Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-09-15
INEFFICIENT PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
Unless Teaching is Thorough, 1t is Of
Doubtful Value.


Colonel Charles w. Larned, in
structor at West Point since 1875,
does not ask in the North American
Review for September, Are the
Public Schools Inefficient?' He en-
titles his paper The Inefficiency of
the Public Schools" and his prof
is striking. The new standard adopt
ed for examination into West Point
was tiled for the first time in March
of the current year. The subjects are
plane geometry, elementary algebra,
English grammar, elementary gram
mar, and composition, as much Unit
ed States history as is covered by a
high school manual, the same amount
of general history and common
school descriptive geography. The
requirements should be easily met by
all the graduates of any well organ
lied high school," The story Of the S51
applicants is as dreary and depress-
ing as the retreat of the Greeks from
Syracuse.
OF the 351 applicants 223 failed.
Ninety per cent of all the youths who
had studied at public schools, and they
had averaged ten years in study at
common and high schools. AS many
as 265 failed in one or more subjects,
145 in three or more, 95 in four or
more, and so on. The passing mark
is only sc, the examination is not un-
duly harsh and "these young men"
SAYS Colonel Larned, ARE selected
by the nominating powers presum-
ably with reference to their moral,
mental and physical fitness for the
severe career of the academy The
result is "a sorry showing from what
ever standpoint it is viewed" and
not the saddest aspect is shown in the
statement that 100, or 80 per cent
of the picked youth, were physically
deficient and unfit to serve.
Lest any one should cherish the
notion that the examination is severe,
sample answers are included. One
young gentleman from New Jersey
was of the opinion as to the causes
of the civil war that slavery was the
main aggitation. So Carolina done
most Of the disputting and fine
ly ceceded." A conception of gram
mar is exhilarating: "If-is an af-
finitive. 1t gives ground to make
the senatance possible, and If remov-
ed causes to become imperative"
But New Jersey is not alone. New
York and Massachusetts are on an
equal footing and Pennsylvania
achieves a bad eminence in disgrace.
Colonel Larned thinks that if public
education is worth undertaking 1t
ought to be done well. Think of ten
years at great cost to the state and
the hideous results. Consider the fact
that youth is the period of joyous
ness and play and Of Elysian days
spent wandering in the open air past
murmuring brooks; that the school
life in cramped position, in foul air,
bereft of the exercise and fun and
natural life only to be justified by
compensating results Of high value
in mental training and moral stature,
and then ponder the outcome, which
would be ludicrous If it were not
wasteful, hideous indefensible.
Colonel Larned makes out his case.
His object is not apparent. Perhaps
he is making an argument against
the nomination of applicants for
West Point cadetships by senator's
or representatives in congress and for
universal competitive examination for
the posts. Peradventure he wishes
to give point to his plea for physical
training in the schools. At any rate,
he has brought an indictment against
the public chools.-Philadelph
Ledger.