Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-03-19
LET PROGRESS BE IN THE RIGHT
DIRECTION,

DLkECNAOAs
The usual controversy that breaks
out periodically in the different States
upon the question Of enlarging the
course Of study in the public schools,
is now at white heat In some sections
of the State of Pennsylvania.
Commenting upon the subject the
Philadelphia Times says:
Among this people system of pub
lie instruction such as exists in no other
country has grown up. The basis OF
this system Is known as the common
school. 1t not an academy, not col
lege, not university, and so cannot
usurp their functions. Ii Is intended
to better prepare the great mass OF
people for the practical, everyday du-
ties OF life. The tendency OF late years
has been TO overload this popular sys-
tenn and to make il the means of car
rying every kind of study, every hobby
of Inexperienced, selfish or ambitious
educators, until children have come to
be taught many things neither cOntem-
plated in the original system nor de-
handed In practical life, to the neglect
of those recognized as fundamentally
necessary.
The opposition of the Times is placed
on the common ground generally occu-
pied by the press when discussing this
question. There would be less opposi-
ton from the press and the patrons OF
public schools, II the innovations
sought to be made in our public schools
did not relate so exclusively to branches
of study which do not directly contri-
butte to the preparation of the pupil for
the affairs Of practical life. They are
advanced studies in the languagssor
some other branch that will continue
the pupil in school greater period than
now required for completing the eie-
mentsry branches
That there is need of revision, and
that our public schools should be pro-
gressive, is admitted, but the direction
of the revision and the progress makes
the ground of objection. There Is some
good, sound sense tersely expressed
upon this subject in the following sum-
mary made by writer in the Popular
Science Monthly:
There is a growing feeling among the
students of industrial problems that our
whole conception of education in general,
and of industrial training in particular,
needs revision and enlargement. This
feeling is based upon such easily observed
facts as the following
l. Paupers are on the increase.
3. Our schools too often educate their
pupils out of harmony with their environ
ment, thus justifying the charge that edu'
cation falsely so called) units its posses
sors for useful industry.
5. The simpler and less important posi-
tons in the worlds workshop are, as
rule, greatly overcrowded, while in the
upper stories, there is a vast amount of
unoccupied space.
I. The work done in the lower stories is
often exceedingly shabby.
5. Many who aspire to the upper stories
fail to enter-or, if they apparently enter,
soor end in failure.
s. The chosen few who truly enter and
build up magnificent industrial fabrics,
with the splendid fortunes which such
fabrics imply, fail to educate their chill
dren to carry on their good work, or to do
work of similar value in some other de-
partment Of youthful industry.
:. A whole community OF prosperous
workmen may be we'll nigh reduced to beg.
gary by the incoming of some new inven-
ton, or by change in the fortunes Of tastes
of consumers.
5. When old industries are swept away
and new ones established on the wrecks,
there is usually little power on the part OF
workmen to adapt themselves to the new
COndiOns,
Q. The relentless law of the survival of
the ShrewdeSt and most INSCRIPTIONS, in.
stead of the Christian law Of mutual con.
sideration and cooperation, too generally
prevails among individuals and all kinds of
human organizations.
That ali education should be industrial,
and that everybody should be ihdustrially
educated, We believe to be perfectly tena.
bic proposition.