The Elbert County tribune., 1910-03-04

to repeat and memorize the words of the text
books.
A girls class in history was asked to choose
a subject for dramatizatIon. 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 so on.
Presently the little ones-their ages aver
aged II or ~ years-acted out the historical
incident which precptated 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
plement the memorizing of books by persuad-
ing children to realize history through the ex-
ercise of reason and imagination in the at
tempt TO reproduce persons and events
There is just 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-
oepted.
This striving toward Industrial training re-
lates TO cities and towns. 1t is well under
stood that a country boy girl receives man
ual training and acquires a practical knowl-
edge Of things in his her ordinary life in
a farm district.
1t is the children growing up III centers Of
population, where everything is specialized.
and almost everything reduced to machinery.
who need vocational development in school.
The confessed general object of the average
American school teacher to-day is to SO de-
yelop the natural Industrial and artistic capac-
tiles of children in addition to good com
mand of the three RS. that when they reach
the ordinary age for leaving the elementary
schools. say from IA to 16 years. they will have
distinctly shown their various mental and
manual aptitudes. With technical and indus
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schools. hard pressed parents will make an
effort to keep their children in training longer
for the sake of higher wages and greater OPP
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 and ambi-
tions destine them to classical profess
sional course.
The growth of cities and towns, the concen-
tration and specialization of industries and the
inundations of immigration have thrown other
new burdens on the public schools The old
American home training with its ideals OF
conduct helpfulness patriotism and morals.
can no longer be depended upon before In
centers Of population The old American home
life and its standards. rapidly disappear
ing and at 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
compettion--still more confounded by the nev-
er-ceasing flow of mixed bloods from alien civil
izations-the American school house stands as
the one universal instrument left to society
1t has largely taken the place OF the home
as a 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. It teaches sewing. cooking and
other household things that were once taught
-.
where children trained to play.