The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-12-23

The Advertiser has no apologies for this rather long extract from the editorial columns of The Philadelphia Record:
 The Superintendent of Public Instruc- ton In this State has excited newspaper comment by the affirmation of so ancient an Idea as that in the development of the individual mo studies are of equal importance with the traditional three Rs.' " That this Is not the view which is held by those who are responsible for the courses of study In the public schools ts apparent from the complaints of col lege presidents that a great many of the graduates of the public schools appear to be strangely ignorant of the funda- mental English branches; and from the portion of public school teachers and of applicants at the doors of the colleges who are unable to spell.
 While there is a notable lack of knowl- edge of the elementary studles-of the three Rs"-the pupils are served with text books on alcoholic physiology (which Is disapproved by men of science), with lessons In cookery, music, drawing, man. ual training etc, to the neglect of the branches formerly regarded as not only essential, but also as comprehensive. The condition which induced the Superinten- dent to affirm what would once have been held to be an obvious fact is the report from many quarters that the pupils of the common schools are far below the aver age of attainment of those of the district schools of other years. He finds that the three Rs" are being crowded out by studies which are not necessary to a solid foundation for an English education, and at the risk of appearing to be an old fogy he becomes a champion of almost forgotten essentials.
 The spelling reformerS who were to make spelling easy by a phonetic system have not made the expected headway, and the neglect of oral spelling has made it. self apparent in the lack of photographic proficiency in the case of most recent graduates. Language lessons have taken She place of grammar. but the results do not seem to be admirable. The time given to arithmetic has been shortened in order to teach the youth that their fathers are reprehensible and suicidal in their use of tobacco and alcoholic stimulants. In short, the limited knowledge of the three Rs'' is not compensated for by knowl- edge of any desirable kind.
 One who does not fully agree with all the innovations made in our public schools is looked on as an old fogy and an enemy to progress. Perhaps we may fall under that ban, but certain 1t is that there's good sense in the matter quoted above. However much advance has been . made over old methods. and whatever im- provements are claimed for the new order of things 1t is a fact not to be success fully refuted that in the matter of pri- mary. fundamental teaching, there has not been the advance that some claim. Modern educators may sheer at and dis parage the three Rs' as much as they choose, but children taught in those old time schools and under those old methods knew how to spell when they quit school, and they could read correctly and write legibly. They had fair knowledge of grammar and geography, and they were not half as long learning such useful things as they now spend in school. They may not have known as much about science and the fine arts as pupils now do but they could write letter and spell the words correctly, which is certainly not always the case with graduates of our later schools. There have been many Improvements in educational methods and in school opportunities. but not everything new Is better than all that is old.
 And while we are on this subject we will allude to anotl CT point of it. which We find stated by Eryfessor Henry L. BoItwood, principal of Ugh school at Evanton. III. He had been pointing out the evil consequences of a failure to maintain dIsc.pLne in the public schools. and among other things, said:
 Weak sentimentality protects bad boys and leads to crime. In forbidding cor POral punishment you are asking of teachers what you ask of no government on earth-that they rule without power. You can try moral suasion on a hoodlum five days in the week and forty weeks in the year, and at the end of the year he'll stin be a hoodlum. Of what power is a threat to expel a pupil when what he wants most is to be expelled? Darn you, you dassent touch me" Is what they necessary if we would cure the bandit evil--eBta ablishment of free kindergartens, enforcement of the truant laws and resto- ration to principals, at least, of the power Of corporal punishment.
 1anx o6 us ean remember something oS