The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-10-28
The Royal Road.


There are symptoms OF growing revolt
against existing educational systems in
the United states These are so wide
spread, 20 persistent and 80 consistent
with human nature and human experiences
that they presags some certain and i'm
portant changes In educational policies
in the not distant future Criticism is
directed upon the extension Of the higher
education in the public school system at
the sxpenss OF the primary grades; upon
the subordination Of drill ana mental dis
cipiins to the desire to make study easy
and attractive; and upon tho expansion
OF the elective system in colleges and uni
versities.
These criticisms. most OF which appear
to be just. mark the swing Of the pendu-
ium. We have gone TO one extreme. RE-
PEELED by the narrowness OF the old cur
ricuum and ailured by the idea that the
higher education Is sort OF ornament
which all may wear at pleasure. we have
run to costly systems at one end of the
public school scheme without enlarglng TO
an equal extent the advantages at the
other. Repealed by the school room slav-
cry Of the old regime. We have come into
danger OF sacrificing thoroughness to at
,ractiveness. ana work to play. Repealed
by the rigid scholastic order Of studies
which forbade any Difference in the choice
OF studies to individual inclination or apt
itude. We have reached an almost univer-
a boy still IN his teens the wisdom to d.
rect unaided his own mental development
and to determine at that date his whels
future NE
Into these extremes modern education
has certainly fallen, Many earnest people
are now snaeavoring to turn :, back into
the way OF the golden mean. In New
York ana Broekiya. and in many other
cities indeed. tho turning OF thousands OF
children into tho strset because there is
no room for them IN the grade schools.
while the high schools are supplied album
dainty with revenues and appliances. Is
made the starting point o. a rsverslon to
democratic Ideas in the management %
the psbllo school system. II Is likely 90
become a question OF general and Lively
interest within the next few years. The
ether criticisms % ineaern education are
directed at methods and not at adminis-
| gration.
!, l. curious thing that tn Tits eriml-
nation. kinaerEsrsea and university meet
Bosn. Il 10 claimed. are sacrificing VIC
TINS 20 'TAe royal read" Both are isnor-
ing fundamental traits Of human nature
in the eaort 20 make acquisition easy. sal
staay a delight rather tAaa discipline
10 the latest nurnA~f q TIE Ailaatlc
Monthly are ssHuI some peTtineu;
doubts about rnedsrn systems That nln
uca Fe8Ay strdY, Il ss aaHatses iAas these
methods have made learning more at.
tractlve en- scne-sIy less palntgi. lt f.
mote than hln;s,i Thar they have also
made II less worth hasas Thosoashaess
ana accuracy are sacriaceA 70 ,as short
cat ana the appeal - iaalinssioA. De- fss
universities q s. alleged aaFGllr thas 10
Anthoyise csiiow Boys 20 make courses a.
study fer themselves Is destructive q tas
highest aud Eosi saa=sla< educational
values
We are merely summarizing the leads
OF CONVENTIONS ahoat present educational
methods that interest every eluses Vi
tally To discuss them on ;hsir merits VIII
ana we hope 70 hase part N Il. Meantime
the public should Se aware o. taess Ea9s-