The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-01
ENGLISH EDUCATORS


Boston Transcript.
That the commission sent from England
to this country by Sir Alfred Mosely for
the purpose Of making an inquiry into the
educational system of the United States is
was shown by the fact that at an early
hour this forenoon the majority Of its men,
bers had left the headquarters at the Par
ker House and were busily engaged in visit
ing schools. The commission arrived in
Boston last night from New Haven. This
commission, which is representative of
English educational institutions from top
to bottom, was selected by Sir Alfred Nose
ly for the purpose Of proving or disproving
his theory that the great industrial and
commercial advancement of the United
States is due to general education, and of
giving England the result of its investiga-
ton. The originator of the commission is a
retired business man OF wealth, who feels
that England is losing ground industrially,
and desires to find the remedy. He there
fore is paying the expenses of this commits
sion.
The particular reason why the commits
sion is making its investigation at this time
is that the new education act passed by the
last Parliament goes into effect the first of
the year. This act takes the control Of ed
ucation from the various school boards and
places 1t with the county and borough
councils, which are responsible to the ma
tional education board. The different men,
bers OF the commission have particular lines
Of investigation assigned to them, and each
Is pursuing his line while I'm America. The
recommendations of the commission as a
whole will be included in a general report
which will probably serve as the basis OF
changes In school organization in all de-
Although the commission has formulated
no general opinion which IL is willing to
make public. Mr. w Z. Groser. who has
side of the inquiry, with special reference
to higher education, to-day gave a Tran
script representative the benefit of some Of
about your schools" he said, lis the spirit
of keenuess for work, anxiety to learn on
the part OF the pupil and desire TO instruct
on the part of the teacher. Work here
seems TO be fashionable. IN England there
are undoubtedly many hard workers in all
classes. but the hard-working man in the
university is not fashionable. In this coun-
try there is a strong feeling against the
man who does not work The faults Of the
American universities seem to be lack OF
coordination and a set standard, and a
tendency in some cases to make expert
rnents. Columbia seems to have tendency
toward experimental education. while Yale
and Princeton cling 10 the old successful
standards"
The elective system, in the opinion OF Mr.
Groser, is more powerful in theory than in
practice 1t would be extremely disad-
vantageous II carried too far, as students
would acquire scanty and superficial
knowledge without enough groundwork
The American student however,, seems to
lend himself readily TO the advice OF the
teachers. which tends 10 prevent carrying
the elective system too far. The genera
average of American students appears &c
| ne very high. but whether a high liberia
| education is better than a deep grounded
| knowledge In speciality is question III
| England the tendency is TO put Off special
! ization until late. perhaps too late. Post