Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-10-09
TWO CLASSES OF PUPILS
Those Who Will and Those Who
Will Not GO to College.
DIFFERENT COURSES FOR EACH
President of Board of Education Be-
lieves in Three R's-Greatest
Good to Greatest Number

An elective system OF education in the
public schools is the idea in the mind or
w. V Cox. president OF the board OF
education. as providing a solution OF tho
problem OF bending the twig in the way
il should grow.
The division of pupils into two classes
the big majority bent on keeping out OF
college and a small minority bound for a
higher education-requires special consid-
GRAFTON of their fundamental development
in the opinion OF President Cox At pres
ent the entire public school system OF
Washington, graded and high schools. is
preparatory to further schooling, in his
opinion.
President Cox would provide different
preparation for each class of pupils. The
elective system would accomplish the
best results. he believes.
keadin, ritln and 'rithmetic also have
his profound respect as a complete code
OF information in equipping adolescence
for the battle OF life or even for the cui-
uvauon Of more profound knowledge
If the children are taught The three
R's-ahd taught them weli-they wi.l be a
long way on the road to beng wed pre-
pared Tor business lite OF 10. college and
a higher educa ion''
Greatest Good to Greatest Number.
The public schools should give the
greatest good To the greatest number, ."
he says. Il believe this can be accom-
phshed by having all pupils in the WASH
ington schools well grounded In the funda-
mentals.
There is a tendency in many cities
where there are well developed school
systems. TO get back To first PRINCIPLES. 10
40 away with many secondary courses
which nave crept into the schools, and
which, though well enough I'm their way,
are not necessary to the scholars.
There are IN the pubic schools today
Two divisions, one composed OF children
who are going to college and the other
made up of those who are not going to
college. The number Of Children VINO are
not going to college Is far larger than
the number OF those who expect to take
college course.
Yet an examination OF the curriculum
i'm the GRADED schools as well as In the
ldsn school show that nearly all chill
dren are being prepared for college
course.
Elective System in Mind.
40 q ploUlcil tndt requires Al
tention. think that, possibly, an elective
system would be- a solution of the oues-
tion. At present the elective system 10
limited here
Mr.. Cox was asked how he proposed to
work out an elective system. He replied
that he had not yet gone into the details
of the plan. and that it was a matter
for a trained educator to take up and
work out
There are many who believe that the
public schools should end with the eishtil
grade. and that it is not incumbent upon
the government to provide Tree nigh
schools. L do not agree with This i.it q. .
Tor "A high school education aids all the
children greatly in their work during the
rest of their lives.
But the board of education has been
besieged recently with requests TOR the
establishment OF all kinds or courses in
the public Schools-courses which are OF
no practical value to the chiluren who
attend the schools. l should not be sur
priSed If We received a request to start
a course in mental telepathy.
1T is the duty of the board TO see that
the schools at conducted economically
as we'll efficiently. Extra courses
would tend to increase the expense as well
as to cram the minds of children vita
Information which is. not necessary.