The Elbert County tribune., 1910-03-04


and justice as something high and sacred stirs
in the childhood of the RESTLESS changing, pro,
fame metropolis those fine, almost unspeakable
feelings to which the national flag may appeal
when even the study of American history fails
to arouse the Imagination?
But 1t is not wholly on psychology that the
modern public school and It's methods depend
for justification.
The old style public schools, aside from drill
ing spelling, arithmetic, grammar, geography
and history into the minds of children princi
pally by stern memorizng of the words of text
books, were conducted the theory of prepar-
alton for high schools. The truth is that not
one public school pupil out of ten in the coun-
try enters high school. The high schools
were largely preparation for college. But not
more than one high school pupil out of ten
completes college course. even In New York.
where collegiate education is free.
1t will be seen that only one out of a hun
dred of the entire school population, in New
York, for instance. has the means, inclination
or ability to pursue the academic course even
at the public expense.
If only one child out of a hundred can take
advantage of collegiate education are the re-
naming 80 to be left to face the struggle for
life with only the three Rs. or perhaps a smat-
tering of Latin and the higher mathematics?
Germany has risen to power and riches
among the industrial nations through her tech
nical and trade schools.
In the development OF mechanical invention
we have forgotten that the machine is not
everything. Already the labor unions have re-
stricted the apprentice system until American
industry is put to its wits ends to find substi-
tutes for highly skilled artisans.
The public school teachers of the country
and those who train and direct them ap-
parently fully awake to the magnitude of the
new task which changing Industrial conditions
have thrown upon them. Teachers. principals
and professors alike talked to me of Germany's
great success through her technical and indus
trial schools.
This keen consciousness of the modern
school problem shown alike by slender young
misses and by gray and wriniled veterans. was
one of the most significant and Impressive
things I encountered in the public schools.
The challenge of Industrial Germany is to
be answered by American pedagogy.
DR.. Thurston of Cornell university, has de-
carcd that in order to bring the American peo-
pie up to technical and industrial equality with
Germany, this country needed at present Il 100
university professors and instructors and 900
students studying the highest branches of tech
nical work; there should be 1000 college pro
fessors and $4,000 students in technical schools
studying for superior positions iE the arts; and
10000 teachers engaged in trade and manual
training schools, instructing pupils 100000 in
number. preparing to become skilled workmen.'
There are more than three female teachers
to every male teacher in the public schools
OF tho United States, and yet found in all
schools the same yirile thought, that aside
from writing, spelling, arithmetic, grammar
geography and the rudiments of history. the
first great duty of the teaching profession In
America was. by manual training and other cfl
ture outside of the three RS to develop the
whole intelligence of children. to accustom
their bodies and minds to work together. to as
sist them in gradually discovering what their
true vocation in after life ought to be, to fit
them for it, and from the kindergartens