Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-15
| THE SCHOOLS ABROAD
Culture Rather Than Efficiency
Aimed At. *
BUILDING UP CHARACTER
Prof. Barnes Of Chicago Describes His
Observations.
MAY LEARN OF EUROPE
Where the American System Can Be
Improved With the View Of
Safeguarding the Nation.

Safeguarding the Nation.
BY WILLIAM e. CURTIS
Special Correspondence of The Star and the Chicago
Record Herald.
LONDON, September 20, 1906.
Prof Clifford w. Barnes of Chicago, gen.
eral secretary of the Religious Educational
Association Of the United States. is STOP
ping down at the picturesque little port of
Weybridge, preparing a report of the inves-
LEGATIONS he has been making during the
last year concerning the religious and moral
training of pupils in the schools of England
and the continental countries.
The Religious Educational Associa ton,
which was organized in 19O3-"to in
spire the educational forces of our
the religious forces Of our country with the
educational ideal. and to keep before the
public mind the ideal of religious educati ton,
and the sense of its need and value''-sent
Prof. Barnes to Europe a special COM
missioner. He came first to Scotland, and,
starting with the schools of that country,
has traversed the greater part of Europe as
far east as Budapest, examining methods of
instruction, the quality and spirit Of the
teaching and the matter that is taught and
he tells me that he finds the highest stand
ard Of ethical training in France. I'VE
educate the children in our public schools
from material standpoint" said Prof.
Barnes ito emphasize efficiency along COM
mercial lines rather than ethical lines. while
the older European countries empha size
moral training at the expense of the prac-
teal training which qualities men for sue
cess in life" Prof. Barnes thinks, how
ever, that much of the European method
may be prof1taby introduced into the United
States. and he is well qualified by expe-
rience to express an opinion. He graduated
at Yale in 1889. took degree at Chicago
University in 1892 and another at oxford
in 1898. and became president Of the Illinois
College at Jacksonville in 1900 He re-
signed his chair last year to take up this
work, and is supported in it by the foremost
educators in the country.
Bishop Mcdowell of the Methodist Church
is president of the Religious Education AS
ISOLATION. President Faunce of Brown Uni
versity is vice president; Prof Coe of North
western University is the recording secre-
tary; James H. Eckels, president of the
Commercial National Bank of Chicago, Is
treasurer, and the late President Harper of
Chicago University was chairman of the ex
ecutive board. The directors are all col
lege presidents professors, bishops and
other clergymen, with the exception of
few business men like Charles L. Hutchin-
son and David r. Forgan of Chicago.
Culture VS.. Efficiency.
When asked Prof. Barnes how he would
compare the educational work of Europe
and America, he replied:
THAT would, of course, require a volume
or two, but I think that an important con-
trast and one bearing directly upon my
own subject can be stated in six words.
Europe has emphasized culture America
efficiency. In a land such as ours with un-
paralieled opportunities on every hand, with
no social barriers to hold one back, 1t is
not surprising that the dominant aim of
education should become efficiency-that is,
ability to get on in the world prosper
Gus democracy which has Sighted the du-
ties of citizenship in it's pursuit of CONNER
cial supremacy could expect nothing else
from public school system. On the other
hand education in Europe was not prima-
rily for the masses. but for the classes.
where social distinctions were rigidly fixed
and was supposed to be born in the
place he would always fill In this land.
therefore, Of kings and lords and common
people, the schools not expected to
make men aggressive but worthy, thorough
ly fitted for their station in life. And this
is but another way of saying they aimed at
culture.
LAS the matter now stands Europe should
have something from America in order to
make her students more efficient. But we
should learn from Europe how to import
that culture which has its perfect develop
nlent in noble character. But right here
let say what every educational expert
in Europe would sanction, that the system
of free education in America, taken
whole, is far superior to that of any other
country on the face of the earth. No where
else do you find such wealth of equipment,
such munificent support such well trained
teachers, such nice adjustment of part to
part, such high-grade instruction both as
to method and content. You know that Mr..
Mosely is preparing to send another body
of educators from here this winter that
they may get the benefit of a first-class &C
quaintance with schools. 1 count this
a splendid compliment and one that is well
deserved.
Unfortunately. however, continued Prof.
Barnes. that old saying, the good is
enemy to the best, has proved true in re-
gard to this public school system, of which
we proud. 1t has all been so good.
SO very good, that we never suspected it of
any deficiency until that old prophet in
Israel, President Charles Eliot lifted his
voice and cried that, judged from the stand
point of character building, our schools are
proving failure, and we heard the same
complaint from President Butler, DR.. Har-
per, Stanley Hall and score more, whose
Judgment we respect Shortly before
sailed a former partner of the late Marshall
Field said to me:
Where the Schools Fail.