Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1908-11-26
TO TURN OFT BETTER WIVES

Common sense is gradually assert
ting itself in the common school sys-
tenn OF the land. The faddists who
have been endeavoring 10 make the
High Schools a weak imitation of
the colleges, and the grammar schools I
weaker limitations Of High Schools.
are being relegated 10 the rear. The
tendency now is to make the course
of the instruction more practical. to
consider the arena in which the vast
majority Of the boys and girls are
destined to spend their lives, and fit
them, as much as possible. for the
actual work of life that is ahead OF
them If the good work goes on
there is a fair probability that in a
few years there will be a more thor
ough instruction in the fundamentals.
in spelling, writing, reading. ordi-
nary arithmetic. geography and his
tory, especially of their own country.
and to this will be added some gem
eral business instruction for the
boys, and domestic sciences for the
girls, that will tend to better equip
them for their respective missions
/ Out in Chicago il is now proposed
10 teach the girls TO cook TO sew.
to darn, to market, and to other
wise give them instruction along lines
that will better adapt them to the
1 ield of the wife and the mother OF
| course there will be the usual howl
| against this from the dear old peda-
gogues who believe that because
Latin was compulsory feature of
he schools when they were child
rem, and algebra and geometry were
iriven into their heads, that the
children of the present must be
similarly unwisely treated Teach
srs are not missing who believe in
The homeopathic educational system
low so much in vogue, including
three months in astronomy. three
months in chemistry, one year in La
lin, a year in German, and similar
hodge podge of other studies that
make up the greatest waste Of time
Tor the average boy or girl that could
well be conceived. If a clean broom
was used and a general sweeping out
Of the average school curriculum
made it would doubtless be very pro-
dtabfe to the children and the ma
ton. The average girl, and the aver
age girl makes up Just about ninety
nine per cent of the sex, could very
veil get along without Latin, algebra,
geometry, astronomy, ct. al, studies
she speedily shucks on like a snake
Toes its skin, but the average girl
| who is to become the average wife and
mother a few years hence cannot very
well dispense with practical instruc-
ion in the everyday duties that are
pound TO come upon her. 1t is a
hopeful sign that this is becoming
appreciated If the reform continues
he old jokes about the new wife
cooking the chicken with the feath-
srs on and feeding her husband on
condensed dyspepsia tablets called
biscuits may lose their force.
More thorough instruction, more
practical instruction, that should be
the slogan of the school system. Less
ornamental studies, the elimination of
the unnecessary. the recognition of
the fact that the real life interests
of the enormous majority should be
considered and not the interests of
the remote few-these will do much
to make our public schools what it
is now becoming recognized they
should be, real training grounds for
capable men and women.