The Greeley tribune., 1911-01-26
INTERESTING PAPER BY c. r.
CARTER ON SCHOOL STUDIES

I Editor Tribune.
History shows that the develop
ment of government has been SLOW
and evolutionary process. Each gen
Grafton has sought to profit by the
successes and failures of the past
During each period of time an at
tempt has been made to preserve the
best and discard the useless and i'm,
practical.
| This desire to improve lies at the
bases of most of the modern at
| tempts to better our governmental,
social, economic, religious and edu-
cational conditions.
This is a helpful sign, and sanely
pursued should result in meeting
rightly the needs of our expanding
civilization.
We hear in these days of new
nationalism, new evangelism. new
education, etc.
Those engaged in these several
fields must keep abreast Of modern
investigation and progress.
Since our work is distinctly in the
field of education, 1t is to this de-
partment l am directing our consid-
erations. In all school magazines,
educational meetings of the state
and nation, normal schools, teachers
colleges and universities, much in
vestigation is being made tending to-
ward undermining or socializing the
course of study of the grades
through the higher institutions.
Briefly, what is meant by modern
izing our courses of study? 1t is sim
ply this: An attempt to have all in
stitutions of learning arrange their
courses to meet the business, profess
sional, social and moral needs of the
nation. With respect to this modi-
fication we must necessarily omit
any consideration of the higher in
stitutions of learning. and notice
briefly the grades from the first to
the twelfth inclusive.
The differences OF opinion exist
ing with respect to the course of
study, have for years centered about
its content and method of presenting
the same-more especially as to
what it should include.
We are in favor of a sane, conser-
vative modification OF our present
curriculum. In large sense our
local problems are similar to those
of the state and nation. To make
reference to some changes in our
present requirements, believe that
only such work in arithmetic should
be taught in the public schools as
may be of future use in solving pres.
ent business problems. This woult
(as we have done local.,
in a marked degree) such subject!
as cube root. complex fractions. in
tricate problems in mensuration, thu
old style difficult partial payments
stocks and bonds. foreign exchange
progressions, annuities. complicate'
review questions. etc.
Perhaps some of these subject
have a legitimate place in the hig
school. but have little if any place i
first to eighth grades. to exclusio
of the four fundamental subjects, at
dition. subtraction. multiplicatio
and division; also fractions, demon
nate numbers taught with modifc;
ton, the practical applications {
percentage and interest. etc.
Fortunately modern scholars SUI
port this view. and text books
arithmetic are being written accort
ingly. There is somewhat radio;
view which would eliminate muc
more than have mentioned. or tn;
1 can see as yet best to approve.
The course in our city schools
presented along the modern lines I,
dicated; but still other modification
! may be approved by the board an
{ superintendent. We have felt tn,
to too great an extent our HE
school course in mathematics fel
IN other s'ud!Hs) is dominated |
/ hn oN1l