The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1911-10-06
sUPT. wRIGHTs NEWEST NEW
IDEA"

one OF the most interesting. and
perhaps the most startling addresses.
/ because Of it's rather revolutionary
/ character. OF yesterdays program OF
| the Upper Peninsula Educational as
| sociation's meeting at Houghton. was
! that Of State Superintendent OF Public
! instruction Luther L. Wright. Of Iron
wood, on The Newest Ideas in Ed
ucation," iu which Mr. Wright de-
clared he is coming 20 the idea" that
there ought 10 Doe mo- long school va
cation. that 10 is a damage 10 chill
dren instead Of a help" Thus Mr.
Wright opens a subject which no
doubt will cause serious thought an
discussion II IS apparent that the.
state superintendent himself has all
ready weighed il carefully and isI
quite satisfied in his own mind itI
would be best for all concerned. pupils.
teachers parents and society.
Supt Wright believes the moral ef-
feet should be considered, holding theI
long summer vacation to Doe democrat
izing In It's influence inasmuch as il ISL
a time Of licensed idleness when good
habits formed during the school year,
are broken down and poor ones
formed. This is a strong point, which Il
will appeal particularly t. parents
Mr. Wright contends also thatl
teaching would be easier and more ef-
fective II the schools were kept open
the entire year teachers employed |
every working day and paid accord
ingly He declares Il would shorten
the preparatory school course Of thcl
pupils by three years, the college and /
professional school by two. and the
bo" or girl would be graduated from
u higher institutions al twenty orI
tH lty-Onc instead Of twenty-five OF
twenty The superintendent nasl
observed, he says. that there are too
many years below the high school. too
many for the bright fellows who
ought 10 go 10 high school and college.
and too many for the duller mechan-
ical fellow who probably ought not to
go TO college but who ought 10 20 to
work with his hands.
He declares that the long vacation
haits school work. both I'm the spriug
and fail. by breaking down children's
habits IF industry. discipline and ap-
plication Another strong point in his
argument is that teaching would be
regarded as more permanent occu-
patton if the two months period Of
ldlencss were eliminated and teachers
paid on the same basis as other classes
of labor. Thus teaching would prove
more attractive and appeal more
strongly to young people in search Of
"a profession. The work, Mr.. Wright
contends. is no moro "a nervous strain
Than that Of a man who intentIyI
watches complex machine
supt Wrighrs arguments are bas-
cd on his long experience in school
work. during all Of which years hc
has been keen observer. and deep
thinker He Us one Of the progregsivcs
'n education, and constantly working
for the Improvement Of the schools In
Keeping with modern ideas and prog
ress His suggestion that the long
summer vacations Of the schools be
abolished viii strike many as too fad
dish on FIRST thought. because the long
vacation has been IN vogue many.
many years, tradition inauguratodl
over generation ago. but seriouI
consideration will impress one with
the advantages Of his plan. lie has|
not taken into consideration tho factI
that 'all work and no play makes Jack
q dun boy but no doubt play periods
would be provided In his scheme Of re-
arrangement that would reduce tho
strain On pupils OF daily school work
the year around Regular, organized
play would preserve the physical and
moral health Of the children.
Mr.. Wright's plan, we believe. would
make for the better training Of our
children, increase the interest Of
teachers In their work. and improve
the quality Of our schools.