The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-09-05

leave the public sch OILS at the sixth.
seventh. and eighth 5rades-aVeragirG
% per cent of the total who start: how
ever, we may account for the one-siXth
OF those who enter the high school re-
naming to graduate; the fact we face
Is that the boys do leave. Our leading
educators are assigning as tie principal
reason that the school leads to nothing
that Will help TO earn Tread Naturally
enough, the private continuation schools
of various types have grown up IN re-
Spouse TO need for technical. CONNER
cial' and other vocational training.
Valuable Technical Education.
The astonishing enrolment In some
States of students seeking technical.
education by the correspondence meth
od-iE Ohio reaching 10000 in a decade
and in Massachusetts $4,000. and repre-
senting an investment on the part OF
young wage-earners. averaging twenty
seven years Of age, OF literally millions
OF money In tuition fees-has stirred the
professional educators to a realization
OF the inadequacy of the present curri-
culs of the public schools. And the
splendid record of such institutions as
the Pratt Institute, the Cooper Union,
the Mechanics Institute in New York;
the DreXel Institute. the Cincinnati Uni
versity, and the Young Mems Christian
Associations, with their magnificent
plants and more than 5000 students en-
rolled last season, have stirred the
thinking public TO an appreciation OF
the valuable educational service render
ed through these channei> TO the nom
school population.
II has brought prominently into View
the vast system of supplementary edu-
cation. in which we include Libraries,
museums. lectures. tutoring. education
al clubs, and the evening and day
classes in which men and boys learn
while they earn. We are coming 10
Il a faI
form Of professional training. nor
substitute for fundamental education.
As school proposition. the attempt
IS made TO provide: Cd general pre-
not a proper fundamental basis for
higher educational training; % voca-
tional courses for those who desire 70
change their present employment 10
thar which II more congenial and lucTa-
tive-for the slaves OF misfit Occupa.
tiOns:" 90 special training for those
men and youths who want 10 make pro-
gress in their chosen life-work, for
which additional knowledge and skill
are needed.
Unlocking the Resources.
Two things remain to be said regard
ing this phase of modern educational
endeavor:
The spirit OF all its unselfish service Is
the spirit OF social democracy, a relig-
ious spirit. whose chiefest command,
repeat:
you can trust men if YOU viii train
them"'
This educational work is democratic
and Christ=hke, because OF its hum
bier aim-humbler as regards culture
for cultures sake. but vester as re-
CARDS humanity. IL aims. n Ut like the
university. to reach and each a maxi
mum OF knowledge and trtth. but TO
IL
hood: 10 reach down TO the man who
has not had a chance. 10 help him Up.
TO put his foot on the first step he
can now reach, 10 help him upward,
stair by stair. as he is able TO ad-
vance; not necessarily to the highest
reach Of truth and knowledge attainable
by man, but to the highest attainable
by this man, practicable for him; to
make his life the greatest, richest. and
most helpful II can be made within
his span of being
Finally. the crux of the whole matter
Is in the personality OF the teacher.
Who shall measure the influence OF the
true teacher Who shall estimate the
value OF his unbought service. far and
away the greatest asset in our educa-
tional endeaVorsI In the ideal teacher,
j see the spirit OF the Great Master
or life. putting the keys of power in the
hands Of the youthful, ambitious, but
undisciplined Peter: KEYS which unlock
the resources Of a nature potential with
intelligence. efficiency, and moral ideal
ism. and which gives the man a founda-
ton against which the gates OF hell will
not prevail, And / would add that Il
requires a high type Of teacher and a
great spirit OF sacrifice adequately to
train men who have worked all day. and
who come 10 their evening tasks already
wearied. Surely here. II anywhere is
learning for the light II can shed. pow
er for the help IL can give station for
the good IL can do.
Copyright. 1909