The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-03-01
THE OCCIDENTAL JUGGERNAUT
Thus . woman Describes the Present Sys-
tenn OF Public school Training.


middl--aged woman In my life have had
many causes for gratitude-none greater
than that | was not educated BY modern
methods
To the apostles OF the new education may
seem a pitlable object. should be puzzled
to cut from paper an elephant or rooster.
10 sketch from the living model or 10 differ
entists the habits of the caterpillar and the
dragon ay Nor am ! expert In evolving
the unkoown from the known
Yet | read with ease. even with huency' !
sneak correctly. I spell with accuracy am
familiar with the principles and practice OF
English composition and did all these things
when was at the age when most children
leave the grammar schools. In addition, l
had at their age. a fair general knowledge
OF history. and geography. some idea OF eie-
mentary science. and had acquired taste
for reading Can as much be said OF the
children who graduate" from our grammar
schools?
In my opinion the present system OF public
education 10 a colossal humbug. 1ugser-
naut crushing under it's wheels the useful
citizenship OF the next generation. IL alb
serbs vast sums OF public money. a large pro-
portion OF which goes to foster lads
The idea which pervades all modern meth
dds at least as they are applied In the public
schools il that the requirement OF knowledge
should be made easy for the children. In the
urinary grades no study out of school is
required This solicitude for the terder
brain of the child is extended to the louts OF
sixteen who are sometimes found In those
grades In school the attitude OF the child
ia supposed to be one OF passivity. an in
tellectual auietism. The pupil is the tumber.
| the teacher the jug. That making things
easy is not the best preparation for the stress
and struggle Of actual life seems not to nave
occurred 70 the doctrinaires Of the new edu-
cation.
The majority OF the pupils belong To class
whose time for education Ia limited. or thus
majority. a large proportion never pass into
the grammar grades at all. We owe these
children the foundation OF education. foun-
dalton which is well expressed by the homely
nhrase -the three Rs DO they get IT.
In reading. the children acquire a parrot
like familiarity with the contents OF their
readers Words OF any difiicul'y are printed
tanded TO general literature. the ordinary
printed page is a dark problem 70 the ayeIaee
child The ceI s'i SS .,adyina lessons assigned
10 them is, OF course. entirely eliminated
spelling is sdminstered y hSm ,dOS ih,s
90 o9 sp,,.cclIsneons words carefully memorzed
and defined is thing Of the past In The
i rp.. ,sader a sseminsiy needless limitation
AGAIN. the word studied from the list written
he blackboard ' Nc, al tss T Isyiys Of
We i 5 spelling Book and the New Eng
land spelling bee .,.u
has b.sn weighed in the bslsnor OF commercial
| ~ t~rience and found wanting ishes ioy
much time" Is the verdict OF the prscucH
n'1, In mos, school. arithmetic is well taushr
| 20 far a. sbstrsct processes go. m Nesh
pom! q the ne sc %i.. sa TAX up pr.S"s
plications 81 The rules The rssson,ns iscu t
o. o. he child seem no, to ls ds rs ,b psli
,,udi., Jh,' child regards what he learns
| a. abstract, not concrete .ao.
sb.re The avsras. age Of the children Il
V.1t. aud h. oOntinu, a. with great elAbofa-
ton dunns 'hs .n'ir. coSti,f,t ,,a ,.sy. H.
Grammar school unsbk 20 write . "ohffen'
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