Anadarko daily democrat. [volume] (Anadarko, Oklahoma) 1908-191?, 1910-03-08

10 repeat and memorize the words OF the text
books
girls class in history was asked to choose
a subject for dramatzation. The girls chose
"The Boston Tea Party" Then they selected
who should be King George, the speaker of the
house OF commons, the captain of the teaship,
the leader Of the American patriots, and on.
Presently the little ones-ther ages aver.
aged II or 10 years-acted out the historical
incident which precipitatod the American rev.
olution. They used their own language, and
not the language OF the books
The object OF all this was, Of course to sup
ploment the memorzing of books by persuad.
ing children to realize history through the e1
ercise of reason and imagination in the at
tempt TO reproduce persons and events.
There is just now great conflict on the sub.
ject Of American public schools. Here and
there are educators who believe that there is
too much experiment in the new system. How.
ever, the dominant thought is generally ac.
cepted
This striving toward industrial training re-
lates TO cities and towns. II is well under.
stood that country boy or girl receives man
ual training and acquires a practical knowl-
edge Of things In his or her ordinary life in
a farm dstvict.
1t Is the children growing up In centers OF
population. whore everything is specialized,
and almost everything reduced to machinery,
who need va 'atonal development in school.
The confessed general object of the average
American school teacher to-day is to so de-
velop the natural industrial and artistic capac.
tiles Of children. in addition to a good com
mand Of the three RS, that when they reach
the ordinary age for leaving the elementary
schools, say from IA to 1G years, they will have
distinctly shown their various mental and
manual aputudes. With technical and indus
trial schools In place of the academic high
schools, hard-pressed parents will make an
effort to keep their children In training longer
for the sake OF higher wages and greater op-
portunities for promotion insured by vocation.
al education. OF course the academic high
school will continue to exist for that compare
lively small number whose means aud ambi-
tions destine them to a classical or profes.
sional course.
The growth OF cities and towns, the concen-
trauon and specialization of industries and the
foundations OF immigration have thrown other
new burdens on the public schools. The old
American homo training, with It's ideals OF
conduct, helpfulness. patriotism and morals,
can no longer be depended upon as before in
centers Of population. The old American home
life, and its standards are rapidly disappear.
ing, and at a time when the church, too, is los
ing authority and influence.
In this confusing era OF loosening social
bonds, OF drifting ideals and OF fierce, sordid
competition-still more conlounded by the neV.
er-ceasing flow of mixed boods from alien civi.
lizations-the American school house stands as
the one universal instrument left TO society.
II has largely taken the place of the home
as guardian Of the health of children. That
Is one OF its most significant developments. II
has also accepted sociological duties through
its kindergartens in keeping mere infants out
Of the streets. Il teaches sewing, cooking, and
other household things that We're once taught
at home. 1t maintains recreation grounds,
where children are trained to play.