teacher, W. H. Gaumnitz. . Do You Know Your Community? William McKinley Robinson. 3. How Do You Rate? Minter Brown. 4. Your School-Does It Serve the People? Marvin S. Pittman. 5. How Do You Work With Community Leaders? B. A. Griffith. 6. Your Preparation and Growth in College and After, M. L. Smith. 7. It All Adds Up to Public Relations, Otis A. Crosby. 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DEPARTMENT OF STATE Activities of the Interdepartmental Describes the work and accomplishments of the Committee, established in 1938 to undertake a permanent cooperative program with the other American Republics in the field of economic, cultural, and scientific relations. United States and Italy, 1936-46 Washington, U. S. Government Printing Office, 1946. 236 p. (Publication 2669). 65 cents. Contains the whole or the excerpts of such documents as: The Rome-Berlin Axis; the Anti-Comintern Pact, concluded by Italy, Germany, and Japan, November 6, 1939; Appeals for Peace Made by President Roosevelt to the King of Italy, August 23-30, 1939; Italian Armistice, 1943; Rebuilding a Democratic Italy; and a Review of the Allied Military Government in Italy. United States Economic Policy Washington, U. S. Government Printington Office, 1946. 149 p. (Publication 2630). 40 cents. By means of text and graphs, presents the problem as seen from the standpoint of dis-' armament, reparation, and reconstruction. Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, 1931: vol. 3, The Far East Washington, U. S. Government Printing Office, 1946. (Department Publication 2476.) 1091 p. $2.75 (buckram). Presents the official papers, reports, and memoranda regarding the occupation of Manchuria by Japan, the beginning of Japanese military aggression, and the efforts of the United States and other powers to preserve peace. Order from Superintendent of Documents, Washington 25, D. C. Single copy 15 cents; in orders of 100 or 32 U. S GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1947 SCHOOL LIFE, February Preamble to the UNESCO Constitution That the wide diffusion of culture, and the education of humanity for justice and liberty and peace are indispensable to the dignity of man and constitute a sacred duty which all the nations must fulfill in a spirit of mutual assistance and concern; That a peace based exclusively upon the political and economic arrangements of governments would not be a peace which could secure the unanimous, lasting, and sincere support of the peoples of the world, and that the peace must therefore be founded, if it is not to fail, upon the intellectual and moral solidarity of mankind. Pratic principles of the dignity, For These Reasons, equality, and mutual respect of men, and by the propagation, in their place, through ignorance and prejudice, of the doctrine of the inequality of men and races; the States Parties to This Constitu- School Life Published monthly except August and September Federal Security Administrator-----WATSON B. MILLER U.S. Commissioner of Education_-_JOHN W. STUDEBAKER Purpose The Congress of the United States established the United States Office of Education in 1867 to "collect such statistics and facts as shall show the condition and progress of education in the several States and Territories;" to "diffuse such information as shall aid in the establishment and maintenance of efficient school systems;" and to "otherwise promote the cause of education throughout the country." SCHOOL LIFE Serves toward carrying out these purposes. Its printing is approved by the Director of the Bureau of the Budget. 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