The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1908-12-25
COURSES OF STUDY IN L Ill +
pUPLlC SCHOOLS.


Interest attaches to the remarks
made by DR.. E. Bates Stephens, State
Superintendent of Public Instruction,
on the alleged waste OF time ana
effort on the part of 80 per cent, of
pupils in the public school by
reason of cast-iron scheme of studies
framed in the interest OF 10 per cent.
The curriculum of the schools is de-
signed to prepare all the pupils for
the high school and the graduates
of the high schools for college. IT
all the pupils went through all the
grades and then went TO college
the scheme of instruction would be
presumably, faily satisfactory. As
a matter of fact, says the State Sup
erintendent, .'but 10 per cent, Of the
pupils lin the schools ever enter
tue nlgn schools, and of these
Tess than per cent, ever graduate.
Ofthe graduates only small percent
age go to collegn." The interest of
the many is thus subordinated to that
of the few, whereas "if there is to be
a bias in making up the curriculum,
sit should be in the direction of the
80 per cent. who never go beyond
the elementary grades" The re-
quirements OF the high schools
should not, it Is held in effect, domi-
nate the course of study in the ele-
mentary grades. The studies pur-
sued in the grades attended by the
great majority should have more e1-
elusive reference to the needs OF the
majority; they should embrace such
topics as will be useful to those
whose entire education is obtained
in the elementary grades. Pupils, it
is contended; have equal rights, and
it is unfair to sacrifice the education
of 80 per cent, to the eXigencies OF
10. per cent. of the pupils. Parents
who do not wish to prepare their
children for college, it is suggested,
should have the option of schools
better suited to their purposes. The
effort to adapt the pupils to SYM
metrcal abstract scheme OF educa-
ton, instead of adapting the scheme
to the pupils, has naturally produc-
ed unsatisfactory results. at is q
deplorable fact" says DR.. Stephens,
in view of these results, shat the
high schools are feeders of the. COL
leges." The high schools, it is de-
ctared, should stand on their own
bottom, and likewise the elementary
schools.
When this is brought to pass, and
the curricula of the elementary
grades are shaped for the benefit OF
so per cent. of the pupils in them
there will be an open door for the
vocational training" which must in
the near future, Mr.. Stephens pre-.
diets, prevail in the schools. An
ancient sage held that children
should be trained in the things they
must do when they become adults.
1t seems an obvious truth. A men,
Der Of tue School Board, it 10 noted 4,
has suggested that more vocational
subjects should be introduced in the
course of instruction, but their intro
tion under existing conditions will,
be, Mr.. Stephens thinks, somewhat
difficult. 1t implies the elimination
Of present unnecessary branches of
study, which is commonly opposed
by well-meaning partisans Of special
studies. 1t is less difficult to get in
anew study than to get out an old
one, however much the latter has be-
come discredted in the eyes OF the
vast majority of educators.
According to dispatch from New
York published Sunday, resident
of that city has devoted 100000 to
the promotion Of what is called "the
new education" The "new educa-
ton" is the plain which is designed
to promote self-relianoe. 1t is
founded on the theory that the ordi-
nary school system misses many
things. The main object of the move
ment is to stimulate executive abil-
ity, to teach children to take the
initiative and to do things, rather
than 10 teach theoretical knowledge.
The sum which has beeu given to
further this idea of education will be
at the rate of $4,000 in