Rocky Ford enterprise., 1909-07-09
SAYS COLLEGES
ARE FAILURES
And Methods of Grade Teach
ers Declared to Be
OLD.FASHI0NED
AND UNscIENTIFIc

Educatloa In Agriculture Another
Topic Of National importance
Discussed by the N.E.A.
Charging that the American college 10
. failure. that most Of its students are
not after an education, and that it is to
blame for running the high schools Of the
country. Samuel Wendell Williston Of the
University Of Chicago in an address to
the teachers in attendance at the Nation
al Educational Association convention in
Denver this week, tore the modern college
systsm 10 shrsds and advised that the
elementary schools Of America be re-
moved from its controlling influence.
ut has lost discipline, both mental and
moral" said the speaker. It'll the charge
is freely made. and in q great measure
truthfully. that very large proportion Of
its students are seeking merely the di-
ploma rather than an education which
will fit them for higher pursuits in life;
who work. upon an average. but three or
four hours daily. and who acquire habits
neither Of industry nor application; that
there has been decided lowering Of the
moral standard among the college stu
dents; that upon the whole the bachelor.
degree is losing its significance as an in
dieation Of fitness for most Of the pur-
suits Of life.
Perhaps the gravest charge which may
with justice be laid against the college is
that II has hindered or retarded the best
development Of the high school; or has
perverted it from the highest uses to the
people. Most high schools still arrange
their course Of study chiefly for the needs
Of the three or four per cent Of its pupils
who arc preparing for college. to the de-
triment, or at least diseouragement, Of
the SO per cent who have neither the de-
sire nor the opportunity to continue their
education. The fact that only IL per
cent Of those who enter high school ever
graduate is also largely due to the infiu-
enee Of the college"
That the present system Of elementary
education is in no way adequate to turn
out the kind Of boys and girls required by
the exigeneies Of modern Industrial life
was the unanimous opinion Of those men,
bers of the N. E. A. who took part in the
discussions at the first meeting Of the ele-
mentary department. The methods Of
grade teachers were disseeted bit by bit
and were severely attacked as old-fash-
toned, unseientifie and insufficient. Not
dissenting voice was raised in protest
The discussion was opened by John W.
Cook. president Of the State Normal
school at DeKalb, ILL.,. whose paper was
entitled Does the Curriculum Of the Ele-
mentary School Meet the ExistingN Needs?
President Cook maintained that the ordi-
nary grammar school education fitted
child neither to enter high school nor to
enter on some kind Of industrial work as
a wage Garner. Not enough drill Is given
to the grammar school graduate to fit
him to meet the unexpected rigors Of the
new work in high school. Students en-
tsring high school cannot read well be-
cause the kind Of literature which they
have been required to read 10 the lower
grades is entirely unlike that which they
meet in the high school. On the other
hand. when children leave the eighth
grade to enter the great body Of wage
workers. as the greater per cent Of the
children in our public schools do, they
find that they have not received the kind
Of training which will enable them to
compete successfully in the struggle for
a living. Not enough independence 10
taught the child. As the speaker said.
1--WE button his Goat and put on his rub
bers and give him his pencil and open his
book and cultivate in him constantly the
spirit Of dependence, because we love
him and seem to want to keep him a
child"
E. E. Balcomb OF the Iowa State Agri-
cultural college, talked on the means Of
awakening interest in agricultural stud
les.
"Some phase Of chldren's work should
be undertaken" said Professor Baleomb.
The contests in corn growing 10. other
agricultural products) cooking. sewing
and various products Of manual training.
has the advantage Of being a good intro
duetion and at the same time may be
the nucleus Of a permanent interest,""
OF no small importance is the interest
In agricultural education that has been
awakened BY the combined meeting or