Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1912-06-04
PUBLIC SCHOOL FADs
OUR SCHOOLS GIVEN OVER TO
FADDIsTS FOR ALL KINDS OF
EXPERIMENTATION.
Regular Work Of the School Often
times Suspended for the Physical
Inspection Of Pupils Regardless
Of Home Advantages.

though the public schools had been
practically given over to all manner OF
faddists for experimentation, regard
less of the authority, views and wishes
of the parents of the children, who
are treated simply as so much raw ma
terial in the working out of "the craze
for novelty" 1t is State paternalism
gone wild.
Instead Of restricting the curriculum
to the legitimate and rational scope OF
education, gradually but persistently,
1t has been extended and made to
spread until it virtually covers and
dominates the entire being and life OF
the child. -.s.-e
The parents who watch with JOY and
pride their "kidlet," when for the
first time. It goes to the public school,
little realize in these times what a
separation for them and their loved
one may be having its inception in
that incident. From thence on the
child is for the most part under the
molding influences Of not only the
teachers but Of variety of inspec-
| tors and agents of the interests of al
legged humanitarian and philanthropic
schemes, dentists, oculists, nurses,
doctors, ETC., etc. g.. 49,
In this connection long list Of out
raseous things might be described to
which children have been subjected
where medical inspection has been
conducted without regard for reason.
modesty or childish timidity. BY bru-
tai bulldozing; careless and often
| wrong diagnosis, shameful stripping OF
youths in groups; exaggeration OF de-
fects in the presence of fellow-pupils;
harsh orders and even the criticism
of parents and homes, children have
been terrorized, Inundated, covered
| with shame, and in cases alienated
from their parents.
The arrogant assumption of much Of
the modern system of public educa-
| ton is, that parents are either unQual-
| flied or are too Indifferent to care
properly for the well-being of their off
spring, and, hence, whether willing or
unwilling, their responsibility must be
usurped by the State.
At times, when called on to explain
their conduct, the faddists resort to
the stock talk of foreigners" and
their habits Of living making the
methods objected to necessary. But.
even among those, thus made to act as
the scapegoat, the conditions depicted
are not the rule, and in no instance
afford valid reason for general dis
regard of parental rights and author
| ity and preferences, The fact is, that
we are all foreigners or the descend
ants of foreigners, and many of us
were reared amid humble surround
ings. possibly where there were no
sanitary conveniences; but few, il
any, of us ever think of our parents
as having come short of doing their
duty towards us. and as furnishing an
argument for the State nursery, direc-
ton and control Of the child.
A proposed feature which has re-
Gently been much in prominence in
discussion in school gatherings, wom-
ems clubs and legislative halls, is that
of sex-hygienic instruction. This con-
templates the explanation of "the
causes, extent, pathology and effects
OF contagious sexual diseases" in the
eighth grammar grade children about
IL or IA years of age) and in high
school, Let any one pause and thought
fully consider this proposition, and t. >
queries will be excited, what condi-
tons in our modern society make such
a radical innovation necessary? Who
is capable and trustworthy to teach
such subject where with thorough
knowledge thereof there must be wis
dom, tact, purity of thought and lofty
purpose?
Multitudes Of parents have decided
views as to when, where and how
their children shall be taught as to
those delicate matters. They are not
averse to their enlightenment, nor are
they "prudish," but they believe that
the public school does not afford
either the environment or the instruc-
tors to safeguard the children against
the possible evil effects from q merely
professional and what would often be
a perfunctory presentation OF the sub
ject. =
But, it Is specified that to be prop
erly done the teaching should be en-