The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1909-12-30

between the wants of the industry and
the needs of the boy and the girl.
There is no question but that the
child who is compelled to determine
at the immature age of fifteen what his
profession or his occupation or his in
dustry Is to be will make a mistake.
II is therefore essential that in en-
phasising vocational training we should
have clear view Of it. full meaning.
If. when we use the term, we have
reference to training along broad lines
rather than specific ones, then all aid
and encouragement should be given TO
the movement, for 1t is distinctly ed
ucational; but IT, on the other hand,
IL is to mean the think Of a group
Of young people to a specific trade be-
fore they are ready for It, 1t should
by all means be kept out of the educa-
tional system.
Moral Education.
More and more emphasis is being
placed upon moral education, and right
ly so. This may be due to a number
Of infiuences,-the awakening of the
church, the discoveries Of the juvenile
court, and the general appreciation Of
what is meant by the effect Of environ
ment up Of young people, these have
had their place In bringing the question
of moral education into greater prom
inence. New meaning is now given to
civic ideals, what is right and what
is wrong, and 1t is now generally UNI
derstod by teachers Of insight and
understanding that 1t is possible
| through the use of the institutions
that surround us to teach ideals that
lead to the highest type of moral ed
ucation.
In the field Of college and university
some progress has been made in the
work OF the Committee on Standards,
as shown particularly in the organiza-
| ton OF state universities. Through
this committee is now clearly under
stood what a university is, what a
college is, and what a school is, and
what requirements should be set up
! for each OF them. Moreover, greater
stress is now being placed upon fresh
man and sophomore work, with the
insistence that these years should be
really a continuation of the work done
in four year high schools.
With the statement OF The situation
we are confronted with the problem it.
self The education OF fifteen millions
OF school children is at the very best
very difficult question. Attention has
been called again and again to the
fact that the schools Of today are not
as efficient as they used to be. If
this statement wore true. and ! do not
in any degree believe II, the numbers
of pupils today are larger and more va
ried than they were In the earlier
years; the elements of race and nation
atty are more marked and the home,
which was in the older time the COM
plete environment Of the youngster, lis
In some degree less efficient than II was
then. The burden on the school is
greater and heavier than It has ever
been and more ig expected Of 1t in
every direction. The defects which
are now apparent to every thinking
person can be readily summarized I'M
der four different heads:
First. .ack of funds to meet the de-
mands now made upon the public
school system.
Second. an insufficient supply of we'll
trained and thoroughly equipped teach
ers.
Third, the absence OF clear views as
TO specific questions and problems
Fourth, the presence Of conservative
and over-reIuctant school boards In
too many of our communities
Takes Time for Correction.
All Of these difficulties can be cor