New-York tribune., 1907-01-18
SCHOOL AND ANARCHY
The Present System Breeds Discon-
tent, Says Dean Russell.

''These people VINO are leaving our public
schools to-day, drifting from fourteen TO eigh-
teen. they are the stuff of which anarchists are
made
THE statement has been made that the public
schools of America have turned more girls on
the street than any other agency in this coun-
try.
1--WE haven't even a respectable public school
system in New York, and I say it though I see
an ex-president Of the School Board before me-"
These the trenchant statements with
which Dean Russell of Teachers College inter
Iarded his address at the annual meeting of the
Manhattan Trade School for Girls yesterday.
He explained his statement that the public
schools are turning out material for the manu-
facture of anarchists follows:
'We think we are the biggest country in the
world. To hear US talk you would think there
was nothing like Here are opportunities
for all. Every one who wants 10 can get on.
Every boy has chance TO be President of the
United States. The children come UP in this at
nosphere in the schools, nourished on tales OF
exceptional poor boys who have achieved ex-
ceptional careers. Every boy dreams of being
president Of big corporation or at least occu-
pyfng some honored or important position God
forbid that the boys and girls of America should
be forbidden ambitions and hopes; taught that
they to stay in one class and cannot rise
ABOVE Il but let Us 1aCe IaCIS. only one hoy
out OF one thousand can rise TO the top. The
rest must and will occupy subordinate positions;
the great majority wage workers. The
schools have given them no preparation for
wage earning. no fitting for economic efficiency.
At fourteen a boy leaves the grades. He doesn't
find the president of the railroad gladly welcom-
ing him into his office. If he is forced TO earn
he IS obliged to take the most menial and illpaid
work; and often he knows that in three four
years he will he turned out Of that, because it
is boys work. and at eighteen he will be too big
for IT, while there is job waiting for him above
because his work has not been such that he could
prepare himself for promotion. He knows that
he is wasting three or four of the best years OF
his life if he doesn't know it, the realization
comes TOO late. The reaction sets in. He sneers
bitterly at his schoolboy dreams. He IS disap-
disappointed at his lack of success, at
the lack Of opportunity; disappointed at a world
IN which all the avenues of advancement and
opportunity are closed to him And It is out of
these disappointed ones that anarchists
made: men who hate our institutions, who sneer
at the ideas and ideals of America; and I cannot
wonder that those who find themselves set off,
hemmed in, debarred from advancement from
the lower plains should be disappointed. 1t IS
not surprising that from these disappointed ones
We are training UP the anarchist crop. Why
should a man be conservative when he has moth
ing 10 conserve?
AS for the girls, the statement has ,been
made that the American public schools had
turned more American girls on to the street
than any other agency in American life
don't say that is true, but ii is true that thou
sonds Of girls are leaving the public schools
every year who are absolutely compelled 10
earn money and who do not know any way to
do IL The first and most necessary thing in life
is TO be able TO make a living. A person may
have good character and no bad habits yet
IF he can't make q living he's an economic fail
ure. Our schools 90 not prevent our children
from becoming economic failures; that's all
there is about it. They de not make them eco
nOInically efficient.
We are the biggest and richest and smart
est country IN the world, perhaps II is be-
meath US TO listen 10 something about a little
country across the that perhaps never
heard of-Wurtemberg"
Dean Russell read a list Of the educational
institutions of that country, which shows that
II has hundred more fine technical schools
for the boys and girls Of the working classes
'Wurtemberg has exactly the population OF
Manhattan Island" said Dean Russell "and yet
we haven't even q respectable public school sys-
TEN IN New York, and II asked for the es-
tablishing of one such school here in our public
school system Manhattan would throw up its
hands in holy horror.
Dean Russell praised the Manhattan Trade
School for Girls without stint, the pioneer
step IN the right direction in the United States,
q school which would be used q model all
over the United States within few years.
Homer Folks did the same.
The school driven out Of its first head
quarters during the last year by increasing
numbers, and in four months raised S125. 900
and bought the new place at No. 200 East 23d
street, where II has ample quarters Mr..
Folks cheerfully warned the board that they
would have the same thting to do over again
Immediately
In fact" said he you've taken a job too
big for any private organization. This thing
vii grow and grow just as it has during its
first four years. and there will be no rest or
peace till it is made part Of the public school
system and supported by taxation"
Miss Virginia Potter was reelected president
ard Professor Mary Schenck Wooman director
|