Evening star., 1911-08-31

In no respect has Americas educational
system shown greater progress than In
the development of its public school discl-
pline. The time is past when the teacner
maintains the pin drop point OF oroer
by keeping the pupils in paralyzed SUD
lection In most schools today discipline
is maintained by subjective rather than
by positive authority. The up-to-date
teacher seldom commands or dictates In
an authoritative manner. The children
are taught to think and to maintain order
for the general good OF all.
Physical force is seldom resorted to-.
Most of the states now have laws regu-
iating corporal punishment. In number
of the larger cities 1t is absolutely pro-
hibited and throughout the entire coun-
try 1t is practically obsolete. In this re-
spect American schools are superior to
those of England. for even in the cele-
brated Efon School Gaming Is still re-
sorted to.
The announcement has been made re-
Gently that the old-fashioned birch rods
will no longer be used on the older boys
at Eton. as they have been replaced Dy
the more modern ferrules. The birch ROD,
however rs still called into play for the
benefit of the first and second year boys.
This statement causes feeling OF par
donabIe vanity to the American edu-
Gator. who has relegated the birch rod to
the oblivion of a past generation.
The American teacher, from kinder
garten to high school. has been so well
trained in psy-
American Teacher cholosy and
Appeals to Reason. ltical economy
that she generally knows how to deal with
even the most refractory child by an ap-
neal 20 his reason Better results are OBJ
| tanned by this means than could ever DE
brought about by physical vioienceo or
intimidation. The aim of the public school
is good citizenship and skilled ehiciency.
Where the pupil is interested in securing
these the we'll qualified teacher can gen.
orally trust the discipline OF the schoo
| to take care of itself.
Each decade. however, brings out some
new idea in school management. Self
government has been the aim of the mod
| ern educator for a number of years. ant
various means Of securing 1t have beer
ATTEMPTED The school city idea. intro
duced some ten years ago. was at frs
| considered the best solution of this prop
| lem After careful tests. however. thi'
| plan has been found lacking in severa
! respects. The school city system OF dis
| cipiine consists Of organizing the entire
school as a city government. the chill
dren elect their own mayor. council
| judges board of health. director OF pub
| lie works. police and other officers, ant
these officials attend TO the governmental
the school. The school council makes rule'
/ of government IL the form of city ordi
| nances. The police officers enforce thess
| orders and have power to arrest an OF
| fender. The culprit is tried by the judges
| This organization is still in operation
| i'm many schools with good results but i
| has been discontinued in large numbe
| because the teachers feel that it take
/ too much time from the regular schoo
work. and also in some instances wassin
| strumental in introducing questionable
methods. The school city was advo< atet
| by political reform workers as the bes
i means of teaching civic purity to th'
4 citizens Of the future. In number O
| school cities. however, 1t developed tina
official corruption seems inherent in Amer
| ican politics. for even these embryo poll
ticians were guilty Of bribery. and NOR