The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-09-05
OPPORTUNITIES OF TODAY
ARE FAR BETTER THAN EVER BEFORE
Value of Ages Virtually
Observation-Disclosures Process Is and Be
Always Kept Up

BY Myron Jermain Jones. NJ. A, direc-
tor of education in the Washington
Young Mems Christian Association:
From the day of Washinston's Fare
well Address" and the declaration Of
Jefferson that mo people in state OF
civilization can stay ignorant and free, 20
down to Webster. Claiming. Emerson.
and Butler il has ever been true that
the difficulties Of democracy have been
the opportunities Of education For IL
Is just these Completing and levelinS
Influences OF modern democracy that
create and intensity the social question.
For what, after all, is democracy!
President Alderman defined 1t face
tiuosly at the University Club dinner
OF 1905 and his terse Anslo-SaNon I'M
perative has been echoing in my cars
ever since. Said he.
You may give the name democracy TO
anything mode Of living, manner
OF speaking, a group OF men, doilar
dinner: but the thing itself is plainly "A
spirit. a faith. religion whose chiefest
commandment Is: You can trust men
II you Will train them. "
Now In estimating the value OF these
educative forces which seek 10 tram
men. we have been accustomed TO THINK
of two principally:
1. The school. college, and university,
representing fundamental education and
conducted primarily for wi at may be
This group includes what would be
described technically as the regular
school population Roughly speak
Ing. II means the nations boys and girls
in the elementary grades up to the fifth
or sixth; the % per cent who remain
In public schools 10 the seventh and
eighth. the 10 to 10 per cent who get
high school training; and the less than
per cent who find additional prepara-
ton for life in colleges, technical in
stitutes. and universities
3 The educative Influences Of the
daily task, commonly termed the edu-
cation of experience. Under the old ap-
prentice system this was often regarded
as a valuable opportunity for trade
training and in many instances Of prep
aration for the professions. Modern
economic conditions have vastly changed
this method OF discipline. and today we
find the newer apprentice system with
its sphere Of daily work supplemented
by opportunities for direc, Intellectual
training in schools adapted TO the in
dustry and profession.
Training the Boy.
There IS a third form OF education
which Is coming to be recognized as a
valuable adjunct to our system OF train
ing the youth OF today for the actual
work OF life. II counsels youth and
manhood alike. Don't say, Today edu-
cation ends. tomorrow life begins. Say
a
service: the whole process is continu-
Gus We call this form Of education
supplemental" because IL supplies the
defects OF ones fundamental education
I'm the public schools. or complemenrs
the education Of experience secured in
the sphere OF daily work.
Now, II is Interesting to note how
this formal education OF the mind IS
being committed more and more to in
situations and movements OF the sup
Elemental type. and 10 observe what this
continuation OF school work is doing in
common with other edit CatiOnal pro-
Cesses 20 contribute 10 the making OF
man. It IL Of surprising interest, too.
to observe what this form Of training
has done to supplement and accelerate
the ends Of education. looking toward
the realization of democracy, by helping
10 CompenSa for the acknowledged
failure or state education 20 hold and
! train the youth and young men Of the
I Republic efficiently enough: Or perhaps. 20
compensate for the failure CT the young
! man himself who has left school and
/ who late in life realizes that he is 10 be
/ destanced In the race. because OF the
/ superior efficiency and intelligence Of
4 his co-worker, through education
/ There are Ominous signs OF unrest 4
/ the educational world. and prophets 81
1 the new demand IN intellectual training
\ methods are prOClaiminR that the priv
l clple Of need and service must have
| the right OF way in constructing t1e
| educational programs OF the future
| The experience Of each new age said
! Emerson, needs a new confession
/ Appa rently our leading educators are
/ vying with each other IN the effort e
/ interpret the experience Of the present
1 time ana TO make confession Of weak
ness. OF inef-iciency and OF relative fail
ure in much Of the fundamental educa-
I tionsl work Of the schools and colleges
! Presidents Eliot, SchUrmann and VIII
/ son. speaking from the viewpoint Of the
universities. have proclaimed that the
ultimate aim I'm educa ton should be 10
/ give every individual a chance TO at
I tain maximum OF personal culture and