Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-12-14
THE PUBLIC SCHOOL.
President Hyde Points Out Some Of Its
Defects.
GFrom a Paper Read Before the Glorious
Club)

From a Paper Read Before the Glorious
Club)
The true province of the school is TO
impart a knowledge and love of the laws
and forms of nature. the thoughts and
deeds of man. Education begins in the
experience, the authority. the affection
of the home. The province of the public
school is TO show the child that the same
i, reason and law and love that animate
| the home also rule the universe TIL.
| school is to make the child at home in
| the larger world of men and things the
master of its forces. the minister of its
| laws. the possessor of its treasures, the
| sharer of its joys.
The kindergarten introduces the child
TO the elemental forms of its larger
world. peoples 1t with the creations OF
| fancy. makes ii alive for him with in
| terests and conflicts kindred TO his own.
| To omit the kindergarten stage in foolish
haste 10 acquire premature facility in
| reading and writing and arithmetic is a
get the precocious prodigy at which we
iim. in doing so we sacrifice the natural
interest and imaginative play which are
the basis of achievement in science and
of appreciation of literature and art.
The kindergarten is the link between
the happiness of home and the gladness
and glory of the world, the mediator be-
,ween the human parent and the heaven
ly father, leading the child not less effec-
lively because for the most part uncon-
ciously from the love of the one to the
IONe OF the Other
Reading. writing. arithmetic and
grammar convey the conventional SYM
hols and instruments by which the child
communicates with the world beyond his
range of vision. and his reach of hand.
These numerical and verbal symbols are
Indispensable instruments of education.
Yet. the instruments are not the sub
stance
THE grammar school gives the shell
of learning without its substance. What
wonder that under the influence of such
merely formal education crime does not
diminish? What wonder that moral lily
declines. religion languishes. art decays.
and man dcgenerates, The form without
the substance. the instrument without
the object. is everywhere dangerous
thing. Reading. writing. grammar and
arithmetic with no substance of sound
science to feed upon. no manual training
to apply them to. no problems of history
and civil government to grappe with
no difficulties of foreign languages to
conquer. no ideals of great literature to
delight in. are dangerous implements to
have lying about loose in a democratic
society.
The public school must do either less
or more than it has done, if it is to be
d real educator of youth. and an effective
supporter of the state.
The traditional grammar school has
fed children on mere husks-valuable
husks to be sure. as all husks are in their
place. but husks alone are not fit food for
children, and If you feed them on husks
|
The traditional grammar school has in
deed put the keys of knowledge into the
child's hand. but it has failed TO open
the treasures of wisdom to his mind and
heart. OF what use is ii to teach child
to read. if he cares to read nothing but
sensational accounts of crime? OF what
use is ii to teach him compound interest
and partial payments. if he spends his
money on quack medicines and fraudu-
lent insurance?
These people who know how to read
and write and multiply and divide. and
know little else--these are the people who
furnish fuel for the flames of lingo folly
and A. p. A. fanaticism; who clamor
for fiat prices at which to sell labor and
their goods, who substitute quackery for
medical science mob violence for law.
theosophy for religion. passion for NOR
atty impulse for reason. crazes and
caprices for conscience and the constitu-
ton.
THE education that Is to give wisdom
to scholars and security to the community
must teach not merely formal facility
in intellectual gymnastics. but reverent
and natural law. loving fellowship with
human ideals and human character. In
order that these subjects shall be taught
in their broad. general features in the
elementary school. they must be studied
scientifically and systematically through
out the high school course.
And nothing will stimulate this
thorough study of these subjects in the
high school so effectively as their recog-
milton as a part of the requirement for
admission to college. Modern languages.
advanced mathematics and physics and
chemistry are so recognized already.
'"fhis correlation of substances with
form N the elementary school will i'm
part to pupils the conviction that the
world is grounded in reason and ruled
by law. and that the life of man is field
where noble ideals may be sought and
won. | believe such reverence for natural
law and human character will 10 more